It’s like this, Humanity:
We’re not when we want to be.
But we ain’t where we was.
Here’s yet another exhibit of that reality.
One definition of interreligious dialogue is cooperation and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions.
Nobody does that better, in my experience, than the members of the lay Catholic movement known as the Focolare (http://www.focolare.us/).
Consider the relations between Focolare members and friends of other faith traditions, and even no faith tradition, in communities around the world (http://www.focolare.org/).
Eyebrows invariably rise when I mention that for decades, like our community, the Focolare have participated with other traditions in constructive dialogue (http://www.flickr.com/photos/movimento-dei-focolari/sets/).
Also that for years, the movement has hosted meetings such as with the Muslim friends of the Focolare at the papal summer residence in Castelgandolfo, Italy.
And, that last year my wife and I were among the American delegation of Muslims invited to that international meeting. (Note the slideshow from our sessions posted on the Focolare website http://www.flickr.com/photos/movimento-dei-focolari/sets/72157607913400261/).
There, as always is the case with the Focolare, we were treated like royalty. The only honorable response? To reciprocate with our fellow human beings, as ordained by our Creator.
I’m hardly any great interfaith guru. But when the Golden Rule is expressed in action, language or thought, I like to gravitate toward it, to share it, to keep the Good traveling.
Thus, this InterFaith21 blog. In addition to acknowledging my parents and many others, I wouldn’t be here — in this spiritual place to which I have been blessed to grow — without the sacrifices and contributions of the “America’s Imam” — the late Imam W. Deen Mohammed (http://www.focolare.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=110&Itemid=1).
That includes his introducing our community to the late leader of the Focolare, who I know as the Blessed Lady Chiara Lubich (http://www.flickr.com/photos/movimento-dei-focolari/sets/72157607811446620/), and to her community.
Although they both passed last year, our president is following their lead. Now, perhaps more of us, rather than arguing and disuniting over the relatively few items on which we (all too often strongly) disagree, might change the paradigm to focus first on unifying around the areas where we do agree.
It is in that spirit that I have come to know Focolare members on a local, national and now international level. Like other people traveling many other paths, we have joined in seeking in sincerity the best in our common human inheritance.
Over the years I often have described the Focolare as people who truly try to live what the great teacher Jesus, on whom we pray peace and blessings, talked and walked. That all may be one” is how Chiara often put it.
Recently a friend overheard my description, and summed it even better in two words: “Gen-u-wine Christians.”
It’s like this, Humanity:
We’re not where we want to be.
But we ain’t where we was.
In today’s episode we visit more encouraging evidence.
One definition of interreligious dialogue is cooperation and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions.
Nobody does that better, in my experience, than the members of the Catholic lay movement known as the Focolare.
Consider the relations between Focolare members and their friends of other faith traditions, or even no faith tradition, around the world.
Eyebrows invariably rise when I mention that for decades, Focolare members have participated in constructive dialogue with other traditions, just as our Muslim community has under the leadership of “America’s Imam,” the late W. Deen Mohammed.
Moreover, for years in their cozy facility at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the movement has hosted international meetings such as with the Muslim friends of the Focolare.
Last year my wife and I were among the American delegation invited to that meeting. (Here’s the Focolare photo slideshow from our sessions). As always is the case with the Focolare, we were treated like royalty. The only honorable response? To reciprocate even better. It’s all a reminder of how our Creator has ordained we should treat all our fellow human beings.
I’m hardly any great interfaith guru. But when the Golden Rule is expressed, whether in action, language, thought or spirit, I want to gravitate toward it, to share it, to keep the Good spreading. Thus, this InterFaith21 blog.
In addition to acknowledging my parents and countless others, I wouldn’t be here — in this spiritual place to which I have been blessed to grow — without the sacrifices of Imam Mohammed. His unique contributions include introducing our community to the late founder of the Focolare, the Blessed Lady Chiara Lubich, and to her community.
Although they both passed last year, we can see President Barack Obama following their lead. More of us should join in. Rather than arguing and disuniting over the relatively few items on which we (all too often strongly) disagree, let’s change the paradigm to focus first on unifying around the areas where we do agree.
It is in the spirit of learning from each other that I have come to know Focolare members on a local, national and now international level. We have joined countless others who are seeking in sincerity the best of our common human inheritance. “That all may be one,” is how Chiara often expressed the sentiment found in the Bible, Quran and other holy books.
I often have described my dear Focolare friends as followers of Jesus who truly live what that great teacher, on whom we pray peace and blessings, talked and walked.
Recently a friend overheard my description, and identified them even more succinctly: “Gen-u-wine Christians.”
