Listening and practicing is a fundamental theme emphasized by the author of this month's verse. The letter continues: "But whoever considers the perfect law of liberty and holds fast, not as a forgetful hearer but as a doer—this person will be blessed by putting it into practice" (James 1:25). And it is precisely this commitment to knowing its words and living them that sets us free and gives us joy.

One could say that this month's biblical quotation is in itself the reason for the practice of the Word of Life, which has spread throughout the world. Once a week, and later once a month, Chiara Lubich chose a complete passage from Scripture and commented on it. We met, shared the fruits of what she had accomplished by sharing her life experiences, and a united community was formed that showed in the bud the social consequences she was capable of achieving.

"Despite its simplicity, the initiative of the founder of the Focolare Movement contributed significantly to the rediscovering of the Word of God in the Christian world of the 20th century."^[1], transmitting a method for living the Gospel and sharing its effects.

«Put the Word into practice and do not be content with hearing it alone, deceiving yourselves.».

The Letter of James takes up what Jesus had announced so that we might live and experience the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven among us: he declares blessed those who listen to his Word and observe it (cf. Lc 11, 28); she recognizes as her mother and her brothers those who listen to her and put her into practice (cf. Lc 8, 21); he compares it to the seed that, if it falls on good soil, that is, on those who listen to it with a good and whole heart and keep it, they produce fruit with their perseverance (cf. Lc 8, 15).

“In every word of his, Jesus expresses all his love for us,” writes Chiara Lubich. “Let us incarnate it, make it our own, experience the great power of life that it unleashes if we live it, in us and around us. Let us fall in love with the Gospel to the point of allowing ourselves to be transformed by it and pouring it out upon others. […] We will be freed from ourselves, from our limitations, from our slavery; and not only that, but we will see the revolution of love that Jesus, free to live within us, will bring forth in the social fabric in which we are immersed.”^[2].

«Put the Word into practice and do not be content with hearing it alone, deceiving yourselves.».

How can we put the word into practice? Let us look around us and do everything we can to serve those in need, with small or large gestures of mutual care, transforming the unjust structures of society, opposing violence, fostering gestures of peace and reconciliation; with greater sensitivity and actions for the benefit of our planet.

Thus, a true revolution erupts in our lives, in the lives of the community where we live, and in the workplace where we operate.

Love is manifested in social and political actions that seek to build a better world. From the commitment of a small Focolare community to the most vulnerable people, a senior center named after the Movement's founder was born in Peru, in Lámud, a city in the Peruvian Amazon at 2,330 meters above sea level. "The Center opened in the midst of the pandemic crisis and houses 50 elderly and lonely people. The house, decorations, dishes, and food arrived as gifts from the neighboring community. It was a venture not without difficulties and obstacles, but in March 2022, the Center celebrated its first anniversary by opening its doors to the city with a party attended by even the political authorities. During the two-day celebration, new volunteers, adults and children, were added, who want to care for lonely elderly people and thus expand their family."^[3].

Patrizia Mazzola and the Word of Life team

[1] C. Lubich, Words of Life/1 (1943-1990) (ed. F. Ciardi), Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2020, p. 5, Introduction.
[2] Ead., «Word of Life», September 2006: Ciudad Nueva n. 434 (8-9/2006), p. 23.
[3] Communion Balance 2022. Focolare Movement, in https://www.focolare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BdC-2022-DialogoES.pdf, p. 67.