A Retreat

27 february —————————

We are at the conclusion of the Book of Revelation…and of our Spiritual Exercises!

Rev 21, 1-22,5

The purpose of the author in the Book of Revelation is to open to us the heart of the final end, regarding the gift of marriage that Jesus wants to do with each of us.

We the Church are the espoused of Christ that walks in the time and prepares herself for the wedding feast.  How?  It is described in the preceding chapters: to purify oneself, redressed by Christ and committing oneself in living our mediation between God/Christ and history.

In this passage the author wants to make us see, to contemplate what happens when the espoused (= we) puts on the wedding clothes, Fr. Vanni says.

The passage can be subdivided into two parts:

21, 1-8:  the men are enriched with values of Christ, they are christified and are paralleled to a city.  She is the espoused, worthy of her God, because she is re-dressed in one of her special characteristics: Love.  At this level the relationship between Christ espoused and his betrothed is equal.

Our life now is a preparation, a practice for this absolute love.  Another image is that of the tent, in which God will personally dry every tear from our eyes: every sadness and weeping will be transformed into joy.

He makes new (christifies) every thing, until that moment: in every good there is a presence of Christ.

21,9 – 22,5:  there is here an attempt to express this equated love, this face-to-face encounter between Christ and us.

John presents the city – Jerusalem completely permeated with the light of God, with the doors open, from a great measure, to leave to one’s imagination.

It’s structure carries Christ; also the precious stones of which form the foundation.  The doors represent Chris in all his aspects.

That which is confirmed is that Christ is not a stranger to us and that in Him we can put all of our trust.  He is close to us, ready to give all of himself.  The Lord Jesus, to be sure, will not let himself be beaten in generosity.

26 february —————————

Today we approach a “specific point” of departure – affirms Fr. Vanni – that of JESUS CRUCIFIED.

John 19, 17-37

For the John the Evangelist, Jesus Crucified is the Crucified and Risen. It is the Lord that speaks to our life the richness of his Passion, united to that of the Resurrection.

All the scripture passages in themselves demand contemplation of the moment of the crucifixion of Jesus. The author, when he describes the event, uses two levels which we must always keep before us: that of the narrative and the other symbolic, giving sense to the narrative itself.

Jesus says in verse 17, He himself carries the cross, because it is His supreme gift, his glorification.

The state of crucifixion is then described in five images:

1. v.18-22 = the little table on which is written the motive of condemnation. Jesus is the “king”, king of all (= universality in three languages) and is the point on which places the pyramid of all men’s problems upside down. He takes to heart all of it.

2. v.23-24 = clothes/tunic. Cfr. Psalm 22. The crucifixion “costs” Jesus; He suffers, but has total trust in the Father.

3. v.25-27 = the “new” maternity of Mary. Mary has one “Christological” richness that speaks to us. This value above all for us Canossians, that we carry around our necks her image with the words ECCE MATER TUA. Mary, then, after having made the gift of Jesus for us, pushes us to be “mothers”, to generate Jesus where he still is missing.

4. v.28-30 = Jesus is thirsty… he dies. It is not only a physical thirsting, understandable, but an ardent thirst for love, of relationship with the Father. In the agony of love, he reclines his head and “gives” us the Spirit… gives to all the Holy Spirit.

5. v.31-37 = pierced with a spear, blood and water. From the side of Christ blood (that is his life given to us, for us) with water, flows. In John this is always the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, dying, gives us the Spirit, His Love; at Pentecost, it will be the Spirit to give us life, vitality, and the Love of Jesus.

In the Afternoon:

John 17

This text is the “priestly prayer” of Jesus, but it might be better to call it “the prayer of the hour of Jesus”.

Jesus:

- speaks of himself to the Father (v.1-5), asking that he “be glorified”, that is to give him the capacity to do make of himself a total gift;

- speaks to the Father of the disciples (v.6-19). He considers them a gift of the Father for Himself. He asks that they be “sanctified in the truth,” which means the Truth of Jesus himself carried to men through their testimony of life. A “christified” life is a life of holiness and this gives joy to the Father. Jesus is passionate of the Father.

- speaks of all those that through the preaching of the disciples, believe in Him (v.20-26)… which means us. Jesus has though of me, has prayed for me. He asks for us unity, that through the Father, Jesus and all of us are together one single realtiy. Jesus gives us his same capacity to be gift, to be love. In fact, he asks the Father for us the Holy Spirit, He that can bring us to Jesus, the life and the truth of Jesus.

Jesus desires to come to us, in all the spaces of our life and to do it through the Spirit.

These verses can be considered our “identity card”, we say every day our yes to Christ, passionately, to be truly His.

25 february —————————

Fr. Vanni began today reminding us that we are one church christified by the Spirit – together with Mary – and being so we can generate Christ in the empty parts of the story. Two texts are of help in our process of discernment.

Rev. 14, 1-5

This text can illuminate us regarding religious life, that, in its essence, it is really belonging totally to God, to Christ. It speaks of the Crucified and Risen on Mount Sion, and with Him, 144,000 people (12×12x1000). That is, Christians, “multiplied” by the presence of Christ operating in the story of salvation. They belong totally to the Father and to the Son (name on the forehead) and they dedicate themselves completely to Him (virginity). They are the only ones to understand the new canticle, who have within the newness of Christ. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes, full-time.

The 144,000 are the first-fruits of humanity who have learned the Canticle in order to teach it to the others.

In this way we consecrated also are learning the “New Canticle”, we follow Christ where he goes and we dedicate ourselves totally to Him and to our brothers and sisters.

Rom 12, 1-2

Paul presents to us the practical aspect of discernment. He exhorts to offer oneself in a radical way, totally to God, without return, founded on the trust in the maternal goodness of God himself. To do this, one must – says the apostle -let himself be transformed by the Spirit in the mind, or in our mental categories; in this way we discern the fragment of God’s will for us. Other criteria to verify our choices come – described by Paul:

• “that which is good” = if our choices are “good” for the other, it helps them;
• “that which is worthy of God” = if we are in relationship with God, in dialogue with Him and we present Him all that which we think, desire;
• “that which is perfect” = that is to say, that which corresponds to the project of God and gives me peace.

In the meditation in the afternoon, Fr. Vanni suggested to us as a means to “start again from Christ” in our daily life: one does not – he affirms – always begin from zero but rather re-establishes every day of life in Him. We can do this in the Eucharist, where He gives all of Himself to us, and secondly, in the listening and intimacy of the Word. Christ “will grow” like this in our life.

John 13

We enter into the section of the Gospel of John entitled “the hour of Jesus”. At the very beginning of verse 1 we find this indication: it is time for Jesus to “pass from this world to the Father and then from the one who loves Him “at most” his disciples.

v.2-20 = washing of the feet.

Jesus first “takes away” his clothes (that is, strips himself of his life, giving it), then he “redresses”, retaking (it is a reference to the Resurrection).

This gesture of welcoming is Jesus himself who does it, because we need this – his love. Without it we will be strangers to Him, not followers of his Person.

There’s need of a general purification, but for the disciples it is necessary of a further perfection that is always Jesus doing in us, with his Presence and with his Word (v.10).

“Do you know what I have done for you?” – this question resounds also in us. Jesus invites us to take the act – what He does for us, of that which He is for us.

v. 21-35 = There is dialogue between Jesus and Judah. Jesus accepts also the betrayal of Judas, loving him in a special way; he loves him also if he is his “enemy”. The Christ gives life also for his enemies. The Glory of the Lord is truly in his love with vengeance for all, giving life, also to his enemies.

As he has done, so too we must do: to give the best, to do good to all.

v. 36-38 – the dialogue between Jesus and Peter.

Peter is sincere in wanting to give his life for Jesus, as it was for Thomas in chapter 11. Now Peter cannot follow him, but he will do so after the Resurrection of Jesus.

We too follow Jesus, but because He gives us the strength, He gives us the vitality of the Resurrection.

Our “sequela” needs, therefore, two elements:

• our good and sincere will,
• and the Paschal Mystery, in which we are immersed.

24 february —————————

The Spirit of the Lord renews the face of the earth giving Christ, working a “christification” of the world… and of our lives. So began the meditation by Fr. Vanni on this third Sunday of Lent.

If we open ourselves to Christ – he continued – we don’t lose any part of us, rather we carry to fullness our humanity. The Book of Revelation that we are meditating on helps us to interiorize this truth.

Ap. 5,7

The Lamb, standing upright and is sacrificed, has taken into his hands the history and the project of the Father-of-History himself. He walks with us… and this fundamental fact provokes an explosion of joy. We have here a doxology, a glorification, a celebration and three concentric circles:

1. The praise of the living beings and of the priests, 2. that of the angels and finally 3. that of heaven and of the earth and of all its creation. Christ has “re-bought” us, acquired us through giving his life for us and has made of us one kingdom (= we have a responsibility of mediating between the project of God, of Christ and the history of its completeness). We are reigning on the earth, that is, we carry forward his project of history in order to fill the empty spaces.

How to do it in practice?

The author of the Book of Revelation gives four indications:

• prayer
• witness, that is transparent of Christ
• prophecy
• attention to the challenges, to the requests, to the voices of history.

In all this we must not be afraid: Christ is with us! He has won over evil (cfr. white horse) with his Death and Resurrection!

Rev. 12, 1-6

First to introduce this passage of Revelation, Fr. Vanni presents the figure of Mary as it is described in the Johnnine school. She is always the “mother of Jesus” (cfr. Jn 2 – Cana, and Jn 19, 25-26 at the foot of the Cross): her role is tied to her maternity, that becomes – with the death and resurrection of Christ – properly directed towards the Church, to each one of us.

In John (in the Gospel and in the Book of Revelation) we find a dense term in “Woman” because in this figure we can read in the existing presence of Mary that of the Church.

Coming back to our text, it speaks of a Woman, redressed with the sun, that is the most beautiful gifts of God and of Christ, with the moon under the feet (has a sort of immortality), with a crown of twelve stars, the light of the apostles that illumines the journey of the one who looks to her. Certain aspects of this woman are applicable to Mary, others to the Church, others to both.

For us:

• to cultivate, to revive our relationship with Mary who day after day gives us Jesus
• like Mary, also we – united to Christ – must “generate” Jesus in the voids in our history
• the good that we do will remain forever, even if it is small and hidden to the eyes of all.

23 february —————————

The text that we listen to (Rev. 2-3) – is introduced by Fr. Vanni like this – it is a message from today and for today for each of us. It is a staying “face to face” with the Risen Christ, present in the midst of our assembly.

He follows us step by step: it is important, therefore, to synchronize ourselves to Him, activating His presence in us and to establish with Him a full reciprocity.

Who is the Christ for me?

He presents himself is in the passage to be meditated:

- Christ Jesus is He that takes us by the hand and occupies himself with all the particulars of our life

- He is the Crucified and Risen who gives us his Word;

- He is the Son of God who loves us immeasurably and gives us his Spirit so that we have all memories of Him.

To us to respond then: “Amen!“, is to say…”let it be so!“

We present ourselves to Him with all that we are and let ourselves be taken by Him: Christ will give us the truth of ourselves and will transform us, sending us to others so that also they will know Him and love Him.

Rev. 4-5

We enter into the second part of the Book of Revelation. The situation is that of an reconciled assembly – which has sins – after the listening to the Word of Christ – they have been forgiven by Him. We must believe that it is like this: Jesus has destroyed our sins, has set them right and they exist no more! We don’t stop ourselves then to remember them… nor to do all that is possible to avoid evil: we do good, we love the Lord!

The author of the Book of Revelation invites us to be cooperators – priests with Christ, mediators between Christ and humanity, always ready t intercede. But to be able to do it in a correct way, we must know to read history, the signs of the times.

How to do it?

The Book of Revelation suggests to us three parameters for correct discernment of history:

1. to look at history from the point of view of God, forgetting the story and losing ourselves in God, letting ourselves fall in Him (cfr. 4,2ss). What does it take to activate our experience of God, to jump-start the faith and to live solely in relationship, strictly confidential with Him. It is the “God Alone” that Magdalene has so often recommended to us.
2. be certain that the history is in the hands of God (scroll written both front and back – cfr. 5,1-5), also if for us it is incomprehensible: between us and history there is always the transcendence of God.

Christ-Lamb is killed standing (cfr 5,6ss) – it is the center of the story. Only Him – to whom the story is given – can reveal to us its sense. He gives his Spirit to all men so that at their turning, they can live life as a gift and carry his Word in the empty spaces of history.

22 february —————————

The Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) 1, 9-20

The liturgical assembly is invited to rediscover Christ, and to go out from Him every day. She who works to revive, renew the relationship with Christ who purifies and give a new beginning.

The Book of Revelation presents this in the form of a story, of an experience of Christ lived by the protagonist John. He finds himself in exile on the island of Patmos, and here “becomes in the Spirit”, that is to say that the Spirit takes him and transforms him, and he passes on Christ. He turns around to “see” the voice that he has heard and sees seven candelabra (all the Church, each one of us) that form a circle and at the center a person that coincides, called the Son of Man.

We must then ask ourselves: Who is Christ for me?

Christ loves me much, “he burns with fire for me” … but how do I feel to be loved by him?

He “dreams” that we are the most alive expression of Him, of his love… and for this he loves us infinitely.

He always has a Word to tell us, a Word that deeply penetrates in our life and changes it.

Christ each places his right hand on each one (cfr. v.17) and reassures us: we don’t have to fear, He is always near us. And with us, not only at the moments of the “transfiguration, of consolation…but every day He is. He is present to love us, to give us only His love.

Revelations 2-3

The Risen Christ speaks his word through John. It is Christ that speaks in the first person, that contacts the community…that speaks directly to each of us.

The messages is directed to seven particular churches, but it is symbolism, because he wants to address all the Church, without distinction. In fact, in the Book of Revelation the number seven indicates totality (it is quality – not quantity). The message part of the concrete facts lived by the church is, for all, the Risen Christ has a word that speaks, a word that does not condemn or judge, but of encouragement, of love.

The relationship that Christ instills with the Church, is therefore with us, and that of the engagement to his fiancée. He knows all of us, and our desires and our mistakes, but wants to encourage each one to convert herself; to look ahead and to return to Him “the first love.”

21 february —————————

Fr. Ugo Vanni, Jesuit, biblical scholar and professor at the Gregorian University (Rome) – the preacher of the Spiritual Exercises – is accompanying the Chapter Delegates in a discernment process using the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse).

“God has something new to say to us, if we listen closely. This is a favorable time, a “Kairos” time, but it demands a reflection, silence and above all to sign a blank check over to the Lord,” Fr. reminded the delegates.

If one takes to live this time with a gaze on high, with total generosity and enthusiasm. For this, as St. Ignatius affirmed, each Sister needs the radical poverty, so that whatever the Lord says and asks, after having heard him, she can respond, “Si!” with joy!

The whole book of the Apocalypse (Revelation) is a message sent to the liturgical assembly and is proclaimed by a lector/reader. After having listened, the assembly responds:

In the first part (chapters 1-3) It is an invitation to become the people of God, to be in good form so as to be sent on mission. Christ wants his salvation to reach every part of the world.

In the second part (chapters 4-22,5) projects the assembly out and there is a responsibility of an apostolate. Any discernment, however, is an attentive reading of the signs of the times, of the actual history in order to carry Christ where there is still an “absence” of Him. We are called to place our contribution. If we don’t normally let ourselves read our history, to discern, we risk to carry Christ where he already is, or to be out of place and out of time. It is a risk to of being irrelevant. God has called us to do good, but not in a generic way. To carry Christ in the empty spaces of our world we must be “full, rich” in Him.