Testimony of Hope

Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of Pope John Paul II by Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Pauline Books and Media, 2000.

". . . only Christian love can change hearts, not weapons, not threats, and not the media.

It is love that prepares the way for the announcement of the Gospel.

Omnia vincit amor, 'love conquers everything.!'

When love is true, it stirs a response of greater love. Then a person loves and is loved in return, and the new commandment of Jesus, 'Love one another as I have loved you' (Jn 15:12), is realized. Reciprocal love is the fulfillment of the art of loving."

Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

Testimony of Hope

Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of Pope John Paul II by Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Pauline Books and Media, 2000.

Continuing with the previous posts.

"'I left everything to follow Jesus, because I love the defects of Jesus.'

The fifth defect : Jesus doesn't understand finances or economics.


Recall the parable of the workers in the vineyard. . . . (Mt 20:1-16).


If Jesus were named the administrator of a community or the director of a business, the institution would surely fail and go bankrupt. How can anyone pay someone who began working at 5:00 P.M. the very same wage paid to the person who has been working since early morning? Is this merely an oversight? Is Jesus' accounting wrong? No! He does it on purpose, as he explains, 'Can I not do what I want with what is mine? Or are you jealous because I am generous?' (Mt 20:15)."

Testimony of Hope

Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of Pope John Paul II by Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Pauline Books and Media, 2000.


Continuing on with the previous post.

"'I left everything to follow Jesus, because I love the defects of Jesus.'

The publicity manager of a company or someone running an election campaign prepares a precise program, which includes many promises.

Nothing of the kind for Jesus! His publicity campaign, judged with a human eye, is doomed to failure.

Jesus promises trials and persecutions for those who follow him.

To his disciples who have left everything for him, he does not guarantee food or lodging, but only a share in his own way of life.

To a scribe who wants to join him as a follower, Jesus responds, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head' (Mt. 8:20).  . . .

The disciples had faith in this risk-taker. For 2000 years, and until the end of the world, the multitudes following Jesus will never be exhausted. It is sufficient to look at the saints of every age. Many of them belong to his blessed association of risk-takers--with no address, with no telephone, with no fax machine!"