03 Nov Turin 2024 – Fragility
Visualise us in a massive sports arena, close to 8,000 Teams members from 5 continents awaiting the start of the Gathering……”8.000 hearts waiting to be moved together”
The Keynote speaker each day was Marina Marcolini. As she stated herself “I have no official expertise to lead you on this path. I am not a priest or a nun or even a Biblical scholar. And I do not know why I was chosen by the very good and kind organizers of this magnificent congress. Perhaps because I am a lover of the Gospel?
Marina certainly showed this through her deliveries each day, presenting with a serenity, simplicity and joy throughout the week.
As you all know, the conference was focused on the Gospel story of the Disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The theme of Marina’s first talk was Fragility. We can barely image how fragile the two disciples were as they walked along the road from Jerusalem. Their world had been turned “upside down”. These disciples had cultivated a dream for three years, but now they are set loose and despairing like two castaways. Like these disciples, we also can tread the same footsteps of defeat, despair and disillusionment. This is an ideal time to remember that our monthly sit-down is a perfect opportunity to share our fragility with our spouse.
The disciples talking together could be compared to a Sit-Down. As they walked and talked together, Jesus came among them, and He began to explain the scriptures to them.
Similarly, the time of pooling at a Team meeting can be an opportunity to share our fragility with our Team members.
…….
Following Marina’s talk, there were Testimonies’ from two couples who shared on difficulties in their lives, and how they confronted these difficulties in their Sit-Down and with the help of the Lord, they were able to resolve them.
Marina finished her presentation with a quote from Pope Francis:
“Christ is in you, He is with you and He never leaves. No matter how far away you may stray, beside you is the Risen One, calling you and waiting for you to begin again.
Donal & Katriona O’Keefe
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