Not only an “epochal change” but a “change of the epoch”
THE “Yes” of Mary during the annunciation after a critical question “how could this be? I do not know man?” is not only a transition within the history of salvation from the Old to the New Testament but a beginning of a new epochal change in the history of mankind. In fact contains in itself the “fullness of time” which made historically concrete the incarnation of the Son of God. Things has never been the same after that “Yes”.
Many has followed that yes, since from that “Yes” many has turned their lives towards God through Jesus – the human face of God—by their free choice and thus initiated in their personal and then in their life in society an interior change expressed in relationships with persons, community and even creation, to build what is true, noble and beautiful; and not only to continue to contribute to a world where he or she is, but also to integrally share his/her life so that this world will become more, human, just, loving, merciful, etc.
Charisms in the Church like that of the Work of Mary (official name of the Focolare Movement) is not for itself. Like any true charism in the church, it is meant to make the church to become what it should be, and together with the other charisms, they—as it were—could make the church like a beautiful garden with many flowers which are not competing with one another but considers each other as a gift for the good of the Kingdom of God.
A charism should not become a piece inside a museum to be placed inside a bottle or a glass to be appreciated by others but it has a historical necessary relevance for the Body of Christ. The “yes” therefore of persons who are animated and “breathes” the spirit of any charism in the church has the obligation to give to the church what it is received from the Holy Spirit, perhaps not within the confines of the hierarchical church but in the peripheries yet under the charismatic dimension of the church. Together they could—in many ways—give back to the church what they have received from the edges of Church life where the Holy Spirit blows where it wishes, in order to make the church—Church.
In this way the charism, like that of the Work of Mary, could offer to all the grace of that original “Yes” of Mary not only to the church but to humanity and to the world in order to continue that historical “event” repeated in all places and times towards all men and women of good will. Perhaps this could contribute to a what the Popes said a “new springtime” or a “new Pentecost” or what Pope Francis would say: “What we need is not an only epochal change but a change of the epoch.”
