Focolare Movement

Right now!

Jun 22, 2020

Chiara Lubich wrote "Jesus was the manifestation of the Heavenly Father's fully welcoming love for each one of us  and of the love that, consequently, we should have for one another. (...) The welcoming of the other, of the one different  from us, is the basis of Christian love. It is the starting point, the first step in the construction of that civilization of love, of that culture of communion, to which Jesus calls us especially today"[1] .

The following writing by Chiara Lubich helps us to see our reality as it is, in God’s eyes, regardless of the external circumstances in which we find ourselves, which can also be very painful. During his passion, Jesus too was always “turned to the Father” and conformed to his will. With this attitude he became the Risen One, the Saviour. … We have understood that each one of us is a Word of God from all eternity. In fact, St. Paul says: “He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.” (Eph 1:4-5). And in another passage, still speaking of us, he adds: “For those whom he foreknew” (Rm 8:29). And we understood that because we are Word of God, we must adopt just one attitude, which is the most intelligent: just like the Word, the Second Person of the Trinity, we must always be “turned” towards the Father, which means towards His will. Moreover, this is how we can fulfil our personality and attain our total freedom. In fact, by living in this way, we allow our true self to live. Now, since we want to do all this, we should ask ourselves: when do we need to have this attitude? We know the answer: it is now, in the present moment. The will of God is to be lived in the present. It is in the present that we must live turned towards the Father, in that present moment which is an essential aspect of our spirituality and of our “asceticism”. We cannot disregard it. This way of living is pure gospel. In his gospel, St Matthew quotes these words of Jesus: “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Mt 6:34) … Let’s go back, then to our commitment to live God’s will in the present moment as much as possible. Let’s also remember that the will of God to be fulfilled before any other, and in every moment of our day, is that of mutual love, loving one another as Jesus loved us. This is what guarantees our constant renewal.

                                                                             Chiara Lubich

Taken from a telephone conference call, Rocca di Papa, 21st December 1996

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

Margaret Karram on the ‘Within Your Gates’ Forum”

Margaret Karram on the ‘Within Your Gates’ Forum”

“This initiative truly touches my heart.” Margaret Karram returns to the Holy City, where she lived for 24 years, to take part in the inauguration of the ‘Within Your Gates’ Forum, organised by Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the University of Notre Dame.

Season of Creation 2026: The Transformation of a Community

Season of Creation 2026: The Transformation of a Community

The “Season of Creation” is an ecumenical Christian initiative that begins every year on 1st September and ends on 4th October, the feast of St. Francis. This year with the theme “Living Water”, Christians around the world are invited not only to contemplate water at the river banks, but to immerse themselves in what it represents: life, relationship, healing, hope and the love of God that flows through all of creation. Here is a testimony from Congo, in Africa.

1st September, the “Season of Creation” begins

1st September, the “Season of Creation” begins

In the message published on the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Leo XIV urges us to face today’s ethical and cultural crisis that includes the desire for war, domination and the pursuit of profit. What is needed is “an authentic ecological conversion” that comes from the heart.