February 6

February 5th

February 4th

February 3rd

February 2

Protagonists of a new future

Since ancient times, humanity has cultivated the desire to know the future, through magical rites or the interpretation of signs in nature. Some of the greatest works of antiquity, from various cultures and religions, are marked by this tension. They often arise during periods of great historical suffering for a people. But is it truly useful to know what will happen? What does it offer us to know in advance the events we will experience, or how we will experience them? None of the legendary traditions fully reveals this, and more often than not, symbolism conceals a very specific quest and the hope for a better tomorrow that will give meaning to the sufferings of today. It could be said that when things are going well, the future doesn't concern us; while when they are going badly, we are sustained and encouraged by the hope that tomorrow they can change for the better. It is the profound need to hope for a new, different world, not just for myself, but for everyone. The world today expresses a "cry" that concerns all of humanity. Even if it doesn't directly affect us, we only need to watch the news or glance through the newspapers to witness tragedies of all kinds. How do we experience them? Do we become accustomed to them and try to survive, or do we, on the contrary, allow ourselves to be challenged by the future and act accordingly? The world we imagine certainly doesn't yet exist; and yet, as George Orwell reminded us, it is possible. But which one, among the possible worlds? What can we do? We find an answer in the thought of Albert Camus: "True generosity towards the future consists in giving everything to the present" [1]. The future, therefore, is not only something to be waited for, but something that can be prepared for and, in a way, anticipated right now. It depends on our attitude and our daily actions. We don't know when we will see the fruits of change: it is like a silent seed that grows without our noticing and that, over time, becomes a plant capable of nourishing, protecting, and generating life around it. The surprising thing is that we cannot imagine the consequences: novelty is guaranteed. It will be an unpredictable future, born from transformed relationships, shared feelings, and a solidarity that becomes action. To become a driving force for change and renewal in society requires courage, allowing ourselves to be challenged by those who suffer, by those who are alone, by those who need our help or our advice. We will not be exempt from difficulties and inner struggles, but neither will there be a lack of moments of joy and true fulfillment. Recently, in Florence, an event took place to raise awareness and involve participants in a caravan of fraternity: an opportunity to reflect on and share experiences about how to build a future of peace from different perspectives: economic, labor, industrial reconversion, environmental, etc. An action that is intended to spread like wildfire to other cities and countries. Take heart! Let us be actors and not spectators so that the future may be a present of fraternity, harmony, and peace. [1] L'Homme révolté, 1951

I make all things new.

February 1st

When we love again, we are "new"«

Word of life

The Book of Revelation, from which the Word of Life is taken, concludes the compilation of the New Testament writings. The title means revelation, and the author's intention is to convey the ultimate events: the return of Jesus to earth, the definitive defeat of evil, and the emergence of a new heaven and a new earth. It is not an easy text to understand. The years are 81-96 AD. The persecution of Christians is fierce. The atmosphere in the Christian communities is one of fear: what will become of us and the message entrusted to us? Why doesn't God intervene? In these circumstances, the author is sent into exile by the Romans to the island of Patmos. It is here that he begins to have a series of visions and receives the command to write them down. "See, I am making all things new." The Book of Revelation sought to give hope to the persecuted communities: despite the difficult and violent present, despite the uncertain future, in the end good will triumph, and God will make all things new. Even today, looking at the news or the front page of the newspapers, we see many tragedies, sad stories to which we all risk becoming accustomed. […] But there is a Father who weeps with us; there is a Father who weeps tears of infinite compassion for his children… A Father who waits to console us, because he knows our sufferings and has prepared a different future for us. This is the great vision of Christian hope, which expands every day of our lives and wants to lift us up«[1]. »Behold, I make all things new.« We cannot know when or how this will happen, and it is useless to try to find out. But it is certain that it will happen. »The final pages of the Bible show us the ultimate horizon of the believer’s journey: the Jerusalem of Heaven, the heavenly Jerusalem, imagined above all as an immense tent in which God will welcome all people to dwell with them permanently (Rev 21:3). And this is our hope. And what will God do when we are finally with him?« He will have infinite tenderness toward us, like a father who welcomes his children who have long struggled and suffered. »This is the dwelling place of God with men […] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away […] See, I am making everything new!« (21:3-5). The God of newness![2]. “See, I am making everything new.” How are we to live this month’s Word of Life? »It assures us that we are moving toward a new world that we are preparing and building right now. In other words, it is the complete opposite of an invitation to become careless and flee from the world. In fact, God wants to renew everything: our personal life, friendship, marital love, the family; he wants to renew social life, the world of work, education, culture, leisure time, healthcare, the economy, politics… in a word, all areas of human activity.« But to do that, He needs us. He needs people who let His Word live in them, who are His living Word, other Jesuses in their environments.»[3] Alice, a young Christian woman, understood that following her vocation required a profound change to allow God to act fully in her life and make it new. As an «immense gift,» she had the opportunity to live an experience in India. There she tasted authentic joy and felt immersed in God’s grace, even in difficult times. Thus, she dedicates her days to prayer, community life, and volunteer service. The children at the orphanage impressed her deeply: even without possessing anything, they showed incredible enthusiasm and taught her much about life. It was not a simple trip, but a pilgrimage, a journey of «uphills and downs,» in which she had to «empty her backpack» and found herself enriched and liberated. Augusto Parody Reyes and the Word of Life team [1] Francis, General Audience, 23-8-2017: Called to sow hope, Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2017, pp. 154.155.[2] Ibid., pp. 153-154.[3] C. Lubich, Word of Life of April 1989: Ead., Words of Life/1 (1943-1990), Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2020, p. 454.