Looking back, looking ahead

Related articles

Click on the titles below to read about people who are directly involved in interfaith dialogue.

Stories from Gaza	Overcoming prejudice and fear	Youth build peace in Israel	Jewish-Christian Symposium	A Hindu perspective on the Focolare	Interreligious Dialogue and Mary

The articles above are published in the May 2009 issue of Living City.

U.S. Muslims journey to their
international conference

Chiara Lubich and Imam W. D. Mohammed were never out of my thoughts in Rome. I had heard Chiara speak in 1997 at Malcolm Shabazz Mosque in Harlem. I watched Imam Mohammed receive the Luminosa Award for Unity in 1997. I saw Pope John Paul II and Imam Mohammed embrace at St. Peter’s Square in 1999. I watched Chiara receive a doctorate in Washington’s National Shrine in 2000 and with Imam Mohammed address the world at the “Faith Communities Together” event in Washington D.C. I witnessed them cooperate and establish regular “Encounters in the Spirit of Universal Brotherhood” events for our communities across the U.S.

In Rome, September 2008, during the “Christians and Muslims in Dialogue — Love and Mercy” conference, I mentally reviewed my previous visits and experiences with these leaders and our respective communities. Now Rome, the Vatican, and Castelgandolfo are like home to me as are New York, Chicago, Detroit, San Diego, Loppiano and Mariapolis Luminosa.

Little did I know that these wise leaders were teaching me and others lessons I did not even know I was learning by allowing us to participate in these world events.

I felt a need in my soul to feel close to them both. Rome was the best place. I had to be sure the mission continued and to express my concern and commitment.

I have yet to grasp the significance of what each leader represented to me in this world and the world to come. Sure, I loved them. But did I appreciate fully what God had given us?

I was physically in their presence for many talks and lectures. I felt them with my own heart. I sensed the divine presence in each. Still, I was unaware of each leader’s realization in the plan of God.

At Castelgandolfo this past September, Muslims and Christians from around the world spoke and lauded each other. I wanted to hear the language of Qur’an with the commentary of W. D. Mohammed, spoken on this and other world events. I wanted to see him interact with other people from other places and see the respect he would receive as he surprised them with his mild manners and kind words. I wanted to see the love and respect Chiara received from Muslims and Christians alike and hear her impassioned words, inspired by God. I wanted to hear the missive from the Pope regarding the meeting of Muslims and Focolare and similar recitations of the Bible and Qur’an, respectfully interwoven and mutually shared as coming from one and the same source, God. I love that atmosphere.

I longed to see Sharry Silvi and Julian Ciabattini [Focolare co-directors in New York when Chiara went to Harlem]. When we met, we shared the absence of our respective leaders with unspoken action, looks and body language. Chiara and W. D. Mohammed were like parents or older and wiser brothers and sisters. I always felt safe with them and what they shared with us.

In Rome I had to think and speak as Imam W. D. Mohammed would in every circumstance. Those of us from the U.S. were his living representatives. We spoke his language best, because we were recipients of his lectures and most recent efforts. I kept that in mind as I spent days and nights at Castelgandolfo in prayer, song and communion. We all clung to each other like a family in a time of test and trial.
We met with the new president, Maria Voce, and reconfirmed Chiara’s and Imam Mohammed’s commitment to work together. We were disappointed we weren’t able to meet Pope Benedict XVI, but he sent a wonderful letter and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, spent much quality time with us. Whether I fell short or not, I felt urged to perform at their level in this world.

There were delightful changes like the new Sophia University Institute in Loppiano and the new Economy of Communion business incubator building.

I learned more about the Focolare operations and mission. Many Muslims and Christians in the world would hate each of us for associating and loving each other.

We are surrounded by ignorance, hatred, darkness, pain, depression and a suicidal society heading for destruction of all that is good. Yet we are the hope for the new world, promised in scripture.
Our mutual pain was replaced by mutual understanding and trust. It was a healing for each of us. Imam W. D. Mohammed’s and Chiara’s works were not in vain. We are still standing and representing their respective leadership after their physical departure.

I long for their physical presence. I have met no better people in this life.

I support their works of the divine with my soul.

Michael Saafir lives in New York.