31 Dec 2001 | Non categorizzato, Word of
All Christians are invited this month to pray for unity, and they have agreed to meditate and live a word of God taken from Psalm 36. This phrase from Scripture tells us something so important and vital that it can lead us to reconciliation and communion.
First of all, it tells us that there is only one source of life: God. From him, from his creative love, comes the universe, which provides a home for humankind.
It is he who gives us life with all its gifts. The psalmist knows the harshness and dryness of the desert and he knows what it means to find a spring of water with the life that blossoms around it. Therefore, he could not find a more beautiful image with which to sing of creation, like a river flowing from the bosom of God.
So then a hymn of praise and thanksgiving pours from our heart. This is the first step to take, the first teaching to grasp from the words of the Psalm: give praise and thanks to God for his work, for the wonders of the cosmos and for men and women fully alive, who are his glory and the only creatures who are able to say to him:
«For with you is the fountain of life»
But the love of the Father went beyond pronouncing the word through which all things were created. He wanted the Word himself to take our flesh. God, the only true God, became man in Jesus and brought on earth the source of life.
The source of every good, of every being and of every happiness came to dwell among us, so that he would be available, so to speak, to us. “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He filled all the time and space of our existence with himself. And he wished to remain with us forever, so that we could recognize him and love him under the most varied guises.
At times we might think: “How beautiful it must have been to live during the times of Jesus!” Well, his love invented a way to remain not in one small corner of Palestine, but in every part of the world: He made himself present in the Eucharist, according to his promise. We can draw from this source in order to nourish and renew our life.
«For with you is the fountain of life»
Another source from which we can draw the living water of God’s presence is our brother, our sister. If we love every neighbor we meet, especially those in need, they are not so much benefited by us, but rather, we are benefited by them because they give us God. In fact, by loving Jesus in our neighbor [I was hungry (…), I was thirsty (…), I was a stranger (…), I was in prison (…)…] (See Mt 25:31-40), we receive in return his love, his life, because he himself, present in our brothers and sisters, is its source.
Another overflowing fountain is God’s presence within us. He always speaks to us. It’s up to us to listen to his voice, which is that of our conscience. The more we make the effort to love God and our neighbor, the louder his voice becomes to the point of drowning out all the others.
But there is a privileged moment, like no other, in which we can draw from his presence within us: it is when we pray and seek to go in-depth in our direct relationship with him who dwells in the depths of our soul. It is like a profound spring of water that never dries up, which is always at our disposal and which can quench our thirst in every moment. We must only close for a moment the shutters of our soul and recollect ourselves in order to find this source, even in the midst of the most arid desert. And this to the point in which we no longer feel that we are alone, but that there are two of us: him in me and I in him. And yet – thanks to his gift – we are one, like the water and its source, like the flower and its seed.
Thus during this week of prayer for the unity of Christians, the words of the Psalm remind us that God alone is the source of life and therefore, of full communion, peace, and joy. The more we drink from this fountain and the more we live of this living water, which is his word, the more we will grow closer to one another and live as brothers and sisters of the same family. Then the rest of this phrase will be fulfilled. The Psalm continues: “And in your light we see light” , that light which humanity awaits.
Chiara Lubich
30 Nov 2001 | Non categorizzato, Word of
These are decisive words for our life and our witness in the world.
To explain the behavior of Christians, Paul likes to use the example of the clothes that the followers of Christ should wear. Also in his letter to the Colossians he speaks of the virtues that should fill their heart like many articles of clothing. They are: heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another (see Col 3:12-13).
But “over all these,” he says, almost as if he were thinking of a belt that ties everything together and perfects, enhances our whole appearance, “put on love.”
Yes, charity; because it’s not enough for Christians to be compassionate, humble, gentle, patient…. They must love their brothers and sisters.
But doesn’t love mean – someone might object – being kind, compassionate, patient, and forgiving? Yes, but there is more.
Jesus taught us the meaning of love. It consists in giving our life for others (see Jn 15:13).
Hatred takes away the life of others (“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” [1 Jn 3:15]); instead, love gives them life. Christians have charity only when they die to themselves out of love for others.
But if Christians have charity – says Paul – they will be perfect and all their other virtues will acquire perfection.
«And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection»
Of course, some of us might be well-disposed towards our brothers and sisters, inclined towards forgiving and bearing up with them. And yet, if we look closely, often, what might be missing is precisely love. Even with the holiest of intentions, human nature tends to make us turn in on ourselves and consequently to use half measures in loving others.
But we cannot call ourselves Christians if we stop at half measures.
We must make the greatest effort to love wholeheartedly. In front of every neighbor we meet during the day (at home, at work, everywhere), we can say to ourselves: “Come on, take courage, be generous with God. This is the moment to love, ready to give even your life.”
«And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection»
These words of the Apostle invite us, therefore, to examine ourselves, to see to what extent our Christian life is animated by charity. Love is the bond of perfection and as such it brings us to the greatest unity with God and with one another.
Let us thank the Lord, then, for having poured his love into our hearts. His love makes us more and more capable of listening to others, of identifying with the problems and worries of our neighbors; of sharing with them bread, joys and sufferings; of dismantling the barriers that still divide us; of putting aside certain attitudes of pride, rivalry, envy and resentment because of wrongs received in the past; of overcoming that terrible tendency to criticize; of going out of our selfish isolation in order to put ourselves at the disposal of anyone who is in need or lonely; of building everywhere the unity Jesus prayed for.
This is the contribution that we Christians can give towards achieving world peace and brotherhood among peoples, especially in the most tragic moments of history.
Chiara Lubich
31 Oct 2001 | Non categorizzato, Word of
The persecutions against the early Christians had already begun when Luke wrote his Gospel. But, as with every word of God, this sentence, too, is directed to Christians of all times and to their everyday lives. It contains a warning and a promise. One has more to do with our present life and the other, with our future life. Both invariably prove to be true in the history of the Church and in the personal circumstances of all those who strive to be faithful disciples of Christ. It is normal for a follower of Christ to be hated. In this world it is the destiny of a genuine Christian. Let us not deceive ourselves. Paul reminds us: “All who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). Jesus explains why: “If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you” (Jn 15:19). There will always be a contrast between the lifestyle of a Christian and that of a society that rejects Gospel values. This contrast can foment into a more or less masked persecution or into an indifference that makes us suffer.
«All will hate you because of me, yet not a hair of your head will be harmed.»
So we have been warned. When, without our understanding why, outside of the schemes of all logic and common sense, we receive hatred in exchange for the love we tried to give, this return must not disorient, scandalize or surprise us. It is nothing other than an indication of the opposition that exists between selfish human beings and God. But it’s also the guarantee that we are on the right path, the same one the Master traveled. So it’s a moment for rejoicing and being glad. And this is the way Jesus wants us to be: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you… because of me. Rejoice and be glad” (Mt 5:11-12). Yes, in that moment what must prevail in our heart is joy, that joy which is the characteristic note, the uniform of true Christians in every circumstance. Also because – and we should not forget this – we have many friends, brothers and sisters in the faith, and their love is a source of consolation and strength.
«All will hate you because of me, yet not a hair of your head will be harmed.»
But there is also the promise of Jesus: “… not a hair of your head will be harmed.” What do these words mean? Jesus takes up something that Samuel said and applies it to the final destiny of his disciples, in order to assure us that, although this hatred brings real suffering and real difficulties, we should realize that we are entirely in the hands of God who is our Father, who knows everything about us, and who will never abandon us. When Jesus says that not even a hair of our head will be harmed, he means to assure us that he himself will take care of every worry no matter how small, for our own life, for those dear to us, and for all that is important to us. How many martyrs known and unknown, have drawn from his words the strength and courage to face the loss of their rights, division, isolation, contempt, even a violent death, at times, always certain that God, in his love, permits everything for the good of his children!
«All will hate you because of me, yet not a hair of your head will be harmed.»
If we are the target of hatred or violence, or if we feel that we are at the mercy of the powerful, we already know the attitude that Jesus wants us to have: we must love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us. We must make a counterattack and win hatred with love. How can we do this? By taking the initiative in loving, and being careful not to “hate” anyone, not even in a hidden or subtle way. Although the world rejects God, it needs him, his love, and it can respond to his call. In conclusion, how can we live this Word of Life? By being happy to discover ourselves worthy of the world’s hatred, which is the guarantee that we are following Jesus ever more closely, and by loving in a concrete way precisely where there is hatred.
Chiara Lubich
30 Sep 2001 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Throughout the history of its lengthy exiles Israel often experienced a radical sense of helplessness in the face of events which no human force could have changed. It learned humility, that is, an attitude of total dependence and complete trust in God. Precisely in the condition of a humble and poor people, Israel repeatedly took refuge and found a response solely in the One who had established with it an eternal covenant.
From the messianic perspective, the one awaited is a humble king who enters Zion riding a donkey, because the God of Israel is above all the “God of the humble”.
Because all the expectations were fulfilled in Jesus, we can learn true humility, that which makes our prayer acceptable to the Lord, from his life and teachings.
«The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds».
All of Jesus' life is a lesson in humility. He is God, and yet he became man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, then bread in the Eucharist and finally, ” cross.br the on nothing?>He had said: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29). In washing the feet of his disciples, he who was master and teacher, bent down to perform the humblest of services. He had pointed out the little ones as a model, and he had entered Jerusalem riding a mule. In the end, he allowed himself to be crucified, annulling himself in body and in soul, in order to obtain heaven for us.
Why did he do all this? What motivated the Son of God?
What he was doing was revealing to us his relationship with the Father, the style of loving of the Trinity, which is a mutual “making oneself nothing” out of love, an eternal self-giving to one another.
Jesus pours out to humanity this trinitarian love which reaches its apex precisely in the act of giving himself completely in his passion and death.
Thus God shows his power in weakness. His is a love which elevates the world, precisely because it puts itself in the last place, on the lowest rung of creation.
«The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds».
Truly humble, then, are those who, following the example of Jesus, make themselves nothing out of love for others, who put themselves in the presence of God with an attitude of total availability to his will, who are totally empty of themselves so as to allow Jesus to live in them.
Their prayer will be granted because when they pronounce the word Abba-Father, it is no longer they who are praying; it is a prayer which obtains what it asks because it is put on their lips by the Holy Spirit.
The culminating point of Jesus' life was when “he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” (Heb 5:7-8), that is, because of his prayer inspired by total obedience to the will of the Father, by his complete abandonment to him.
This then is the prayer that pierces the clouds and reaches the heart of God, that of sons and daughters who rise above their misery and trustingly throw themselves into the arms of the Father.
Chiara Lubich
31 Aug 2001 | Non categorizzato, Word of
The teaching that Jesus wants to give us here concerns wealth, and Luke, the evangelist of the poor, acts as his spokesman. The term “mammon” is an Aramaic word which means material goods, but Jesus is using it here in a negative sense, that is, as the embodiment of treasures which can take the place of God in people's hearts.
The danger with wealth is that people can fall in love with it to the point that they put all their strength and time into keeping and increasing it. It becomes an idol to which everything is sacrificed. This is why Jesus compares it to a master who is so demanding that he doesn't admit anything or anyone else. This explains the need to make a choice without compromises.
«No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon».
We shouldn't take Jesus' words as a condemnation of wealth as such, but of the exclusive place it can hold in the human heart.
He doesn't require absolute poverty of everyone; actually, some of his disciples were rich, like Joseph of Arimathea. What he requires is detachment from one's goods. Wealthy persons should not so much consider themselves as owners, but as administrators of the goods they possess, which belong primarily to God and are destined not only to a privileged few but to everyone.
Wealth is an excellent tool if used to serve those in need, to do good and to promote social wellbeing, not only by means of charitable works, but also by the management of a business. This is the only way to use our goods without becoming enslaved by them.
Accumulating riches for ourselves always poses a great risk. We know from our own personal experience and from history that attachment to the goods of this world can corrupt and distance us from God. Consequently, we should not be surprised by the alternative Jesus resolutely puts before us: either God or riches.
«No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon».
How can we live this Word of Life?
Besides clarifying for us the relationship we should have with wealth, these words, like every word of God, have many things to tell us. Jesus is not offering us the alternative of choosing God or mammon. He says clearly that it is God whom we must chose in life.
Perhaps we have not done this yet. Perhaps we have mixed a little faith in him, a few religious practices and a certain love for our neighbor with many other riches, great or small, which fill our hearts.
If we take a close look at ourselves we will be able to see if what matters most to us is work, family, studies, success, health or one of the many other things in life which we love for themselves or out of self-interest, ignoring God completely.
If this is the case, our hearts are already enslaved; our lives are centered on idols incompatible with God.
What should we do then? We must decide and tell God that we want nothing else but to love him with all our hearts, our minds, our strength. And then we must strive to fulfill this resolution which is not difficult if we do it moment by moment – now, in the present moment of our lives, loving everyone and everything out of love for God alone.
Chiara Lubich
31 Jul 2001 | Non categorizzato, Word of
In the Hebrew Testament fire symbolizes the word of God pronounced by the prophet. But it also signifies the divine judgement that purifies his people by passing in their midst.
We can say the same about the word of Jesus: it builds up, but at the same time it destroys all that has no consistency, all that needs to come down, all that is vanity, and it leaves only the truth standing.
John the Baptist had said of him: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16), pre-announcing the Christian baptism inaugurated on the day of Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the appearance of the tongues of fire (See Acts 2:3).
This then is Jesus' mission: to cast fire on earth, to bring the Holy Spirit with his renovating and purifying force.
«I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!»
Jesus gives us the Spirit. But how does the Holy Spirit act?
He fills us with love and he wants us to keep this love enkindled in our hearts.
What kind of love is it?
It's not an earthly, limited kind of love. It's the love that the Gospel speaks of. It's a universal love, like that of the heavenly Father who makes the sun rise and the rain fall on the good and the bad, including enemies (See Mt 5:45).
It's a love that doesn't wait for the others to take the first step, but which always takes the initiative by loving first.
It's a love that makes itself one with every person: suffering and rejoicing with them, sharing their worries and hopes. And when needed, it does so in a concrete way, with deeds. So it's not simply a sentimental love that is expressed with words alone.
It's a love directed to Christ in our neighbor, mindful of his words: “You did it for me” (Mt 25:40).
It's a love that leads to reciprocity, to loving one another.
Because this love is a visible, concrete expression of our life based on the Gospel, it underlines and testifies to the word that we can and must offer in order to evangelize.
«I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!»
Love is like fire – what is important is to keep it lit, and so it must always burn something. First of all, it must consume our selfishness, and it does this because by loving, we are projected outside of ourselves: either towards God, by carrying out his will, or towards our neighbors, by helping them.
Even a small fire, if it is fed, can become a large blaze – that blaze of love, peace, and universal brotherhood which Jesus brought on earth.
Chiara Lubich
