“How can we bring the Gospel message to the men and women of our times?”

Castel Gandolfo, December 31, 1998 Chiara Lubich answers a question of a seminarian. … Considering today’s society, we often ask ourselves if we are sufficiently equipped to bring the Gospel to the men and women of our times.How can we offer people the Christian message in such a way that it will really answer their questions and problems? Chiara: Well, first of all, the questions that some of them will ask you are general questions, which we too know or our people who are close to them know, so they aren’t really difficult questions. In any case, the answer to everything is the Word of God! You cannot imagine what the Word of God is. It’s the answer to everything, the answer to everything. In fact, it is God who answers us through his Son.  What matters for us is that we re-evangelize ourselves by living the Words of Life month after month, that we re-evangelize ourselves, really and truly. Not every now and then, but being living Gospels, allowing the Word

Amman, December 7, 1999 In December 1999 Chiara Lubich was in Amman, Jordan, where she met a small but lively group of people forming the Focolare community there. The new millennium was awaited with both hope and fear. What follows is Chiara’s answer to New Stadt magazine to the question “What is your vision for the new millennium?” Q. What is your vision for the new millennium? A. I don’t have a vision for the next millennium. I cannot have one because I am not a prophet.  But I have a great deal of hope in my heart. Undoubtedly, this is an effect of the charism which the Holy Spirit has put there for the benefit of many. I see in the Work of Mary, the Focolare Movement, such a vast, universal and impressive work of the Holy Spirit that I cannot fail to be truly optimistic about the future. Seeing what the Holy Spirit has done with us and with many other spiritual and social “enterprises” that are at work

The Word of Life of August 1988 Chiara Lubich’s commentary on this text from one of St Paul’s letters takes us to the heart of the Christian message, which has been emphasised so much by Pope Francis during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ (Eph 4:32) The Word of Life of this month is taken from the letter of St Paul to the community in Ephesus. The apostle speaks of Christian life as a life of unity and charity. After enumerating the things which Christian love makes us avoid (lying, stealing, dishonesty, etc.) he tells us what this love urges us to do. And here is one of the primary attitudes suggested by charity: kindness, understanding, compassion, forgiveness towards all. Be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ (Eph 4:32) The apostle explains that we should be compassionate because we are children of God and as