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“ What is being born today here in Nairobi [...] is a seed, a small seed that must over time and, hopefully soon enough, develop, spread its radicle deep, raise its stem towards the sky; and then become a sapling and finally a tree with leafy and flowering branches like those that can be contemplated in this wonderful city. Tree with branches that can host many birds just like the kingdom of God narrated by Jesus and that is, many people come from everywhere who come to see how unity is learned; how unity is practised; how it can be radiated around; what the world will be like where the unity invoked by Jesus and desired by the Spirit in our times is achieved. ”

This is what Chiara Lubich said in May 1992 in Juja on land outside the metropolis of Nairobi, almost in the middle of the savannah. But Lubich, as a true prophet, saw far ahead and something was truly born from that tree - still small - but undoubtedly already large and capable of giving hospitality among its branches - more or less leafy - to many. Even to those who probably couldn't have imagined anything of this kind thirty-two years ago. It is here, in fact, that the Week of Unity has been celebrated in recent days with Christians (some inhabitants of this Focolare citadel) and Shiite Muslims from Iran, USA, England, Tanzania and other surrounding countries. A true testimony of unity, as Jesus asked for us Christians, but which Muslims also yearn for and which, above all, these brothers and sisters in dialogue try to live together with Christians.

The testimony given, during the program held in the previous weeks at the University of Tangaza, led to what is now called Mariapolis Piero various people who knew nothing either about this experience or about the Focolare Movement and the Risalat Institute of Qum which l 'they organized. Precisely the impact that the experience had on these people made them understand the value of this week. Some spoke of having found a family, others of having completely transformed the perception they had of Islam (Christians) or Christianity (Muslims). But it was the general sense of brotherhood that pervaded, in a simple, discreet and growing way, every moment that left a novelty that will remain unforgettable for everyone. What, in fact, has been experienced is the possibility for Muslims and Christians to be able to live, remaining in their respective religions and traditions, a true experience of God, which combines a spiritual dimension and human involvement. On the Christian side, some exponents of the local Church were impressed by this possibility, the University of Tangaza would now like a multi-voice collaboration so as to be able to benefit from this experience and, at the same time, contribute from its own point of view.

In particular, a new experience of this type is also expected for next year, possibly with greater involvement of people, in particular young Christians who could benefit and then make a contribution to the socio-religious harmony of their countries . Mariapoli Piero, in recent days, has demonstrated that, even in its small way, it has a true vocation to realize this prophecy which is taking shape as no one would have expected about thirty years ago. And then, at the Piero citadel, there is the Center for Inculturation strongly desired by Chiara Lubich on the same occasion as the foundation of the citadel. The centre currently directed by Father Joseph Athe, a Cameroonian, can make a valuable contribution to this type of dialogue and broaden and harmonize it with the values and wisdom of African religions and traditions. I was impressed by how, even if still in its infancy, there is unthinkable potential here to give a typically African physiognomy to the Islamic-Christian dialogue.

The conclusion of the week was, again, around a small tree, like thirty-two years ago. This time, the participants wanted to plant it to remember the experience they lived and also ensure on a symbolic level that it can grow. They wanted to call it ' the Tree of Unity' and we all hope to see it flourish together with the Wings of Unity experience. And so, I cannot help but conclude with what Lubich said in 1992. Another piece of prophecy. “ The specific note of the citadel, which is - I would like to say - the vocation of the Movement in Africa, will be a particular emphasis on a precise duty of ours, namely: evangelization. To achieve this, this centre will specialize in inculturation, much desired by the ecclesiastical authorities and requested by the different cultures of all those who live on this continent. The doctrine that emerges from our charism, the white light, as we call it, will be the bright star that guides us in this endeavour."

We hope that we can all be faithful to this path which promises to be - if we do not intervene to destroy it - bright and rich in fruit.

Trees symbolizing prophecy: Wings of unity in Africa

" What is being born today here in Nairobi [...] is a seed, a small seed that must in time and, we hope soon enough, develop, spread its rootlet in-depth, raise its little stem towards the sky; and then become a sapling and finally a tree with leafy and flowering branches like those contemplated in this wonderful city A tree with branches that will be able to host many birds just like the kingdom of God narrated by Jesus, that is, many people from everywhere who. come to see how unity is learned; how it can radiate around; how the world will be where the unity invoked by Jesus and desired by the Spirit in our times is realised ."

This much Chiara Lubich said in May 1992 in Juja, on a plot of land, which at that time, was still rather far from Nairobi, almost in the middle of the savannah, one might have thought. But Lubich, as a true prophetess, saw far ahead and from that tree something was truly born - still small - but undoubtedly already great and capable of giving hospitality among its branches - more or less leafy - to many. Even to those who, probably, thirty-two years ago could not have imagined it. It was here, in fact, that the Week of Unity was celebrated these days with Christians – some of them live permanently here – and Shia Muslims from Iran, the USA, England, Tanzania and other countries. A true testimony of unity, as Jesus had asked of us Christians, but which Muslims also yearn for and which, above all, these brothers and sisters in dialogue seek to live together with Christians.

The testimony given, during the programme held in the previous weeks at the University of Tangaza, brought to what is now called Mariapolis Piero several people who knew nothing about this experience or about the Focolare Movement and the Risalat Institute in Qum that jointly organized it. It was precisely the impact that the experience had on these people that made them understand the value of this week. Some spoke of having found a family, others of having completely transformed their perception of Islam (the Christians) or Christianity (the Muslims). But it was the general sense of brotherhood that pervaded, in a simple, discreet and growing way, every moment that imprinted a novelty that will remain unforgettable for all. What was in fact experienced was the possibility for Muslims and Christians to be able to live, while remaining within their respective religions and traditions, a true experience of God, combining a spiritual dimension and human involvement. On the Christian side, some members of the local Church were impressed by this possibility, and the University of Tangaza would now like to collaborate with many voices in order to benefit from this experience and, at the same time, contribute from their specific point of view.

In particular, a new experience of this kind is also planned for next year, possibly with a greater involvement of people, especially young Christians who could benefit and then make a contribution to the socio-religious harmony of their countries. The Mariapolis Piero has a real vocation for this prophecy that is taking shape as no one would have expected some thirty years ago. Furthermore, at the Piero Citadel, there is the Center for Inculturation, strongly desired by Chiara Lubich on the very occasion of the founding of the Citadel, which today is directed by Fr. Joseph Ateh, a Cameroonese. This particular centre can make a valuable contribution to this type of dialogue while broadening and harmonizing it with the values and wisdom of traditional African religions.

The conclusion of the week was, once again, around a small tree, which the participants wanted to plant as a reminder of their experience and to ensure, also on a symbolic level, that it can grow. They wanted to call it 'the tree of unity' and we all hope to see it grow into a flourishing tree along with the Wings of Unity experience. And I cannot but conclude with what Lubich said in 1992. Another piece of prophecy. " The specific note then of the citadel, which is - I would like to say - the vocation of the Movement in Africa - will be a special emphasis on a precise duty of ours, and that is: evangelization. In order to achieve this, this centre will specialize in inculturation, so much desired by the ecclesiastical authorities and demanded by the different cultures of all those who live on this continent. The doctrine that emerges from our charism, the white light, as we call it, will be the shining star that will guide us in this endeavour”. Let us hope that we can all be faithful to this path that promises to be - if we do not intervene to destroy it - bright and rich in fruits.

By Roberto Catalano

Link to the Original Post: https://whydontwedialogue.blogspot.com/2024/06/gli-alberi-simbolo-di-profezia-wings-of.html?m=1

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https://iu-sophia.academia.edu/RobertoCatalano/CurriculumVitae