Cut following the dotted lines Fold vertically in 4 parts Fold horizontally in 2 WoL 4 WORD OF LIFE “ Integrity will bring peace, justice give lasting security.’’ (Is. 32,17) These words are our Word of Life for this month. The prophet Isaiah is announcing a future of hope for humanity, almost like a new creation, or a new earth where justice will be lived, giving peace and security to all people. This new period of peace (in Hebrew, peace is shalom) will be the work of the Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit who will have the power to renew all of creation. This will come about because the pact between God and his people, and people with one another, will be respected, and union with God brings about communion among his people. HUMANITY AS ONE BIG FAMILY Brotherhood is in our DNA Is it possible to live in justice with one another? Yes, if we recognize that all people are our brothers and sisters, that all humanity is one family. We can live a spirit of universal brotherhood. How can this be unless there is one Father of all of us? God already gave us the spirit of universal brotherhood in the DNA of every human being. [DNA is the essential element that makes us human.] And every father wants his children to love one another, to treat each other as true brothers and sisters. That’s why Jesus, the “Son” of the heavenly Father and the “Brother” to every human being, came on earth and gave us the law for society – “Love one another!” With greater commitment To act in justice One way to love others is to respect the rules of our life in society and to do our duty. Love is the most important rule for everything we do. It makes us act in justice and brings peace around us. Nations do need laws that respond better to the needs of their citizens, and this is true also on an international level, but what is most needed is that all men and women learn how to live mutual love as the most important thing in their lives. How can we live this Word of Life during the month? By being more committed to carrying out our duties as children, as students, or even as team members in sports. We have to recognize that the others are part of our own family and they need our attention, our respect, our support. If we put mutual love at the basis of our relationships with others, which is also the best way to express our love for God, then we will be living in justice and be pleasing to God. That’s what happened to… Ilenia from Hungary “I had done an assignment in English and I got a very good grade on it. However, when I looked over my work, I realized that the teacher had not noticed a very serious mistake I made. So the grade she gave me was incorrect! What should I do? Should I tell the whole class, or go to the teacher and tell her, knowing that she would give me a much lower grade? After thinking it over, I decided to get in line with other students who wanted to ask the teacher something about the assignment. When my turn came, I showed my teacher the mistake I had found, but she decided to leave my grade as it was, because she wanted to reward me for my honesty.” From the commentary of Chiara Lubich >>>