Focolare Movement

Living the Gospel: the children’s example

Dec 16, 2016

As Christmas approaches, the Gen4 children of the Focolare worldwide teach us how to put the Gospel into practice.

Sonia is from Slovacchia; she’s five and goes to nursery school. One day she told her mom that she had found a friend in school. “And what’s her name?” “I don’t know, she doesn’t speak. I approached her since I saw she was always alone and nobody wanted to play with her.” Sonia’s mom usually fetches her for lunch. But the teacher said: “Let her stay! She helps us with a gypsy girl who at first did not speak at all and now, thanks to her, has started to talk and cooperate with the others.” When she returned home her mother asked: “Did your friend say something to you?” “No, but she smiles when I tell her I like her.” Her mother remained silent. And the child said: “You know, love warms up each one of us.” gen 4 11From Cameroon Kevin wrote: «One day in school during the break I asked one of my schoolmates if he had anything to eat. I was hungry and had nothing. He refused. The day after, I brought a piece of bread and when he came to ask me, I in turn refused. The next day, upon throwing the love dice it said: “Love your enemies.” I thought of that classmate. In school I tried to speak to him but he didn’t answer. So I sat in front of the house, waiting for him and when he came by, I called out to him, went up to him and when I asked why I shouldn’t speak to him anymore, he answered: “You refused to share with me the bread you had.”  I immediately said, “Let’s make up!”and handed him some guava fruit I had with me. And so we started to talk and became friends again.» gen 4 2From Italy, Marco recounts: «One day at the nursery, the children made fun of me because I’m fat. I was sorry they did that and sometimes I cried. So I went to the Nun and instead of accusing them I told her of my sufferings. I understood that I had to forgive them and did so, because a Gen4 is one who, like Jesus, forgives and loves all.» Carmen lives in a slum at the outskirts of Mexico City. Often in the evening her uncles returns home drunk. Carmen is scared and hides herself. «But the other evening I didn’t hide – she says – I waited for him and helped him enter. I wasn’t scared because I knew that Our Lady takes care of me.» E Bartek, from Poland: «At the children’s party I received a gift from Teacher Ela, a chocolate bar and a lollipop. In my class there a girl called Asia, whom nobody likes. I remembered that in the morning upon throwing the dice, it said: “Love your enemies” and so I gave Asia the lollipop and half of the chocolate. She was surprised and thanked me, and then left. Now we have become big friends.» «In the centre of Naples (Italy), the “Baby Jesus” we make and offer to people is really selling quickly and many gather around the stand if only to say that they wish to join the initiative. A teacher, an agnostic, who has many problems, held Baby Jesus in her hands and looked at it: “This will be my Christmas!” A child ran home, emptied out his piggy bank and came with all his coins to buy his own Baby Jesus.» By the Gen4 Centres

___

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

7 December: donation and light

7 December: donation and light

On 7 December 1943, as the rain and wind raged, Chiara Lubich went to the Capuchin Church in Trent, Italy, to consecrate herself to God forever, in alone, she and the priest who accompanied her as her spiritual father. She would marry God. But with this act she would also begin a new path. Let us read and listen to the words with which Chiara Lubich herself recalled that day.

Always Go Forward!

Always Go Forward!

German Lutheran Bishop, Christian Krause, former President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), died on 28th November. Bishop Brendan Leahy, Coordinator of the Bishops Friends of the Focolare Movement, remembers him.

Chiara Lubich Contest: In search of Peace

Chiara Lubich Contest: In search of Peace

The “One City Is Not Enough – Chiara Lubich, Citizen of the World” contest is taking place for the fifth time. It continues to offer schools an opportunity to reflect on values such as relationships, embracing diversity and the integration of new technologies in education.