Focolare Movement

Gospel living: in life’s dire straits

Apr 21, 2017

Faced with the discouragement and powerlessness due to injustice, anxiety, dark moments, tight circumstances and the unexpected, Jesus can still shed light on our path. That is how it was for the disciples at Emmaus, and it can still be for each of us.

Better work “After an accident I lost a good job, and my wife’s salary was not enough for my family to get ahead. Yet Providence did not forget us, helping us to find small bits of work just at the right times so we could pull ourselves up. In the evening, together with the children, we prayed for help – not just for ourselves, but for all those in need. Six months after the accident, just when the economy in our country took a critical turn, I found a job that was better than the one I lost.” J. L. – Uruguay The next room “I was in the hospital, lying in darkness because of my health and the medicine I was taking. I didn’t know what to do to get out of it. I heard a bell ringing; someone in the next room was calling the nurse. I got up to see if I could lend a hand. All that was needed was to give someone some water. I stopped beside his bed, showing interest in his life and trying to listen deeply to his words. I don’t know how, but suddenly I felt lighter.” T. d. M. – Italy An unexpected gift “Having been married for 50 years, we have lived through – as Ecclesiastes says – times of joy and pain. One evening, in particularly tight circumstances, we were counting how much money we had left and pondering what we could buy to give the children something to eat. In that moment a friend called – he wanted to pass by after having received two turkeys as a gift to give us one. It’s so true that we have a Father in heaven who never abandons us.” T. e R. – Poland Change of plan “I travel often for work, so I have to make a detailed schedule of what I’m doing, while staying ready to change my plans. I was surprised, in fact, when I realized that something unexpected, if it’s taken from the hands of God, becomes something better than what I had planned myself. This “making space for God” is not just for when I travel, but in many other circumstances, and it is a true lesson on staying vigilant. Seeing the beautry of God’s plans, even if it costs me to lose mine, I have to say that the “invisible director” knows how to point the way to my true fulfilment, my true happiness.” T.M. – Poland

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

From Atheist to Parish Council President

From Atheist to Parish Council President

A friendship born by chance and made up of small attentions and unconditional gestures can leave a lasting mark on a person’s life and become the beginning of an unexpected change.

Kala, an institution

Kala, an institution

On the morning of 10th August, the earthly journey of Dr. Kala Acharya ended. She was a deeply committed Hindu who was engaged in interreligious dialogue, and had a profound relationship with Chiara Lubich.
In a letter expressing her condolences, Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement wrote, “With her spiritual sensitivity and her great human depth, she helped our Movement to understand every more fully the universal dimension of Chiara’s charism. With discretion, expertise and passion, she accompanied us in re-reading many of our founder’s insights from new perspectives”.

Kala, una istituzione

Kala, una istituzione

La mattina del 10 agosto scorso si è concluso il cammino terreno della Dott.ssa Kala Acharya, induista molto impegnata nel dialogo interreligioso, che aveva saputo instaurare un rapporto profondo con Chiara Lubich.
«Con la sua sensibilità spirituale e il suo grande spessore umano, ha aiutato il nostro Movimento a comprendere sempre più la dimensione universale del carisma di Chiara», scrive Margaret Karram, Presidente dei Focolari, nella lettera di condoglianze. E aggiunge: «Con discrezione, competenza e passione, ci ha accompagnati a rileggere molte intuizioni della nostra fondatrice da prospettive nuove».