More than 100 of us, mainly from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala and Jerusalem, but also with a representation from Ramallah and Galilee, gathered at Talitha Kumi, in Beit Jala for a meeting entitled Mariapolis, “City of Mary,' from July 6-7, 2024. An annual meeting, but also the result of a desire to respond to Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa's invitation to create spaces for spiritual and human formation for Christian communities in the Holy Land, opportunities to find tools for living as people rooted in God and consistently witnessing to their faith.
A similar meeting was held in Nazareth, two weeks earlier, with about 90 people in attendance.
The theme of the two days, "Witnesses of Faith," included in-depth discussions on issues related to bearing witness to one's faith in daily life, with moments of reflection and prayer, the Holy Mass, sharing on the life of the Word as lived, workshops, relaxing moments, and visits to sites with historical and religious significance.
In the initial experience of Chiara Lubich and all those who adhered to the spirituality of the Focolare, everything started from the discovery of the personal Love of God, what St. John Paul II identified as "’the inspirational spark’ of everything that has since grown and developed in the world under the name of ‘Focolare.’”
Our answer? What is our response to God's personal love? The Gospel, "He who loves me will keep my Word" (Jn. 14:23), and especially the New Commandment, the heart of the Gospel, which generates community. And it is community that is the most beautiful witness to our Faith, "By this they will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (Jn 13:35).
A thought that Margaret Karram, current president of the Focolare, originally from Haifa, gave to our communities in the Holy Land during a video conference a few months ago, inspired by Natalia, one of Chiara Lubich’s first companions, has also been of light in these days:
"In your opinion, which is stronger: iron, stone or water? It is water, because iron rusts, stone can also slowly crumble. But water is stronger than all things. However, water needs years to be able to excavate a rock…. Water is like love. It takes time. It does not work violently, as do iron and stone that use more violence; water works without violence, but it takes time. The important thing is that this water in our hearts – that it never dries up; rather, that it is always there because if it is lacking, everything turns into a desert. But if water is always there, if love is always in our hearts, it will be love that will win, not iron, not stone."
The sharing of the participants, precisely in such a complex, delicate, painful and challenging situation, strengthened the awareness of one's Christian identity, one's 'mission' as means to build bridges between individuals, groups and peoples.
The final impressions of those who attended for the first time as well as of those who have known the Focolare for decades, reflected the renewed commitment to be witnesses of this Love that is His — wherever we are, generating His presence among us – like Mary… reflection of why the conference is called Mariapolis, “City of Mary” – so that Jesus can bring His Love everywhere….
Leaving Beit Jala we made this commitment together: to love, to weave relationships with everyone, even those who are more difficult, always strengthened by union with Him and with prayer.
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