January 19, 2007
octave
"Christ came not just to teach us but to bring us into communion with God. He says to each person: you are close to God, and this is true for ever. Even if we have very little faith, even if we have the impression that there are strong doubts in us, God never stops looking for our friendship.
There is an icon here that expresses that, the icon of friendship. It comes from Egypt; it is from the sixth century. We see Christ with his hand on the shoulder of his friend to walk with him, to accompany him..."
-Bro. Alois
In the mean, at the Taizé website, you can read about the meeting in Zagreb. I commend it to your attention. Here is the link to the interview with Mgr. Vlado Košić, auxiliary bishop of Zagreb. I was encouraged by this quotation.
I like the approach that the brothers of Taizé have in regards to evangelism and discipleship. In both cases, approaches are based on prayer and the virtues of love and hospitality. Why this should be innovative, I really cannot say. Perhaps the Monsigneur is right...that we have spent at least one thousand years spreading the gospel bitterly. I will join him in the hope that this third one thousand years can be different.This meeting will be ecumenical. How is the preparation going as far as our Catholic community is concerned? Is there collaboration with the other Christian churches in Zagreb and Croatia?
Yes, they will participate in their own way, with the other Christians of Zagreb and Croatia. Only we Catholics are the most numerous and therefore chiefly responsible regarding this meeting. It can help us better to understand the necessity of a communion and a collaboration with the other Christians—I think especially of Orthodox and Protestant Christians. We all live by Christ and the Gospel, and a quest for the unity of Christians ought to be one of the priorities of our faith. When you see with what love and faith other Christians unite themselves with Christ, that makes you want to become a better Catholic. To be ‘catholic’ means being open to all, since the Church is ‘katholikê’ and that means ‘universal, global.’ Jesus did not come just for a few, for this or that group of people, but for all, for every human person. Meetings such as this can help widen horizons by direct experience. It is especially important for young Christians for they are confronted today with many challenges. The ecumenical dimension is essential to our Catholic identity. It opens us to others, to those who are different but who believe in the same Lord Jesus Christ. How to be, not exclusive but on the contrary open to all, how to show love of neighbor in acts, how to welcome differences, that is what this meeting can teach us. Just imagine two or three young people from Sweden, from Poland, Hungary, Germany or Montenegro arriving in your apartment. Being a good host is not just a matter of opening the door to the house or apartment, but also opening the door of one’s heart.
Oh! I passed the 90,000 visitor mark! Wahoo!
