«Dear
young men and women, participants in the Youth Assembly of Religions for Peace,
I
have been informed that you have come together in Hiroshima from the various
continents of the world to demonstrate and work on behalf of peace. To each and
all my warmest greeting, and best wishes that this assembly be rich in
proposals and concrete fruits.
There
is no need to pause on the importance of what you are doing in these days. The
tragic situation of a world that longs for peace but seems unable to attain it
is before the eyes of all. And so every gesture towards this goal is
meaningful; every effort, every endeavour is a contribution.
But
I would say that you who are religious youth, believers in a faith, have a very
special task and role to play in the vast workshop that is planet earth. Yes,
because you are convinced – no matter what religion you come from – that your
neighbour, every neighbour should be respected and loved. In fact the “Golden
Rule”, as this precept is called, is present in the Sacred Books of all the
great world religions. In practice it says: Do to others as you would have them
do to you; desire for others what you desire for yourself; do not do or desire
for others that which would cause suffering to you. Love for neighbour,
understood in this way, is the most efficacious contribution that the world
awaits in our times; it is the key towards solving every problem, the
fundamental medicine for every evil.
We
need to spell out, however, that the love which we, who have received the gift
of religious faith, are called to bring to the world is a special kind of love,
as strong as death. It is not enough to practice tolerance or non-violence, nor
does mere friendship or goodwill towards others suffice.
It
is a love which extends indistinctly towards all: young and old, rich and poor,
fellow-countryman or stranger, friend or foe. It requires that we be merciful
and forgiving. We have to be the first to love others, taking the initiative
and not waiting for others to love us. We must love not in words alone, but
concretely, in deeds. And forgetting ourselves to be at the service of others
implies sacrifice and fatigue.
True
peace and unity come about when this way of life is practiced not only by
individuals but by people together, united in mutual love. You will have a
chance to experience how true this is by loving one another in these days. In
the Christian liturgy there is a song which says: “Where there is charity and
love, there is God”. God among you, present in your mutual love, will enlighten
and guide you on the steps to take, giving you strength, ardour, joy. And the
presence of God will unite you in an invisible but powerful net, even when you
are far from one another.
Love,
therefore: love among all of you and love sown into every corner of the world
among persons, groups and nations, using every means possible, in order that,
thanks also to your contribution, there be an invasion of love in the world.
Courage
my dear young people! I urge you to go forward dauntlessly. Youth is generous,
youth does not count the cost. If we all live this way, humanity will become
more and more one family and a rainbow of peace will shine out in the world!
I
am with you».
Chiara
Lubich
From
Chiara Lubich's message to the Religions for Peace Youth Assembly, Hiroshima,
21-25 August 2006
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