word of life august 2009 “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”...
TRANSCRIPT
Word Word ofof
Life Life
August 2009August 2009
“Having loved his own who were in the world,he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13, 1).
Do you know when the
Gospel relates these words?
They are in John’s gospel just before
Jesus wrapped the towel
round himself to wash his
disciples' feet and was
preparing for
his passion.
In his last moments
with them, Jesus reveals the love that
he had always had
for them in a way that is
unsurpassed and very
clear.
“Having loved his own who were in the world,he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13, 1).
The words, to the end, mean: right to the very end of his life, to his very last breath. But that phrase also
contains the idea of perfection. It is intended to express the truth that he loves them completely, totally, with all his heart, to the very peak of love
The disciples of Jesus would stay in the world, while Jesus would go to glory. They would feel
alone, they would have to overcome many trials, and it is precisely for such moments that Jesus
wanted them to be sure of his love.
“Having loved his own who were in the world,he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13, 1).
Can you sense in this word
the style of life of
Christ, his way of
loving? He washed his disciples' feet. His
love led him to do even
this service, which in
those days was usually done only by slaves.
Jesus is preparing himself for the tragedy of Calvary, when he will
give to 'his own' and to all, in addition to his amazing words, in addition to his very miracles, in
addition to all his deeds, also his life.
They needed this. Theirs was
the greatest need of the
whole human race: to be
liberated from sin, which
means from death, and to be
able to enter into the
kingdom of heaven. They were to have
peace and joy in the Life without
end.
And so Jesus offers himself up to death,
crying out his forsakenness by the Father, to the point of being able to
say: 'It is finished.'
“Having loved his own who were in the world,he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13, 1).
In these words are both the tenacity of the love of a God and the tenderness of a
brother’s affection.
And we Christian, because Christ is in us,
can also love like this.
At this point, however, I do not wish to suggest so much the imitation of Jesus by dying (when
his time had come) for others. Neither do I wish to offer you as necessary examples Fr. Kolbe who died in place of a fellow-prisoner, or Fr. Damien who, becoming a leper with the lepers, died with
them and for them.
It may be that never, in the course of your life, will you be asked to give your physical life for your
neighbours. But what God certainly does ask of you is to love your neighbour without reservation, right ‘to
the end’ until you too can say: 'It is finished.'
This is what Cetti did. She was an eleven-year old Italian girl.
She saw that her friend and companion, Georgina, of the same age, was extremely sad. She tried to comfort her, but without success. So she decided to get to the
bottom of why she was so sad.
She learned that Georgina's father had died and that her mother had left her alone with her grandmother and gone to live with another man. Cetti could sense the tragedy and decided to do something about it.
Although just a child, she asked Georgina to let her talk to her mother, but Georgina begged her first to go with her to visit her father’s grave. With great
love Cetti went with her and listened as she sobbed and implored her father to come and take her with
him
It was heart breaking for Cetti. Nearby there was a little ruined church and the two girls went in. The only
things left inside the church were a small
tabernacle and a crucifix. Cetti said, 'Look, everything in
this world is going to be destroyed, but
that crucifix and that tabernacle will
remain.' Georgina dried her tears and replied, 'Yes! You
are right.' Then Cetti took Georgina gently
by the hand and went with her to her
mother.
When they arrived Cetti addressed the mother and
said, 'I know this is none of my
business, but it seems that you’ve left your daughter
without a mother’s love
which she needs. And I’ll say one
thing more: you’ll never find peace until you take her back to live with you and are sorry
and decide to change.’
The following day in school Cetti continued to
support Georgina with her love. But
something new happened: after
school, a car came to pick Georgina
up. It was her mother. From that
day on, the car kept coming
regularly because Georgina was back with her mother, who broke off the
relationship with the man she had been living with.
Looking at the small,
but significant
things Cetti did, we
could say, 'It is
finished!' She did
everything well, right to the end,
and she achieved what she set out to
do.
Think about it. How often have you started to take
care of someone and then given up,
quietening your conscience with
thousands of excuses? How
many activities have you started with enthusiasm
and then given up in the face of
difficulties you felt were beyond your
strength?This is the lesson Jesus gives you
today:
“Having loved his own who were in the world,he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13, 1).
Do this! If one day God should actually ask for your life, you
will not hesitate. The
martyrs went to their death
singing.
And your reward will be the greatest glory,
because Jesus said that there is no love greater in the world
than to give one’s life for one’s friends.
“Having loved his own who were in the world,he loved them to the end.” (Jn 13, 1).
“Word of Life”, monthly publication of the Focolare Movement Text by: Chiara Lubich, april 1979.
Graphic design by Anna Lollo in collaboration with Fr. Placido D’Omina (Sicily - Italy)