Valuable gestures

Chiaroscuro is the marked color of today, with a slide, unfortunately, towards the increasingly dark, if not towards pitch darkness. And we obviously break down an open door if we tell ourselves that these are complex times that affect us, within the different perspectives that intertwine in our daily lives, however marked by the events that overwhelm us within the broad coordinates of the world, of online, of global intrigues, of emergencies that do not abandon us, of wars that tragically swarm no longer too far from us.

The seasons of the present hour must however be faced and also "lived" without too much confusion, because we cannot abandon the hope that instead must be shared, indeed, alongside a humanity that encompasses us, is not foreign to us, awaits us, is our dimension of solidarity. Yes, today there is shooting – even in the suburbs – the violence is increasing, the dignity of people is being trampled upon, there are victims among young people and adolescents… These are ugly scenarios. While we are becoming accustomed to the images of ongoing wars, of which we see disturbing images about which we do not know much. Not even the impressive numbers of the fallen, the targeted, the killed, the wounded, the maimed, the displaced seem to disturb us too much from our armchairs in heated homes. Times are hard, even if we try not to think about it. And then there are the poor among us. Six million in Italy who have to resort to aid to eat. The troubled population of migrants who encounter so much resistance and little welcome, in a world that humiliates the weakest and is infected by strong or creeping logics of inhumanity.

And in all this, here comes an opportunity for believers to seize with courage, that of the announcement of possible paths for Pilgrims of Hope, within the Jubilee that is upon us with the guarantee of the words of the apostle Paul: «Hope does not disappoint!» In short, an opportunity for prayer, commitment, conversion, a turning point to resume the pace that is worth it, in the sign of a God who awaits us beyond our distractions. Which are even photographed by surveys, such as the recent one by Census according to which 71% of Italians consider themselves Catholic, but only 15% consider themselves practicing. One more reason for this awareness. Also spurred by valuable and unexpected gestures. It is enough to mention one, rather cryptic unfortunately, but encouraging: even groups of prisoners in the prisons of Fossano and Alba have offered, for the Food Collection, something purchased from the internal sales point of the penitentiary facilities. Signs that comfort and challenge. Maybe asking each of us what happens to the food that we… waste.


Corrado Avagnina
NP December 2024