28 Feb 2002 | Non categorizzato, Word of
In this “pearl” of the Gospel, Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman near Jacob’s well, he speaks of water as the simplest of elements, but one that proves to be the most desired, the most vital for whoever is familiar with the desert. No great explanations were needed to convey the importance of water.
Spring water is for our natural life, whereas the living water that Jesus is speaking of is for eternal life.
Just as the desert blooms only after an abundant rainfall, similarly the seeds buried in us at baptism can bud forth only if sprinkled with the word of God. Then the plant grows, it gives off new shoots and shapes into a tree or into a very lovely flower, all because it receives the living water of the word of God which sparks life and preserves it for eternity.
«Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life»
Jesus’ words are addressed to all of us who are thirsty in this world: to those who are conscious of their spiritual aridity and who still suffer thirst, and to those who are not even aware of the need to drink from the fountain of true life and of the great values of humanity.
Actually, Jesus is extending an invitation to all men and women today, revealing where we can find the answer to our questions and the fulfillment of all our desires.
It is up to us, therefore, to draw from his words, to let ourselves be imbued with his message.
How?
By re-evangelizing our life, measuring it against his words, trying to think with the mind of Jesus and to love with his heart.
Every moment in which we seek to live the Gospel is like drinking a drop of that living water. Every gesture of love for our neighbor is like a sip of that water.
Yes, because that water, which is so alive and precious, has something special about it. It wells up within us each time we open our heart to others. It’s a wellspring of God which gives water to us in the measure in which it flows out to quench the thirst of others through small or big acts of love.
«Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life»
We’ve understood, then: to avoid suffering thirst, we must give to others the living water that we draw from him within ourselves.
Very little is needed, at times a word, a smile, a simple gesture of solidarity, to give us a renewed sense of fulfillment, of profound satisfaction, a surge of joy. And if we continue to give, this fountain of peace and life will pour out water evermore abundantly and never dry up.
Jesus revealed to us yet another secret, a kind of bottomless well from which we can draw. When two or three are united in his name, by loving one another with his very own love, he is in their midst (see Mt 18:20). And it is then that we are free, that we are one, full of light, with rivers of living water flowing from within us” (see Jn 7:38). It’s the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise because it is from Jesus himself, present in our midst, that quenching water wells up for eternity.
Chiara Lubich
31 Jan 2002 | Non categorizzato, Word of
This is the answer Jesus gave to the first of the temptations in the desert after having fasted for “forty days and forty nights”. It concerns one of our most basic needs, food.
Thus the tempter proposes to use his powers to transform the stones into loaves of bread. What evil could there be in satisfying an inherent need of human nature?
However, Jesus is aware of the deceit behind the proposal: the suggestion is to use God, expecting that he put himself at the service of our material needs. Actually, Jesus is being asked to assume an attitude of independence rather than one of filial abandonment to the Father.
This then is Jesus’ answer, which is also an answer to all our questions concerning hunger in the world and to the increasingly dramatic demand for food, housing, and clothing on the part of millions of human beings. He who will feed the crowds by miraculously multiplying the loaves and who will base the final judgement also on giving food to the hungry, tells us that God is greater than our hunger and that his word is our primary and essential nourishment.
«It is written: ’One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God’»
Jesus presents the word of God as bread, as nourishment. This thought, this likeness sheds light on our relationship with his word.
But how can we nourish ourselves with the word of God?
Just as wheat is first seed, then an ear of grain, and finally bread, similarly, the word of God is like a seed placed in us that must sprout. It’s like a piece of bread that is to be eaten, assimilated, transformed into life of our life.
The Word of God, the Logos pronounced by the Father and incarnated in Jesus, is a presence of his among us. Every time we receive it and seek to put it into practice, it’s like nourishing ourselves with Jesus.
While bread nourishes us and helps us to grow, the word of God nourishes and helps Christ to grow in us, our true personality.
The fact that Jesus came on earth and made himself our food means that a purely natural food like bread can no longer be enough for us. We need that supernatural food, God’s word, in order to grow as his children.
«It is written: ’One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God’»
The nature of this food is such that we can say of it, as of Jesus in the Eucharist, that when we eat it, it is not transformed into us, but we are transformed into him, because we are, in a way, assimilated by him.
Thus the Gospel is not a book of consolation in which we take refuge solely in painful moments, but it is the code that contains the laws of life, laws which are not only to be read, but assimilated, eaten, with the soul, thus making us similar to Christ in every instant.
Therefore, we can be another Jesus fully accomplishing his doctrine to the letter. His are the words of a God, charged with unexpected revolutionary force.
This is what we must do: nourish ourselves with the word of God. And just as the necessary nourishment for our body can nowadays be concentrated in a single pill, likewise, we can nourish ourselves with Christ by living his words one at a time, because he is present in each one of them.
There is a word for each moment, for each situation of our life. Reading the Gospel can reveal it to us.
Let us live now love of neighbor out of love for God, which is like a concentrate of all his words.
Chiara Lubich
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
