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Lights in the darkness: we are not alone

Night is a symbol of darkness, of the unknown, of the absence of that light we cannot find without a lamp and a traveling companion. Night envelops our planet, wounded and violated by fratricidal struggles, by wars still waged for the lust for power and money. Night is also the night for millions who no longer have a voice to cry out against injustice and abuse. And what about us? How can we continue to believe in this renewed world that doesn't manifest itself according to our expectations? How can we recognize the signs of goodness in our everyday relationships? These are questions we don't always know the answers to, but they compel us to seek a traveling companion we often don't see, to recognize the universal need for a spirituality inherent in human beings, a spirituality that can manifest itself if we live in mutual love. Sometimes, brief flashes of light, shining in the most unexpected ways, even through social media, illuminate the night. Like the story of Chiara Badano and Sara Cornelio, two friends across time. Sara, born in 1998, while still almost a child, "meets" Chiara, who died at 19 in 1990, through the many encounters that tell her extraordinary life story. She discovers her as a friend, a partner in dreams, a confidante, and a strong presence. Sara is a young woman who lives, sings, dances, studies, has friends, grows, and fascinates. At the same time, she lives the daily reality of a congenital illness that—not just figuratively—"takes her breath away." She lives with the certainty that "Love Conquers All" (the theme of her final high school project); she experiences the gift of a lung transplant and becomes a gift herself, which she will bear witness to through books, school visits, musical pieces and short films, a blog, and a theatrical performance. She experiences her wonderful family, falling in love, and love. Her death in 2022, at just 24 years old, left all those who loved her, even those who only knew her from Facebook, bewildered and deeply alone. Throughout her intense time on this earth, Sara had in Chiara a constant, close friend who accompanied, encouraged, and supported her, revealing herself in the most unexpected moments and circumstances: a friend who knew how to be there in both pure joy and the pain and loneliness of a hospital or intensive care unit. In her final moments, marked by loneliness and weakness, Chiara's presence became mysteriously silent, almost elusive, but precisely for that reason, all the more authentic and destined to be a friendship "forever." Chiara and Sara: unique, just as every story is unique.

If we love one another, Jesus will stay with us.

April 1st

Word of life

The road leading to the village of Emmaus tells the story of a journey undertaken by two disciples of Jesus. Disenchanted with the dreams, plans, and powerful moments of their time with the Master, they returned home to resume the lives they had left behind, the lives they had known before their encounter with Him. Barely three days had passed since His crucifixion, and disillusionment, fear, and doubt reigned among His followers. They were leaving Jerusalem, their unfulfilled dreams, distancing themselves from Christ and His message, saddened because, in a way, they had already decided to abandon the project that had led them to follow Him. This is the story of all of us when we become disillusioned with situations that force us to make a decision at a crossroads, and in many cases, it seems to us that turning back, giving up, and resigning ourselves is the only answer to our unease. «Who among us is not familiar with the inn at Emmaus? Who hasn’t walked that road one afternoon when all seemed lost?» Christ had died in us… There was no longer any Jesus on earth«[1]. »Stay with us, for it is getting late.« Along the way, a stranger joins them and seems unaware of the events that have just taken place. He begins to ask pointed questions, which unleash all their bitterness and discouragement. First, he listens to them, and then he begins to explain the Scriptures: it is a true dialogue, an encounter that leaves its mark; so that, although they have not yet recognized Jesus, they beg him to stay with them because it is getting late (cf. Lk 24:17-29). This is perhaps one of the most beautiful prayers we find in the Gospel. It is the first prayer that rises from the disciples to the Risen Lord, and this invitation, which we can all extend to him to stay with us and among us, is deeply moving. The eyes of the two disciples will be opened at the breaking of the bread, and the joy of having finally recognized him will encourage them to return to Jerusalem to announce the event of the resurrection to their friends. »Stay with us, for it is getting late.« “Perhaps nothing better than these words explains the experience of living with Jesus in our midst, which we Focolare members have lived from the beginning,” writes Chiara Lubich. »Jesus is always Jesus, and even though he is present only spiritually, when he is there, he explains the Scriptures and his charity—life itself—burns in our hearts. When we have come to know him, he leads us to say with infinite longing: ‘Stay with us, Lord, for it is getting late’; without you it is dark night […]”[2]. Night is a symbol of darkness, of the unknown, of the lack of that light which we are unable to find because we do not believe in his presence, which continues to accompany us always. Night is what envelops our planet, wounded and outraged by fratricidal struggles, by wars that continue to be waged for the ambition of power and money. Night is what millions of people live who no longer have a voice to cry out against injustices and abuses. And how can we recognize the presence of Jesus, which doesn't always manifest itself according to our expectations? How can we understand that He walks with us and tries to make us recognize the signs of His presence? And above all, how can we create the conditions for Him to reveal Himself and remain with us? These are questions we may not always know the answers to, but they ask us not to stop seeking Jesus, to focus our gaze on a traveling companion whom we often don't see, to recognize the One who can make Himself present if we live out mutual love among ourselves. The road to Emmaus is a symbol of all our journeys; it is the path of encounter with the Lord, the path that restores joy to our hearts, that leads us back to the community to bear witness together that Christ has risen. Patrizia Mazzola and the Word of Life team [1] François Mauriac, Vita di Gesù, Mondadori, Milan 1950, p. 156.[2] C. Lubich, All One. Spiritual Writings/3, Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 1998, p. 70.