To all the brothers and sisters of the Oases – Realities of
Koinonia John the Baptist

Christ is risen!

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” (Ps 133:1)

Dearest sister, dearest brother,

As we celebrate this Jubilee year, we are motivated to reflect on the great gift the Lord has given us – the gift of being part of a community of friends. As such, this Lent takes on special significance, calling us to reclaim and restore any friendships that may have cooled, caused by time, distance, or any variety of circumstances. These relationships are the essence of being Koinonia. Jesus Himself tells us ‘I call you friends’ (cf. Jn 15:15). We are called to respond to this gift of friendship day by day.
When I first entered the community in Camparmò, I was struck by a phrase that Fr Ricardo often repeated: No one should consider themselves a gift for the others. Instead, each of us should consider the other as a gift for us. In its simplicity, this exhortation expresses the essence of our journey of conversion. This walk does not correspond with becoming good, devout, prepared, professional people, who know how to do things well… These characteristics may be positive. However, they are marginal, or sometimes even obstacles, if they are not in harmony with that which is essential: making oneself a gift for the other. That is to say, becoming a friend.
The growth and expansion of the community is a fruit of encouragement, which demonstrates the Lord’s manifest goodness and faithfulness towards each one of us, and His glorious work. At the same time, it is good to guard ourselves from the risk of opening the door to sentiments of pride, of pretence, and of feeling ourselves indispensable, as if the merits are ours. By opening ourselves to these we slip into the mentality of the world. The same Lord Jesus who, with generosity, endows us with His gifts and His charisms for the growth of the community, cautions us that, from the beginning of our journey to its conclusion, we must consider ourselves as ‘worthless servants’ (cfr. Lk 17:10).

If someone cultivates a different mindset, to the extent of seeing themselves as a ‘worthwhile’ or ‘useful servant’ he or she should know that, sooner or later, this conviction will lead them out of community. Everything else is chatter.

In his first letter, John writes: “if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we are in koinonia with one another” (1:7). With these words, the Spirit shows us that faithfulness to friendship is more than a gift. It is the guarantee of our walking in the light, in transparency and in the truth. Therefore, let’s not allow ourselves to be deceived by the devil, who knows very well the value and transcendence of our friendship.
In this moment in history, so characterised by confusion, the one thing that gives us stability is a friend. And, remaining a friend, despite everything, is the principal prophetic aspect of our Koinonia.

Dear sister and brother, let’s allow ourselves to be converted in this season of grace, once again directing ourselves to the brother and the sister in our community, with words of welcome, edification, affection and sincerity. These brothers and sisters are those with whom we have shared the joy of journeying together, for a short time or for many years. Let us seize every opportunity to live according to the style of the Gospel, forgiving and allowing ourselves to be forgiven. Jesus said: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). This is the invisible, yet very real cross that each member of the Koinonia carry in their heart. It alone has the capacity to cause joy and peace to spring forth and alone guarantees that the fruit will remain.
Let us therefore reclaim the gift of friendship, first and foremost with the Lord through prayer and then with our brothers and sisters through renewed trust in them.

I greet you with affection, and wish you a fruitful journey towards Easter, our Passover of Resurrection.

Even Sapir, 27 February 2025

Fr. Giuseppe De Nardi
Pastor General