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In this month’s Word of Life Experiences, Cindy Hopper and Chiaretto Yan share their experiences of living God’s words: “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.” (Ex 22:21) Through stories of choosing kindness over anger and helping a mother and child in need, and experiencing unexpected generosity and friendship while traveling in a foreign country, they show how concrete acts of love can overcome differences, welcome strangers, and build a world of greater unity and brotherhood.

FOCOLARE WORD OF LIFE November 2026 “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33) Let’s admit it: in the historical context in which we live - and about which we receive increasingly alarming news every day - this statement of Jesus can seem unrealistic, out of touch. In fact, everything we hear and see around us has a danger to take away our courage, and make us feel trapped and insecure in the midst of conditions beyond our control. It is precisely in such a context that the Gospel of John speaks to us. The apostles are gathered around Jesus during the Last Supper. In this scene, there is a dramatic interplay of brotherhood and betrayal, self-sacrifice and the darkness of evil. Jesus gives them his final discourse, trying to prepare them for the ordeal of his passion and death, while assuring them that he will indeed return. He warns them that “in the world” they might be overwhelmed by storms and disappointments, but in him they will always find peace and the fullness of life. His words are a promise that offers them hope. If external circumstances and our own frailty cause us fear and suffering, Jesus invites us to entrust ourselves to him, to recognize the signs of his presence in our lives, even today, and to have a new perspective on life. Chiara Lubich writes: “If there is one inexplicable reality in our lives, it is suffering. […] Even people close to us and who love us are frequently unable to help us find a solution, although at times it is enough that someone shares our pain with us, perhaps in silence. This is what Jesus did. He drew close to every man and every woman, to the point of sharing all that we are. He did even more: he took upon himself every one of our sufferings, making himself ‘suffering’ with us, to the point of crying out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’[1]. […] Every physical, emotional or spiritual pain reminds me of him; it is his presence, his face. I can say: ‘In this pain I love you, Jesus forsaken. It is you coming to visit me in this suffering you took as your own. I want you; I embrace you!’ And then, if we are attentive to loving, to responding to his grace, to wanting what God wants from us in the next present moment, to living our life for him, we often find that the suffering disappears. This is because love attracts the gifts of the Holy Spirit: joy, light and peace.”[2] “Take courage! I have overcome the world!” Let’s allow him - even in times of darkness - to be the one within us who overcomes evil with good, who helps us resist the temptation to close our hearts, and instead urges us to draw close to our neighbors, serving them with love, both in small daily acts and in the commitment to work for the common good. Love lived in a community also bears witness to the reality that Jesus is with us and gives us courage. This is the experience of Javier, a teenager from the Dominican Republic: “I was visiting my cousin and decided to climb a wall in the courtyard, but it collapsed on top of me, crushing my right leg. When I woke up, I realized my leg was gone. At first, I cried a lot, but little by little I felt an inner calm, trusting that God had a plan for me. “Thanks to the love and support of the young people in our community and others around the world, I now have a temporary prosthesis, and in a few months, I’ll receive a permanent one. Life at home has gradually returned to normal. I help with household chores, I spend time with my family, and I’ve even managed to finish school with excellent grades. Everyone - my family, my friends, and the hospital staff - has been impressed by the calm and positive attitude I’ve tried to maintain.”   Prepared by Letizia Magri and the Word of Life team [1] Mt 27:4. [2] Chiara Lubich, commentary to the Word of Life of March 2005.

In this month’s Word of Life reflection, Fr. Tyler reflects on God’s words to the people of Israel: “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.” (Ex 22:20) Drawing from his own experience of moving to a new community, Fr. Tyler reflects on how friendship can transform an unfamiliar place into a place of belonging. Just as God chose Israel, set them free, and called them his own, we are invited to extend that same welcome, compassion, and friendship to those who may feel like strangers among us. This month, we are invited to notice the people around us who may feel left out or out of place—and to take the first step toward them. By offering the gift of friendship, we can help others experience the same love we have received from God, who first chose us and called us friends.

This month’s Word of Life comes from the Book of Exodus, which recounts the increasingly desperate situation of the Israelites in Egypt. Oppressed and enslaved, they cry out to God for help, and their cry reaches His heart. God intervenes through Moses, leading the people to freedom and establishing a new relationship with them. After their liberation, God gives them the “Code of the Covenant,”[1] a collection of teachings and laws — including the Ten Commandments — that flow directly from the extraordinary experience of being rescued. This code, formally accepted by the entire people,[2] offered concrete guidance for how they were to live in fidelity to the God who saved them. Among these instructions is the command: “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.” This reminder roots their moral life in memory: the people are called to treat others with the same compassion and justice that God showed them. “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.”  (Ex 22:21) The stranger belongs to the categories favored and protected by God because they are among the most vulnerable, along with the poor, the orphan, and the widow. The rationale behind this rule appeals, first and foremost, to the memory of what was experienced during slavery in Egypt. God’s mighty intervention in the Exodus is constantly repeated in the Old Testament. It is an event that the people must always keep in mind as something that continues to repeat itself, in different ways, in every generation. Origen’s statement, in his commentary on the Book of Exodus, is significant: “Whoever oppresses the stranger shows that he has not yet left Egypt.”[3] This commandment also calls for empathy because putting ourselves in the shoes of another helps us understand them and grasp what they need. Those who have gone through a difficult experience should find it easier to empathize with the pain of others. But in the Old Testament, this is not merely a human experience. The first to set an example of what it means to enter into the situation of others is God himself. “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.”  (Ex 22:21) How can we put this Word of Life into practice? It might be helpful to ask ourselves a few questions: Have I ever experienced being a stranger? Have I ever felt unaccepted, unwelcome, misunderstood, or out of place? What have I learned from these experiences? Who is the stranger to me? Who is the stranger to God? How can I welcome them without reservation, just as the Lord does with us? What concrete steps can I take? Chiara Lubich once wrote: “With a God who makes no distinction between people, how can we not take universal brotherhood to heart? As children of the same Father, we can discover that we are brothers and sisters to every man and woman we encounter. If, therefore, we are all brothers and sisters, we must love everyone, beginning with those closest to us, without stopping. Our love will not then be a theoretic, abstract love, but a concrete one, made of service. A love capable of reaching out to the other person, initiating a dialogue, empathizing with their distress, taking on their burdens and worries, all the way to the point that the other one feels understood and welcomed in their diversity and free to express all the richness they carry within themselves.”[4] This is the experience of Maryam, a young Pakistani woman: “In a café, I saw the owner refuse to serve tea to an elderly woman. I had only a few rupees (the local currency) in my pocket, but I felt I had to help her, so I approached the owner and offered to pay for her. At first, he hesitated. Then, after a pause, he smiled and said, ‘No, that’s not right. If you, a customer, are willing to use what little you have to take care of her, how much more generous should I, the owner, be? It’s easier for me to give her a free cup of tea than to charge you.’ It was a powerful experience. By trying to show love, first to the woman and then to the owner, I saw how a simple gesture of kindness can open another person’s heart.” Prepared by Augusto Parody Reyes and the Word of Life team [1] Ex 20:22-26. [2] See Ex 24. [3] Origen, Early Christian scholar, (185-254 AD), “Homily on the Exodus,” verse 5. [4] Chiara Lubich, Commentary on the Word of Life of May 2006.

Through stories of taking the first step toward difficult neighbors and transforming tension into friendship, and responding to online criticism with openness and dialogue instead of confrontation, they show how choosing to love can transform relationships and open unexpected paths for the Holy Spirit to work. In this month’s Word of Life Experiences, Federico Aldrighetti and Brett Salkeld share their experiences of living St. Paul’s words: “Love does no evil to a neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Rom 13:10)

"Love Changes the World" Welcome to the September 2026 Word of Life reflection. Fr. Tyler Mattson offers his monthly spiritual insight, helping us let the Word shape our daily choices and relationships. This month we meditate on St. Paul’s reminder: “Love does no evil to a neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the Law” (Romans 13:10).

FOCOLARE WORD OF LIFE September 2026 “Love does no evil to a neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the Law” (Rom 13:10).

In this month’s Word of Life Experiences, Joaquin Trejo and Alice Corideo reflect on Mary’s words: “My soul magnifies the greatness of the Lord.” Through stories of helping young people encounter God through community, prayer, and Eucharistic adoration, and taking a leap of faith with no job, home, or certainty about the future, they reveal how praising God opens our hearts to recognize his presence and trust the unexpected ways he works in our lives.

1. Shared Joy and Fellowship A Journey of Solidarity: After the Annunciation, Mary travels 90 miles to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Their meeting is a story of shared grace between two women experiencing humanly impossible pregnancies.Mutual Understanding: Mary seeks out Elizabeth as someone who can uniquely understand her experience, prompting Mary to break into her hymn of praise, the Magnificat.

In this month’s Word of Life Experiences, Matt Crane, Yvette & Rod, and Ed & Arachelis reflect on Jesus’ words: “The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit.” (Mt 13:23) Through stories of welcoming refugee families, finding hope and forgiveness after a life-changing accident, and learning to trust God in family life and difficult circumstances, they reveal how God’s Word bears fruit when our hearts remain open to his love.

FOCOLARE WORD OF LIFE July 2026 “The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit” (Mt 13:23).

Listen to 2 beautiful experiences on this month's Word of Life: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ [...] Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt 10:7-8) 1. Réal Sauvageau, a Marist brother from Quebec shares about his work in Vietnam with youth. 2. Msgr Lewis Gaetano is from Canton Ohio and he shares a profound experience on how he proclaims the Word of God.