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)