"LET\u2019S DO GOOD TO EVERYONE"

Pope Francis in one of his messages says: "Let us not tire of doing good, because in due course we will reap our harvest, if we do not surrender. Then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all" (Cfr. Gal 6:9-10).

The Church in every liturgical season offers us opportunities for our spiritual growth and for taking up the path of our life, not only to turn our hearts and minds towards God, but also to recognize, through the eyes of Christ, that we are called to be 'image and likeness of God’ not only individually, but also as a people.

Our Franciscan spirit of minority asks us to be poor with the poor. The poor are everywhere with us, poor in the different conditions of social, economic, political and religious life. Moreover, the poor and the weak, while being present, cannot attract our special attention and our time.

Responding to the Church’s invitation to take care of and to approach the poor and needy with greater attention, we have taken time to pay visits to the elderly, the sick and the needy and, in particular, to our pygmy brothers and sisters. We spent some time listening to them, sharing food, offering clothing and medication.

Visiting pygmies is a very special experience, they are very simple, welcoming and joyful, you don’t need to give them much to be happy, even a every small gesture illuminates their faces and manifests a contagious joy that can only spring from inner peace. They lack all that is material; they sleep on the bare floor in their huts and are simply happy when they find food for the day. They do not worry about tomorrow: every day has its fatigue.

The Bantou are very generous and grateful! One of them caught us running to collect bananas to give them to us, thanking us for coming to visit. He didn’t keep the bananas for himself which surely were all they would have had to eat in the following days, but he gave us everything without hesitation and we, while knowing, that we didn’t need them, had to accept to give them the satisfaction of having offered us something: There is more joy in giving than in receiving! This remains as a great lesson of life.