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“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called” (Eph. 4:4).

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we are invited to focus on the theme found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.(i) This epistle is one of his so-called prison letters, and in it, he exhorts all those who listen to his message to be credible witnesses to their faith through the unity among them. This unity is based on one faith, one spirit and one hope and it is the only means of witnessing to Christ’s followers as his “body.”

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.”

So, Paul calls us back to hope. But what is hope and why are we invited to live it? It is not only a seed that develops but also a gift that we can protect, cultivate and bring to fruition for the good of all. ‘Christian hope sets us upon a narrow mountain ridge that is like a frontier where our vocation asks that we choose to be faithful to God’s faithfulness to us every day and every hour.’ (ii)

Our vocation, the call to be Christian, is not just an individual matter between each person and God; it is a convocation’, being called together. It is the call to unity among those who are committed to living the Gospel. In Chiara Lubich’s talks and writings, we often find explicit references to unity as an integral part of her spirituality. It is the fruit of Jesus’ presence among us and this presence is the source of profound happiness.

‘If unity is so important for Christians, then failing to achieve it must be contrary to their vocation. We sin against unity every time we give in to the continual temptation of individualism, which pushes us to do things alone,
guided by our own judgement, interests, or personal prestige, and to ignore or even despise others, their needs, and their rights.’ (iii)

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.”

In Guatemala, there is great collaboration and dialogue between members of different Christian Churches.
Ramiro writes, “People from different Churches worked together to organise the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The program included an arts festival that young people helped to initiate and various celebrations in different churches. This was so successful that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference asked us to continue this initiative in preparation for a gathering with Catholic bishops and believers from many Churches who were travelling from across the Americas for a conference commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

It’s not only during these special activities but whenever we come together I feel we always experience a strong sense of unity among us all and the fruits that it brings: fraternity, joy, and peace.’

by Patrizia Mazzola and the Word of Life Team

(i) Celebrated 18-25 Jan in the northern hemisphere & at the time of Pentecost in the southern hemisphere. For 2026, the prayers and reflections have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches.
(ii) Madeleine Delbrêl https://www.pasomv.it/files/bocc/madalein_del_brel_noi_spes.pdf
(iii) C. Lubich, Word of Life, July 1985Download January Word of Life

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“All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God” (Is 52:10).

When they were led into exile in Babylon, the people of Israel lost everything: their land, their king, their temple and, therefore, the possibility of worshipping their God who had brought them out of Egypt in the past. But then, the voice of a prophet made an astonishing announcement: it was time to return home. Once again, God would powerfully intervene and lead the Israelites across the desert to Jerusalem, and all the peoples of the earth
would witness this miraculous event:

“All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”

Today too, alarming reports fill the news: people are losing their jobs, their health, their security and dignity; the future of young people is particularly at risk because war and poverty caused by climate change is robbing them of their homeland, peace and dignity. This tragic scenario on a planetary scale takes our breath away and leaves us living beneath a very dark cloud. Who will save us from the destruction of everything we thought we had? There seems to be no basis for hope. Yet the prophet’s announcement is for us too.

“All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”

God’s word reveals his action in both our personal and collective history and invites us to open our eyes to the signs of his plan of salvation. This is already at work in so many different ways: it can be seen in the commitment of a teacher, the honesty of a business man or woman, the integrity of an administrator, the fidelity of a married couple, the embrace of a child, the tenderness of a nurse, the patience of a grandmother, the courage of those who peacefully oppose crime and the welcome of a community.

“All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”

Christmas is approaching. God’s patient and merciful presence in human history is revealed once again in the disarming innocence of the child Jesus. We can bear witness to this through the choices we make which may be different from many of the current trends in society.

“In a world which may seem paralysed by materialism and selfishness and where strife and the law of the strongest and most unscrupulous prevail, the answer is to love our neighbour. This is the medicine that can bring healing.
It is like a wave of divine warmth that radiates and spreads, gradually transforming society by penetrating relationships between individuals and groups.” (i)

Just as at a certain moment the people of Israel set out on their journey, this is the time when we too can take a decisive step to reach out to those who need to experience a gesture of care and closeness: the young and the old, the poor and the migrants, the unemployed and the homeless, the sick and the imprisoned. We must bear witness to the gentle yet powerful presence of God’s love among us.

Today, the boundaries we encounter as we share this good news with others may be geographical such as frontiers or the painful dividing lines of war, but they may also be cultural and existential. Even digital communities, which
are often populated by young people, can make an effective contribution to overcoming aggression, loneliness and marginalisation. As the Congolese poet Henri Boukoulou writes, ‘O divine hope! Behold the desperate cry of the wind wherein the first lines of the most beautiful love poem are etched. And tomorrow, there is hope!’ (ii)

by Letizia Magri and the Word of Life Team

(i) C. Lubich, Word of Life May ‘85
(ii) AA.VV, Anti-Apartheid African Poetry, pub 2003

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).

for ages 4-8 | Print | Audio

Recently, an observatory established by three Italian universities reported that more than a million hate messages were posted online in one year. Messages of hate against foreigners, Jews and, in particular, women are becoming increasingly violent.

Of course, we cannot generalise, but most of us, at some time,  have experienced argumentative attitudes, insults and antagonism in our families or at work or during sport and so on which divide us and undermine social cohesion. On a more global level, there are currently 56 armed conflicts worldwide, the highest number since World War II, resulting in a significant number of civilian casualties.

It is in this context that Jesus’ thought provoking words resonate more  truthfully and powerfully than ever.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

‘Every nation and every person feels a deep longing for peace, harmony and unity. Yet despite our efforts and goodwill, after thousands of years of history, we still find ourselves unable to achieve stable and lasting peace. Jesus came to bring us peace – a peace that, he tells us, is not like that which ‘the world gives’, [i] because it is not merely the absence of war, strife, division and trauma. His peace encompasses all of these things but it is so much more: it is the fullness of life and joy; it is the salvation of the whole person; it is freedom; it is justice and fraternity among all peoples, based on love.’ [ii]

This month’s Word of Life is the seventh Beatitude with which the Sermon on the Mount begins (Matthew 5–7). Jesus, who embodies all the Beatitudes, addresses his disciples instructing them. It is worth noting that the eight Beatitudes are formulated in the plural. This suggests that the emphasis is not on individual attitudes or personal virtues, but rather on a collective ethic carried out in a group.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Who are the peacemakers? ‘This ‘beatitude’ is the most active one and explicitly asks for concrete efforts.  The words are similar to those in the first verse of the Bible that refers to creation and they  indicate initiative and industriousness. Love is creative by nature … and seeks reconciliation at any cost. Those who have learned the art of peace and practise it are called children of God. They know that there can be no reconciliation without giving one’s life, and that peace must always be sought everywhere… This is not an autonomous work that is the fruit of one’s own abilities, but a manifestation of the grace received from Christ, who is our peace and has made us children of God.’ [iii]

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

So, how can we live out these words? Firstly, by spreading true love everywhere. Secondly, we must intervene when peace is threatened around us. Sometimes, simply listening lovingly and attentively to those in conflict can provide a way forward.

Furthermore, it asks that we do not give up until broken relationships, often caused by trivial matters, are restored. Perhaps we could initiate special activities within our groups, associations or parishes to raise awareness of the need for peace. There are myriad proposals around the world, large and small, that work for this: marches, concerts, conferences and volunteer work set in motion a current of generosity that builds peace.

There are also peace education programmes, such as ‘Living Peace’.  [iv]To date, over two million children, young people and adults in more than 2,600 schools and groups on five continents are involved in its initiatives. These include launching the ‘Peace Dice’ — inspired by Chiara Lubich’s ‘art of loving’ [v] – with phrases written on each side to help build peaceful relationships, and the worldwide ‘Time Out’ initiative which is a moment of silence, reflection,or prayer for peace at 12:00 noon every day.

Prepared by Augusto Parody Reyes
and the Word of Life Team

[i] Cf. Jn 14:27
[ii] C. Lubich, Word of Life Jan 2004
[iii] Pope Francis, General Audience, 15 April 2020
[iv] http://livingpeaceinternational.org
[v] C. Lubich ‘The Art of Loving’, Rome 2000

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‘My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.’ (Ps 121 [120]:2)

Is there anyone who, at certain times of their life, has not felt that they simply could no longer cope? The author of Psalm 121 felt like this when facing great difficulties and wondered where the help needed could be found.

The answer is an affirmation of faith in God, in whom he or she trusts. The conviction with which the author speaks of the Lord, who watches over and protects each individual and all peoples, expresses a certainty that seems to arise from deep personal experience.

‘My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.’

The rest of the psalm, in effect, is a proclamation of a powerful and loving God, who created all that exists and guards it day and night. The Lord ‘will not let your foot falter, will not let your keeper fall asleep’ (i), says the psalmist, eager
to convince the reader. Although surrounded by difficulties, the author has looked up (ii), sought a foothold outside and beyond their immediate sphere and found an answer. He or she has experienced that help comes from the One who gave life to every creature, who continues to sustain everything at all times and will never abandon it.(iii) The psalmist firmly believes in this God who watches over everyone day and night: he or she is ‘the keeper of Israel’ (iv) and therefore, this belief must be communicated to others.

‘My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.’

Chiara Lubich says, ‘In times of uncertainty, anguish and delay, God wants us to believe in his love and asks us to trust… He wants us to take advantage of these painful circumstances to show him that we believe in his
love. And that means to have faith that he is our father who does not abandon us. That means casting all our worries onto him, loading everything on to him.’ (v)

But how does God‘s help actually reach each one of us? Scripture recounts many episodes when this comes about through the actions of men and women, such as Moses, Elijah, Elisha or Esther, who were called to be instruments of divine care and concern for a particular person or for whole nations. We too, if we ‘look up,’ will recognize the action of people who, consciously or not, come to our aid and we will be grateful to God from whom all goodness ultimately comes, for it is he who created each person’s heart. We will be able to witness this goodness to other people.

It is difficult to do this if we are closed in on ourselves and rely solely on our own strength to solve problems during challenging times.

Instead, when we are more open and our eyes are raised and see around us, we also discover that we can be instruments of God who provides for his children. We sense the concerns of others and can give them much needed help.

‘My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.’

Roger, from Costa Rica, recounts. ‘A priest I knew told me that someone was coming to the social help centre to collect some incontinence pads for a parishioner who needed them. While I was waiting for him, I saw a neighbour
passing by who I knew was living in a very difficult situation and I gave her some food including the last seven eggs I had. She was surprised by what I did and revealed that she had nothing in her home that she, her husband or her
children could eat. I reminded her that Jesus’ said, “Ask and it will be given to you” (Mt 7:7), emphasizing that he is aware of our needs. She returned home happy and grateful to God.

In the afternoon the person sent by the priest arrived. I offered him coffee. He was a truck driver and, while chatting, I asked him what he was transporting. “Eggs,” he replied, and he wanted to give me thirty-two!’

Silvano Malini & the Word of Life Team

i Ps. 121 [120]:3
ii Cf. idem v.1
iii Cf. idem v3
iv Cf. idem v.4
v C.Lubich. ‘Conversations’ Rome 2019

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“Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:6).

Shepherds in the Ancient East used to count sheep when they returned from the pasture and were always ready to set out in search if one was missing. They would even brave the desert and the night, in order to find those sheep that had gone astray.

This parable is a story of loss and finding again that clearly demonstrates the shepherd’s love for the flock. He notices that one of the sheep is missing, searches for it, finds it and carries it on his shoulders because it is weak, frightened, perhaps wounded and unable to follow the shepherd unaided. He brings the sheep back to safety and, finally, full of joy, invites his neighbours to celebrate together.

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.”

Three actions – getting lost, finding and celebrating – are the recurring themes in this story.

Getting lost. The good news is that the Lord goes out to find those who are lost. We often lose the way in the various situations we encounter or in which we live or even take refuge. These may include experiences of abandonment, marginalization, poverty, misunderstanding or disunity. They are like the desert where the path ahead is unclear. The shepherd searches for us even in these places, and although we may lose sight of him, he will always find us.

Finding. Let us try to imagine the scene of the shepherd’s frantic search in the desert. It is an image that is striking in its expressive power. We can understand the joy felt by both the shepherd and the sheep when they find one another: this encounter restores that sense of security to the sheep because it has escaped danger. Thus, the ‘finding’ is an act of divine mercy.

Celebration. The shepherd gathers his friends together to celebrate because he wants to share his joy, just as the main character does in the other two parables that follow this one: that of the lost coin and that of the merciful
father.(i) Jesus wants us to understand the importance of sharing joy with everyone and immunizes us against the temptation to judge each other. We have all been ‘found again’.

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.”

This Word of Life is an invitation to be grateful for the mercy God has for us all personally. Rejoicing and celebrating together present us with an image of unity, where there is no opposition between ‘righteous’ and ‘sinners,’ but we
share in each other’s joy. Chiara Lubich writes, ‘It is an invitation to understand the heart of God and to believe in his love. We are inclined to calculate and measure and sometimes we believe that even God’s love may grow weary… but God’s logic is not like ours. God is always waiting for us: indeed, we bring him immense joy every time – even though it be an infinite number of times that we return to him.’ (ii)

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.”

Sometimes we can be those shepherds, those caretakers, for one another and lovingly search for those who have drifted away from us, from our friendship or from our community. We can look out for the marginalized, the lost, the people driven to the peripheries by the trials of life.

A teacher told us ‘Some pupils didn’t come to classes regularly. When I was free, I used to go to the market near the school because I hoped to see them there because I knew some of them worked there to earn money. One day I finally found them. They were amazed that I had gone to look for them personally and were struck by the fact that they were really important to the whole school community. So they started to come to school regularly and it truly was a celebration for everyone.’

by Patrizia Mazzola & the Word of Life Team

i  cf Lk. 15:8 & 15:11
ii  C. Lubich Word of Life Sept 1986

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“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Lk 12:34).

The evangelist, Luke, reports that Jesus shared this teaching with his disciples as they were walking towards Jerusalem, the place of the Passover of his death and resurrection. On the way, he addressed them as ‘little flock’ (i) and he confided all that lay deep within his heart and soul. These thoughts included a need for detachment from earthly possessions, trust in the Father’s providence, inner vigilance and the importance of living in active expectation of the Kingdom of God.

In the preceding verses, Jesus encouraged the disciples to have an attitude of detachment and not worry about themselves or even their own lives. He told them not to be concerned about material needs because their Father in heaven knows all that is necessary. He invited them instead to seek the Kingdom of God and encouraged them to accumulate ‘a sure treasure in heaven.’ (ii) Jesus was not promoting a passive and disinterested attitude towards earthly things or irresponsible conduct at work. His intention was to take away our anxiety, our restlessness and our fear.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “

In this context, the ‘heart’ means the unifying centre of the person that gives meaning to everything he or she lives; it is where there is sincerity and no deception or pretence. It usually indicates one’s true intentions, what one really thinks, believes and wants. The ‘treasure’ is what is most valuable to us and, therefore, our priority. It is what we believe gives security both now and in the future.

Pope Francis wrote: “In a world where everything is bought and sold, people’s sense of their worth appears increasingly to depend on what they can accumulate with the power of money. We are constantly being pushed to keep buying, consuming and distracting ourselves, held captive to a demeaning system that prevents us from looking beyond our immediate and petty needs.” (iii)

But, in the innermost depths of every woman and man, there is an ever- present search for that true happiness that does not disappoint and that no material goods can satisfy.

Chiara Lubich wrote: ‘Yes, there is what you seek: in your heart there is an infinite and immortal yearning; a hope that does not die; a faith that breaks through the darkness of death and is light to those who believe: it is not for nothing that you hope ,that you believe! Not for nothing!

You hope, you believe in order to LOVE.’ (iv)

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This Word invites us to make an examination of conscience: what is my treasure, what do I value most? The answer may have many nuances such as economic status but also fame, success and power. Experience tells us that we must continually bring ourselves back to real life that does not simply slip away, to the radical and demanding life of evangelical love: ‘It is not enough for a Christian to be good, merciful, humble, meek and patient… In relationship with neighbours, he or she must practise the charity that Jesus taught us. […] For charity is not a readiness to give life. It is giving life.’ v

We should love every neighbour we meet during the day (in the family, at work, everywhere) with this measure. If we live not thinking of ourselves, but thinking of and living for others, we experience true freedom.

Augusto Parody Reyes & the Word of Life Team

(i) Lk 12:32
(ii) Lk 12:33
(iii) Pope Francis Dilexit nos, no. 218
(iv) C. Lubich “Letters of the Early Times.” June 1944
(v)  C. Lubich extract taken from conference call

“But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity” (Lk 10:33).

Martine was on the metro in one of the main European cities; all the passengers were absorbed in their phones. She thought how the people may have been connected virtually but were really trapped in isolation and said to herself, ‘Are we no longer able to look each other in the eye?’
This has become an everyday experience, especially in societies which are rich in material goods but increasingly poor in human relationships. However, the Gospel always offers its original, creative proposal, to ‘make all things new’ (1).

In the long dialogue with the lawyer who asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life2, Jesus replied with the famous parable of the Good Samaritan: a priest and a Levite, respected figures in the society of the time, saw a man assaulted by robbers and lying on the roadside, but they passed him by.

“But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.”

To the lawyer who was very familiar with the divine commandment to love one’s neighbour (3), Jesus gave the example of a foreigner who was considered to be a schismatic and an enemy. The man saw the wounded traveller, but he allowed himself to be moved by compassion, a feeling that comes from within, from deep in the human heart. So he interrupted his journey, approached the man and took care of him.
Jesus knows that every human being is wounded by sin and his very mission is: to heal hearts with God’s mercy and gratuitous forgiveness, so that they too may be capable of closeness and sharing.

‘… To learn to be merciful like the Father, perfect like him, we must look at Jesus, the full revelation of the Father’s love… Love is the absolute value that gives meaning to everything else … and finds its highest expression in mercy. Mercy helps us to see the people we live with each day in a new light, in our family, at school, at work, without remembering their faults and mistakes. It helps us not to judge, but to forgive the wrongs we have suffered. Indeed, to forget them’ (4)

“But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.”

The final and decisive response comes as a clear invitation: ‘Go and do likewise’ (5). This is what Jesus repeats to anyone who welcomes his Word: to become a neighbour by taking the initiative to ‘touch’ the wounds of those encountered each day along the paths of life.

To live evangelical closeness, first of all we must ask Jesus to heal us of the blindness of prejudice and indifference, which prevent us from seeing beyond ourselves. Then, from the Samaritan, we can learn the ability for compassion which moved him to put his own life on the line. Let’s imitate his readiness to take the first step toward others, his willingness to listen to them, to make their pain our own, free from judgment and from the anxiety of ‘wasting time.’

This is what happened to a young woman from Korea: ‘I tried to help a teenager who wasn’t from my culture and whom I didn’t know well. Even though I didn’t know exactly what to do or how, I found the courage to try and to my surprise, by offering that help, I found that my own inner wounds had been healed.’

This Word offers us the golden key for living out a Christian humanism. It makes us aware of our common humanity, in which the image of God is reflected and it teaches us to courageously overcome the limits of physical and cultural ‘closeness.’ From this perspective, it becomes possible to expand the boundaries of ‘us’ to the horizon of ‘everyone’ and to rediscover the very foundations of social life.

Compiled by Letizia Magri
and the Word of Life team

1cf. Rev 21:5
2cf. Lk 10:25–37
3cf. Dt. 6:5; Lv. 19:18
4(C. Lubich, Word of Life, June 2002, in Words of Life, edited by Fabio Ciardi, Città Nuova, Rome, 2017, p. 659).

“You give them something to eat” (Lk. 9:13).

for ages 4-8 | Print | Audio

We are in a lonely place near Bethsaida in Galilee where Jesus is speaking about the Kingdom of God to a large crowd of people.  He had gone there with the disciples so they could rest after a long and busy period in that region, during which they had preached and called for conversion ‘proclaiming the good news everywhere and healing many people.’ [i] They were tired but very happy as they recounted what they had experienced. However, when people heard what they had done, they made their way to join them. Jesus welcomes everyone. He listens, speaks and heals and the crowd continues to grow.  Evening approaches and hunger sets in. The disciples worry about this fact and propose a logical and realistic solution to their master: ‘Send them away, so that they may go to the villages to find food and stay there.’  They think that Jesus has already done more than enough…. but he responds:

 “You give them something to eat.”

They are astounded. They have only five loaves and two fish for a few thousand people; it is not possible to find all that is needed in a little place like Bethsaida, nor do they have the money to pay for it all.

Jesus wants to open their eyes. He is deeply touched by the needs and problems of the people and he wants to find a solution for them. He does this by starting from reality and valuing what is there. True, the disciples have very little but he entrusts them with a mission: he asks them to be instruments of God who is mercy and who looks after his children. The Father can intervene and yet he also ‘needs’ them. The miracle ‘needs’ our initiative and faith, and then the Father will take it further.

“You give them something to eat.”

Jesus understands the disciples’ objections but asks them to do their part.  Even if their contribution may be small, he does not regard it with disdain nor  does he simply solve the problem for them. The miracle takes place but it requires their full participation and their making available all that they have and can procure. This implies a certain sacrifice and trust in Jesus.

Jesus is a teacher and he starts from the events that unfold around us to help us learn how to take care of one another. When we are aware that others are in need, excuses such as ‘it’s not our job’, ‘we can’t do anything about it’ or ‘they have to make do like everyone else’ have no value at all.  According to God’s plan for society, blessed are those who feed the hungry, who clothe the poor and who visit those in need [ii]

” You give them something to eat.”

This episode recalls a passage found in the book of Isaiah that describes a banquet offered by God himself to all nations when he will ‘wipe away the tears on every face.’ [iii]  Jesus asks people to sit down in groups of fifty, a number found in Old Testament texts that describe significant occasions. He is the Son but he acts like the Father revealing his divinity.

He himself will give everything, even to the point of becoming food for us in the Eucharist, the new banquet of sharing.  During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Focolare community in Barcelona became aware of the many challenges that the people around them were facing.  They used social networks to create a group to collect information about needs and to pool resources.  They commented that it was impressive to see how furniture, food, medicine and household appliances were circulated. They said, ‘Alone we can do little but together we can do a lot.’ Even today, the ‘Fent Família’ group helps to ensure that no one among them is in need.  This is how the first Christians lived. [iv]

by Silvano Malini & the Word of Life Team

[i] Lk. 9:6
[ii] Cf. Matt. 25:35-40
[iii] Is. 25:8
[iv] Cf. Acts. 4:34

for ages 4-8 | Print | Audio

“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you” (Jn 21:17).

The last chapter of John’s Gospel takes us to Galilee where Peter, John and the other disciples have returned to their work as fishermen. They have spent the entire night on Lake Tiberias but, unfortunately, their efforts have been fruitless.
The Risen Lord appears for the third time and encourages them to cast out their nets once more and this time they gather a large number of fish. The Lord invites them to join him on the shore and to share their food but though Peter and the others have recognized him, they dare not speak to him directly.
Jesus takes the initiative and asks Peter a very challenging question, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these men?’ The tone seems solemn as Jesus continues by asking Peter three times (i) to care for his sheep.

“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

However, Peter knows he has betrayed the Lord, and the memory of this tragic experience prevents him from responding positively to Jesus’ question. He humbly replies, ‘You know that I love you.’
During their conversation, Jesus does not hold the betrayal against Peter; nor does he point out the mistakes he made. He reaches out to him in a way which makes Peter feels at ease and Jesus’ friendship heals his painful wound. The only thing he asks is to rebuild their relationship with an attitude of mutual trust.
Peter responds by showing not only an awareness of his own weakness but also a sense of unlimited trust in the welcoming love of his Master and Lord:

“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus asks each of us the same question: do you love me? Do you want to be my friend?
He knows everything: he knows the gifts we have received from him and he knows our weaknesses and wounds that may still be raw and unhealed within us. Yet he renews his trust, not in our strengths, but in our friendship with him.
This friendship gives Peter the courage to witness to his love for Jesus to the point of giving his life.

‘We all experience moments of weakness, frustration, and discouragement… adversity, painful situations, illness, deaths, inner trials, misunderstandings, temptations and failures… When people feel unable to overcome certain physical or spiritual challenges by relying on their own strength, they are forced into the position of having to trust in God. And he intervenes because he is attracted by this trust. He can achieve great things which seem all the more
powerful because they spring from an awareness that we are small and incapable.’ (ii)

Everyday we can stand before God just as we are and ask for his healing friendship. In this trusting surrender to his mercy we can return to intimacy with the Lord and resume our journey with him.

“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

This word of life can also become a personal prayer as we acknowledge the limits of our strength but place our trust in God and thank him for all the signs of his love:
‘I love you because you have entered my life more than the air in my lungs, more than the blood in my veins. You entered where no one could enter, when no one could help me, when no one could comfort me… Enable me to be grateful to you – at least a little – in the time I have left, for this love that you poured out on me, and forced me to say to you: I love you.’ (iii)

We can follow Jesus’ style of loving in our relationships in the family, society and the Church. Jesus loved everyone, he was the first to love and he ‘washed the feet’ (iv) of our brothers and sisters, especially the least and most fragile. By doing this, we will learn to welcome everyone with humility and patience, without judging, open to asking and accepting forgiveness and understanding together how to walk side by side through life.

by Letizia Magri & the Word of Life Team

Translation by Patricia Whitney and Paul Gateshill

i Cf. Mt. 16:18-19
ii C. Lubich, Word of Life, July 2000
iii C. Lubich ‘Gratitudine’ Dottrina Spirituali, 2001
iv Cf. Jn. 13:14