The Son of God paid no small price to make himself one with us out of love. If anyone “lived the other,” it was he. And behold him become man: Jesus – born like all men. He was a Jew among Jews, who lived, worked, wept, who was tired, who suffered in body and soul, who offered to God also the terrible sense of feeling abandoned by him. He experienced annihilation and death. In this way, he immersed himself in every level of human experience, to gather into his heart all mankind – bringing all to the Father.

It is to him that… the priests, the first apostles and missionaries, look in order to know how to bring God to those who do not yet know him, or who believe they know other gods.

“We must make ourselves one” with them, we must take on the diverse cultures which are often so rich, steeped in centuries-old traditions; thus enabling the good news to be heard also in these cultures.

Jesus crucified, in his cry of abandonment, reminds us of all who do not believe there is a God, of materialists, terrorists, sinners, robbers, murderers….

And it is love for Jesus forsaken which gives the priest new impetus to know how and in what ways to dialogue with them.

                                                                                                                      Chiara