We find in people of recognized moral integrity and inspiration of many, words that encourage us to recognize the value of those around us. Simone Well invites us to see everyone as equal, and speaks of truth, justice, compassion as inspiring values in our lives; Desmond Tutu values truth, forgiveness and reconciliation to resolve conflicts; for the Dalai Lama the most important thing we can do in this life is to teach our children more compassion.
What Chiara Lubich tells us about the love of mercy can also help us. He writes that «…it is love that makes the hearts and arms of the miserable, [...], of those torn apart by
life, to repentant sinners. A love that knows how to welcome the misguided neighbor, friend, brother or stranger, and forgives him countless times. […] A love that does not measure and will not be measured. It is a more abundant, more universal, more concrete flowering charity than that which [...] was possessed before [...] Mercy is the ultimate expression of charity, the one that completes it. And charity overcomes pain, because it is only of this life, while love lasts forever"[1].
It is an invitation not to reject anyone, however distant one may feel, even if one does not share certain values and points of view. If we experience an abundance of tenderness, we feel led to welcome every neighbor, man or woman, young or old, healthy or sick, belonging to our culture or not... And everyone will be welcomed.
In Quebec (Canada), a Christian community is committed to welcoming many families who arrive in that country from different parts of the world: France, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Congo... All of them are welcomed and helped, even contemplating their inclusion and insertion. This means responding to their various needs, filling the requirements related to refugee or resident status, coordinating with schools for their children, accompanying them to discover their neighborhood. Enrolling in French courses and looking for a job is also important.
Guy and Micheline write: «A Syrian family who arrived in Canada fleeing the war met another family who had just arrived and was very disoriented. Through social networks, he activated the solidarity network and many friends provided the necessary: beds, sofas, tables, chairs, crockery, clothing, books and games for the children spontaneously offered by other children of our families sensitized by parents. They received more than they needed and, in turn, helped other poor families in their building. THE IDEA OF THE MONTH of that month was: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”».
Here's how we can bring this IDEA OF THE MONTH to life: by testifying to our closeness to each other, as individuals and as a community.
[1] C. Lubich, When pain was known, in The spiritual doctrine, Città Nuova, Rome 2006, pp. 140-141