“He told this parable, 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to his vinedresser, "For three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?" "Sir," the man replied, "leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down." Luke 13, 6-9 NJB (New Jerusalem Bible)
Instead of an introduction:
- What did the gardener do? Why and what for did He give time? What is the conclusion? Who is the addresser of this parable?
- Dear reader, I don’t want to help you with the answers.
More than three years ago this draft (was written on time) could have an informal form of the interview with the leading teacher and tutor. It was one of the last occasions to talk with the priest President before his death. Time passed - the interview isn’t written. Forgive me please, dear reader, that despite of this, our article has a form of not a typical and a little artificial interview. There are no details here. And it will be not clear who asks and who answers the questions. The host greeted us hospitably any time of our visit. (Coffee and biscuits are not only the symbols of hospitality but it is much easier to talk in an open way when sitting around a table.) The host didn’t answer quickly and directly. With great patience and readiness to listen he preferred to ask than explain and encouraged a speaker to talk. That remarkable evening we were sitting and slipping coffee with the Priest S.P. when somebody simply asked.
- Why do the Catholics and the Church need the renewal?
- Debates about so-called “renewal” aren’t only a devout practice - it comes spontaneously and like a boomerang it comes back until it gains a desirable result. It is not possible to express in words loneliness of life and sorrow of many hearts. (Compare Rom 8, 26; 2Tim 3,5).
- How does the Evangelic and Charismatic renewal work? What is the role of “Light-
-Life” Movement there? There are too many questions to answer. Could we start from “the source” of faith?
St. Paul-apostle in his longer speech in Romans reached an interesting conclusion: “What does it say, then? The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith, the faith which we preach, that if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. It is by believing with the heart that you are justified, and by making the declaration with your lips that you are saved. When scripture says: No one who relies on this will be brought to disgrace, it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: the same Lord is the Lord of all, and his generosity is offered to all who appeal to him, for all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then are they to call on him if they have not come to believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard of him? And how will they hear of him unless there is a preacher for them? And how will there be preachers if they are not sent? As scripture says: How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news. But in fact they have not all responded to the good news. As Isaiah says: Lord, who has given credence to what they have heard from us? But it is in that way faith comes, from hearing, and that means hearing the word of Christ. Rom 10, 8-17.
- In “Light–Life” Movement the renewal of ‘roots’ of faith is crucial. The main charismas are: evangelization and ecumenism. If you believe faithfully into God’s News, you will have the ‘lively faith’ and you will surrender your life to Jesus as well as you will aim to reunite Church. Small groups are becoming the new environment for newly converted. There through reading Bible and conversations faith and knowledge of The Holy Book is growing. It results in fruitful life according to Jesus’ Words.
- So, what is the main aim of renewal?
- Why do we often think that people from Gospel renewal compete with these from Charismatic renewal?
- ‘Glosolalia’ and spontaneous pray –Is this the monopoly of ‘the cranky’?
- I think, it is just a misunderstanding.
- Except Polish I would like to speak few foreign languages fluently but without hard work it’s not possible.
- But there are gifts from Holy Spirit
- “not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit”.
(Compare Eph 2,9 )
- he aim of the renewal is fruitful life. Holy Spirit inspires charismatic movements and “Light-Life” Movement is among them. His gifts and fruits as well as the life in the communion are the results of his holy breath and power.
- Is this a trial of making all of these above only a more simply scheme? (...)
Luckily we have been meeting and greeted for a long time. This time it is Jurek’s ‘name day’ and we gather in Bozenka’s house. We are in a friendly group of “Light–Life” Movement. After a huge and hospitable party there is time for Jurek’s pray. This is a routine to bless and console, to give presents and to share the prophecies, which are mostly the quotations from Bible or other inspired words. – We are praying, there is a prophecy but I feel total emptiness. And my thoughts are also not so pious.
Help!!! This old problem isn’t solved... This night I had a dream. I had a meeting with two unknown people-a man and a woman. Both were reading Holy Bible. I asked them about a prophecy. At first the man read loudly: “Wake up; put some resolve into what little vigour you have left: it is dying fast. So far I have failed to notice anything in your behaviour that my God could possibly call perfect; remember how you first heard the message. Hold on to that. Repent! If you do not wake up, I shall come to you like a thief, and you will have no idea at what hour I shall come upon you.” Rev 3, 2-3. After that I asked the woman. She read the part of the text silently only for herself. I was wondering if this is the same fragment. In this moment I saw a sheet of paper with: Rev 3, 2-3.
I thought the rest who had to die all were saved people, which meant the people for whom Jesus Christ had died on the Cross. We should vivify their faith into Jesus – personal and the only Savior! I reminded myself that Simon Peter had had similar admonishment to force brothers and sisters: ‘Simon, Simon! Look, Satan has got his wish to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and once you have recovered, you in your turn must strengthen your brothers.' Luke 22, 31-32; NJB.
Why do I get such an admonishment? Why didn’t Jurek get it? I was trying to recognize this problem after awakening. Everything harmonized. Parameters were the same. Accidentally Heniek helped me tell a simple story. Heniek was working with a friend in a basement, which was centrally lightened. His friend took the light into the other part of the basement and in this moment Heniek stayed in complete darkness. His short story had a similar meaning like a parable: ”No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven”.
Matt 5,15-16, NJB. Appropriating the light is less malicious than hiding it under a bushel but it makes life more difficult for those who stayed at home. It is important to know about this....
BIBLE MEMORY VERS FOR APPLICATION:
“Wake up; put some resolve into what little vigour you have left: it is dying fast. So far I have failed to notice anything in your behaviour that my God could possibly call perfect; remember how you first heard the message. Hold on to that. Repent! If you do not wake up, I shall come to you like a thief, and you will have no idea at what hour I shall come upon you.”
Rev 3, 2-3; NJB
Translation: Anna Kiluk
