Second theme on Unity, introduced by Marco

These updates are not in order, but to share with you as directly as possible here are some reflections on this morning's meditation, the second theme of Unity given by Chiara on 9th October 1981. We were fortunate to have Marco come to introduce the theme. Marco was one of the first focolarini. He met Chiara just after the war and was living in Focolare by 1948. He said that when Chiara gave the first theme on Unity in 1981 it was a time when they were very preoccupied with many activities and maybe the life of unity had taken second place. He called the first theme 'And the bombs were falling' in that it was a purgatory for them, when they realised that all their good intentions and activities were not enough. The Popi were in tears and felt they had to be reconciled to one another, and put unity in the first place once again. The second theme we heard today he likened to the paradise, the fruits of unity. It shows us what will come about if we are united, a song of joy, a hymn of praise. He declared Jesus in the Midst with each one of us. It must come ante omnia, before everything.

Here are some points that struck me from this really lovely talk.

• The human heart pines for joy, we can bring that joy everywhere. 
• Joy is the uniform of the focolarino (volunteer). 
• We also live the works of mercy but especially joy, we need 'to make the world smile'. 
• Jesus in the Midst is worth more than everything.
• We need to make ourselves one. When we do this we die, we are nothing, and so Christ is born in us. When he is born in us the other person finds Him and ends up believing in God. 
• Jesus promised the fullness of joy to those who live in unity.
• The joy of unity is the springboard that propels us to run to where there is no unity in order to build it. 
• The general goal of the Movement is to be perfect in love. This is common to all Christians. Our specific goal is 'may they all be one'. 
• In the early days Chiara and her companions built unity with many members of the Christian Democratic Party in Italy. They thought that unity was possible but the wider structures were not there. There were no Volunteers working to change the structures of society, of politics. If you need fire to cook soup, there was too much soup and not enough fire. 
• Chiara also went many times to visit Athenagoras in the Fanar in Istanbul. He understood unity, but the people behind him were not ready for dialogue. Does this mean that their efforts were wasted? No! Both with the CDP and with Athenagoras these were prophetic signs. It is up to God to do what he will with these experiences. Maybe they are signs of what will come in the future. 

• These experiences were steps along our way to our goal 'that all may be one'. These are 'ideas that make history'. 
• Our roots are in Jesus Forsaken. He is our comfort and model. He impels us to look for people and situations where there is no unity. He is our key to unity. 
• In 1947 when for the first time Chiara saw the word 'Unity' used by another Catholic organisation ('the Crusade') she was so moved she went to Rome to find the founder, thinking that their two movements would join. Instead it was a way of spreading the Ideal. 
• Unity is our ideal, and not any other. If we get sidetracked we will not fulfil our vocation. We do not have the grace to live for other goals, others do that better. 
• We are not a movement of the Word of Life as that is not our charism. The Will of God is common to other movements, as is charity. Even Jesus Forsaken, if not seen from the perspective of unity, is not our goal. It can be lived in an individual way. There are communities of the Cross who do not feel the need for unity. We need to see all aspects of Christianity from the perspective of unity.
• Our vocation is like the coin with two sides, Jesus Forsaken and Unity, with the Words of Life lived make up the middle. 
• We go to God together.
• Unity is the culmination of Jesus' thought. 
• The Focolare Movement used to be called 'The Movement for Unity'. 
• Jesus came into this world to build unity, and this is His dream.