In order for mutual communion to take place, we must "remain" in an active, dynamic, creative love. We must love one another, ready to give our lives, ready to share our goods with all those who need them.
This is a loud and clear announcement even today for us, who sometimes feel overtaken by unpredictable and difficult to control events, such as the pandemic and other personal or collective tragedies. We feel lost and scared because there is a strong temptation to close ourselves in, to raise walls to protect ourselves from those who seem to threaten our security, instead of building bridges to find ourselves.
How is it possible to continue to believe in love in these circumstances? Is it still possible to love?
Josiane, Lebanese, was very far from her country when she heard about the terrible explosion at the port of Beirut in August last year. She confided to someone who, like her, lives the IDEA OF THE MONTH: "I experienced strong pain, anger, anguish, sadness and dismay in my heart. And I strongly felt a question: wasn't all of this enough?ò that Lebanon has experienced so far? I thought of that destroyed neighborhood where I was born and lived; theì now relatives and friends have died, or have been injured or displaced. THEì where hospitals, buildings, schools, which I know very well, have been destroyed. I tried to make my mother and brothers feel my closeness, to respond to the many messages that showed me their affection and prayers, listening to everyone in this deep open wound. I would like to believe - and I believe it - that these meetings with those who suffer constitute a call to respond with concrete acts of love. Beyondat of tears, I discovered a light in many Lebanese, often young people, who stood up, looked around them and offered their help to those in difficulty."
A precious suggestion for living this IDEA is offered to us by Chiara Lubich when she tells us that in the place we find ourselves, we must try to love others, those around us. Thus we will be able to experience an unusual and unexpected effect: our soul will be filled with peace, with love and also with pure joy, with light. Enriched by this experience we will be able to help all our brothers more effectively so that they can find reasons for happiness amidst their tears, which can peacefully transform what torments us. Thus we will be instruments of joy for many, of happiness, of that happiness to which every human heart aspires.