http___www.taize.fr_spip.php_id_article_3052_page_print_1.xml
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.1 4.1 5.1 5.2 6.1 6.2 7.1 8.1 9.1 9.2 10.1 10.2 11.1 11.2 12.1 12.2 12.3 13.1 14.1 14.2 15.1 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 17.1 17.2 18.1 19.1 20.1 20.2 20.3 21.1 21.2 22.1 22.2 22.3 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 24.1 25.1 25.2 26.1 26.2 27.1 28.1 28.2 28.3 29.1 29.2 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 31.7 32.1 33.1 33.2 33.3 34.1 35.1
These words reflect the passion that inspired him, even in his old age. What did he mean by “widen”? He probably wanted to say: do everything possible to make more perceptible for everyone the love God has for every human being without exception, and for all peoples. He wanted our little community to bring this mystery to light, through its life, in a humble commitment with others. So we brothers wish to take up this challenge, together with all those who are searching for peace across the earth. In the weeks before his death, he had begun to reflect on the letter that would be made public during the Milan meeting. He had noted some themes and some texts of his that he wished to take up again and work on. We have taken them just as they were in order to compile this “Unfinished Letter”, translated into 57 languages. It is a kind of final message from Brother Roger, which will help us to go forward along the road on which God “widens our steps” (Psalm 18:36). Reflecting on this unfinished letter in the meetings held in 2006 both in Taizé, week by week, and elsewhere on different continents, each person can try to find ways of completing it by the life he or she lives. Brother Alois “I leave you peace; I give you my peace.” [1] What is this peace that God gives? It is first of all an inner peace, a peace of the heart. This peace enables us to look at the world with hope, even though it is often torn apart by violence and conflicts. This peace from God also supports us so that we can contribute, quite humbly, to building peace in those places where it is jeopardized. World peace is so urgent in order to alleviate suffering, and in particular so that the children of today and tomorrow do not live in distress and insecurity. In his Gospel, in a dazzling intuition, Saint John expresses who God is in three words: “God is love.” [2] If we can grasp only those three words, we shall go far, very far. What captivates us in those words? The fact that they transmit this luminous conviction: God did not send Christ to earth to condemn anyone, but for every human being to know that he or she is loved and to be able to find a road to communion with God. But why are some people gripped by the wonder of a love and know that they are loved, or even cherished? Why do others have the impression that they are neglected? If only everyone could realize that God remains alongside us even in the fathomless depths of our loneliness. God says to each person, “You are precious in my sight, I treasure you and I love you.” [3] Yes, all God can do is give his love; that sums up the whole of the Gospel. What God asks of us and offers us is simply to receive his infinite mercy. That God loves us is a reality sometimes hard to comprehend. But when we discover that his love is forgiveness above all else, our hearts find peace and are even transformed. And then, in God, we become able to forget what assails our hearts: this is a wellspring from which we can draw freshness and new vitality. Are we sufficiently aware that God trusts us so much that he has a call for each one of us? What is that call? God invites us to love as he loves. And there is no deeper love than to go to the point of giving oneself, for God and for others. Whoever lives a life rooted in God chooses to love. And a heart resolved to love can radiate goodness without limits. Life is filled with serene beauty for whoever strives to love with trust. All who choose to love and to say it with their life are led to ask themselves one of the most compelling questions of all: how can we ease the pain and the torment of others, whether they are close at hand or far away? But what does it mean to love? Could it be to share the suffering of the most ill-treated? Yes, that’s it. Could it mean having infinite kind-heartedness and forgetting oneself for others, selflessly? Yes, certainly. And again: what does it mean to love? Loving means forgiving, living as people who are reconciled. [5] And reconciliation always brings a springtime to the soul. In the small mountain village where I was born, near our home, a large poverty-stricken family lived. The mother had died. One of the children, slightly younger than I, often came to see us. He loved my mother as if she were his own. One day, he learned that they were going to leave the village and, for him, leaving was not easy at all. How can a child of five or six be consoled? It was as if he did not have the perspective needed in order to make sense of such a separation. Shortly before his death, Christ assured his friends that they would receive a consolation: he would send them the Holy Spirit who would be a support and a comfort for them, and who would always remain with them. In the heart of each person, Christ still whispers today, “I will never leave you all alone; I will send you the Holy Spirit. Even if you are in the depths of despair, I remain alongside you.” Welcoming the comfort that the Holy Spirit gives means seeking, in silence and peace, to surrender ourselves to him. Then, though at times dire events may occur, it becomes possible to go beyond them. Are we so easily upset that we need to be comforted? There are times when all of us are shaken by a personal trial or by the suffering of others. This can go so far as to undermine our faith and extinguish our hope. Rediscovering the trusting of faith and peace of heart sometimes involves being patient with ourselves. One kind of suffering leaves a particularly deep impression: the death of someone we love, someone we may have needed in order to keep going forward here on earth. But such a trial can sometimes be transfigured, and then it opens us up to a communion. A Gospel joy can be restored to someone in extreme distress. God comes to shed light on the mystery of human suffering, going so far as to welcome us into an intimacy with himself. And then we find ourselves on a path of hope. God does not leave us all alone. He enables us to advance towards a communion, that communion of love which is the Church, at one and the same time so mysterious and so indispensable … The Christ of communion [7] offers us this enormous gift of consolation. To the extent that the Church is able to bring healing to our hearts by communicating forgiveness and compassion, it makes a fullness of communion with Christ more accessible. When the Church is intent on loving and understanding the mystery of every human being, when tirelessly it listens, comforts and heals, it becomes what it is at its most luminous: the crystal-clear reflection of a communion. Seeking reconciliation and peace involves a struggle within oneself. It does not mean taking the line of least resistance. Nothing lasting is created when things are too easy. The spirit of communion is not gullible. It causes the heart to become more encompassing; it is profound kindness; it does not listen to suspicions. To be bearers of communion, will each of us walk forward in our lives on the road of trust and of a constantly renewed kind-heartedness? On this road there will be failures at times. Then we need to remember that the source of peace and communion is in God. Instead of becoming discouraged, we shall call down his Holy Spirit upon our weaknesses. And, our whole life long, the Holy Spirit will enable us to set out again and again, going from one beginning to another towards a future of peace. To the extent that our community creates possibilities in the human family to widen…
1.1 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 5.1 6.1 7.1 8.1 8.2 9.1 10.1 11.1 12.1 12.2 13.1 13.2 14.1 14.2 14.3 15.1 16.1 16.2 17.1 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 19.1 19.2 20.1 21.1 22.1 22.2 22.3 23.1 23.2 24.1 24.2 24.3 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 26.1 27.1 27.2 28.1 28.2 29.1 30.1 30.2 30.3 31.1 31.2 32.1 32.2 33.1 33.2 33.3 34.1 35.1 36.1 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 38.1 39.1 39.2 39.3 40.1 41.1
brat Roger za 2006. Na dan svoje smrti, 16. kolovoza, brat Roger je tijekom poslijepodneva pozvao jednog od braće i rekao mu: «Dobro zabilježi ove riječi!» Dugo je šutio nastojeći oblikovati misao. Zatim je nastavio: «U mjeri u kojoj naša zajednica u ljudskoj obitelji stvara mogućnosti za širenje...» Tu se zaustavio, umor ga je spriječio da nastavi rečenicu. U tim se riječima odražava čežnja koja je u njemu obitavala, i u njegovim kasnim godinama. Što je mislio sa «širenjem»? Vjerojatno je htio reći: činiti sve što je moguće kako bi svima postala zamjetnijom ljubav koju Bog gaji za sve ljude bez iznimke, za sve narode. Želio je da naša mala zajednica rasvjetli to otajstvo svojim životom, u poniznom zauzimanju s drugima. Stoga se mi braća želimo odazvati tom izazovu, sa svima koji širom svijeta traže mir. U tjednima koji su prethodili njegovoj smrti, on je počeo razmatrati pismo koje bi bilo objavljeno za susreta u Milanu. Obilježio je određene teme i svoje tekstove koje je htio iznova obraditi. Mi smo ih uzeli takve kakvi jesu kako bismo sastavili ovo «Nedovršeno pismo», prevedeno na 57 jezika. Ono je kao posljednja riječ brata Rogera koji će nam pomoći nastaviti na putu gdje Bog «širi naš korak» (usp. Razmatrajući ovo nedovršeno pismo za susreta koji će se tijekom 2006. godine tjedan za tjednom održavati u Taizéu ili drugdje, na raznim kontinentima, svatko može tražiti način kako bi ga dovršio svojim životom. brat Alois «Mir vam ostavljam, mir vam svoj dajem» [1]: koji je to Bogom dani mir? To je prije svega nutarnji mir, mir srca. On dopušta gledati na svijet s nadom, iako je često razdrijet nasiljem i sukobima. Taj mir Božji je i potpora kako bismo mi, posve skromno, mogli doprinijeti izgradnji mira tamo gdje je ugrožen. Svjetski je mir nužno potreban kako bi se olakšale patnje, osobito kako današnja i sutrašnja djeca ne bi živjela u strahu i nesigurnosti. U svojem je Evanđelju u blistavoj spoznaji sveti Ivan izrazio tko je Bog u tri riječi: «Bog je ljubav.» [2] Shvatimo li samo te tri riječi, ići ćemo daleko, vrlo daleko. Što nas u tim riječima plijeni? To što u njima nalazimo jasno pouzdanje: Bog nije poslao Krista na zemlju kako bi ikoga osudio, već kako bi svaki čovjek spoznao da je ljubljen i kako bi mogao naći put zajedništva s Bogom. Ali zašto su jedni obuzeti čudom ljubavi i znaju da su ljubljeni, čak ljubavlju ispunjeni? Zašto drugi imaju utisak da su zanemareni? Kada bi svatko shvatio: Bog nas prati sve do naših neizmjernih osama. Svakome kaže: «Dragocjen si u mojim očima, vrijedan si i ja te ljubim.» [3] Da, Bog ne može nego dati svoju ljubav. U tome je svo Evanđelje. Što Bog od nas traži i nama nudi je da jednostavno primimo njegovo beskrajno milosrđe. Da nas Bog ljubi je ponekad teško dostupna stvarnost. No otkrivši da je njegova ljubav prije svega praštanje, naše se srce smiruje i čak mijenja. I postajemo sposobni u Bogu zaboraviti na ono što nam opsjeda srce: tu je izvor na kojem iznova možemo crpiti svježinu i polet. Jesmo li dovoljno svjesni da Bog u nas ima toliko povjerenja da za svakoga od nas ima poziv? Koji je to poziv? On nas poziva ljubiti kako nas je on ljubio. I nema dublje ljubavi od dara sebe samog, za Boga i za druge. Onaj tko živi za Boga odabire ljubiti. Srce koje je odabralo ljubiti može zračiti bezgraničnom dobrotom. Onome tko nastoji ljubiti u povjerenju, život se ispunja blagom ljepotom. Onaj tko odabire ljubiti i kazati to svojim životom potaknut je pitati se jedno od najzahtjevnijih pitanja: kako olakšati patnje i muke bližnjih i dalekih ljudi? No što znači ljubiti? Znači li to možda dijeliti patnje najzlostavljanijih? Da, to znači. Znači li to možda imati beskrajno dobrostivo srce i nesebično zaboraviti sebe radi drugih? Da, svakako. I opet: što znači ljubiti? Ljubiti, to znači oprostiti, živjeti u pomirenju. [5] A pomiriti se, to je duši uvijek proljeće. U malom planinskom selu u kojem sam rođen živjela je blizu naše kuće jedna mnogobrojna vrlo siromašna obitelj. Majka je bila umrla. Jedno od djece, dječak nešto mlađi od mene, često je dolazio k nama, volio je moju majku kao da je njegova. Jednoga je dana saznao da napuštaju selo. Za njega odlazak nije bio nimalo lagan. Kako utješiti dijete od pet ili šest godina? Njemu kao da je nedostajao odmak potreban za shvaćanje takvog rastanka. Kratko prije svoje smrti, Isus je uvjeravao svoje učenike da će primiti utjehu: on će im poslati Svetoga Duha koji će im biti potpora i utješitelj, i koji će zauvijek ostati s njima. U svakome srcu on još danas šapuće: «Nikada te neću ostaviti sama, poslat ću ti Duha Svetoga. Čak i ako si na dnu očaja, ja ostajem uz tebe.» Primiti utjehu od Duha Svetoga znači nastojati, u miru i tišini, njemu se prepustiti. Onda postaje moguće prebroditi strahote kada se dogode. Jesmo li toliko krhki da nam treba utjeha? Svakome se dogodi da bude potresen osobnom nevoljom ili patnjom drugih ljudi. To može ići tako daleko da nam pokoleba vjeru i utrne nadu. Ponovno nalaženje povjerenja vjere i mira srca ponekad zahtjeva strpljenje sa sobom samim. Jedna nevolja osobito pogađa: to je smrt bliske osobe, nekoga tko nam je možda bio potreban kako bismo nastavili na putu po ovoj zemlji. No eto, takva nevolja može se preobraziti i tako nas otvoriti zajedništvu. Onome tko je na dnu jada može se vratiti evanđeoska radost. Bog dolazi osvijetliti tajnu ljudske boli do te mjere da nas prima u prisnost sa sobom. I evo nas na putu nade. Bog nas ne ostavlja same. Daje nam napredovati prema zajedništvu, zajedništvu ljubavi koje je Crkva, u isto vrijeme tako otajstvenom i tako nezamjenjivom... Krist zajedništva [7] pruža nam taj neizmjerni dar utjehe. U mjeri u kojoj Crkva uspijeva donijeti ozdravljenje srcu prenoseći oprost i samilost, ona čini pristupačnijom puninu zajedništva s Kristom. Kad Crkva nastoji ljubiti i razumjeti otajstvo svakoga čovjeka, kad neumorno sluša, tješi i ozdravlja, ona postaje ono što u svojoj najsvjetlijoj stvarnosti i jest: jasni odraz zajedništva. Tražiti pomirenje i mir podrazumijeva borbu u sebi. To nije jednostavan put. Ništa trajno ne gradi se lako. Duh zajedništva nije naivan. On širi srce, on je duboka dobrostivost, on ne sluša nagađanja. Hoćemo li svi, kako bismo bili nositelji zajedništva, u svojemu životu napredovati na putu povjerenja i uvijek obnavljane dobrostivosti srca? Na tom će putu ponekad biti neuspjeha. Spomenimo se tada da je izvor mira i zajedništva u Bogu. Ne obeshrabrivši se, zazvat ćemo njegova Svetoga Duha na našu krhkost. I tijekom čitavog će nam života Duh Sveti davati da iznova krenemo i idemo, od početka do početka, prema budućnosti mira. U mjeri u kojoj naša zajednica u ljudskoj obitelji stvara mogućnosti za širenje...