EVERYDAY PRAYER

Memory of Jesus crucified
Word of god every day
Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of Jesus crucified
Friday, July 28


Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Psalm 19, 8-11

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
  reviving the soul;
  the decrees of the Lord are sure,
  making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
  rejoicing the heart;
  the commandment of the Lord is clear,
  enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is pure,
  enduring for ever;
  the ordinances of the Lord are true
  and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,
  even much fine gold;
  sweeter also than honey,
  and drippings of the honeycomb.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

In this third section of Psalm 19, the psalmist sings a hymn to the Law of the Lord. This law, the psalmist strongly affirms—“is perfect.” The term “Law” means the “Torah” (which means “instruction), that is, the teaching that God gave his people in order to walk the way of salvation. The word Law—in Judaism—means the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch). In these books the saving action of God the commandments that the Lord gives to his people are described. It is not a list of norms, but rather a description of God’s covenant with His people. The word Law is intended as salvific, liberating action of God for Israel and His prescription of a new way of obedience. Therefore the Law is the way of salvation. It is the “perfect” way, the straight way, not bending and insidious like the ways of people which lead to violence and slavery. Instead, the “Law” of the Lord leads the people toward salvation. These are not exterior rules; rather they require a choice, an alliance that viscerally involves the Lord and his people. The Law is not written in stone, but in the hearts of believers. And it is the Law that makes them a people of God. The Law edifies, it binds the believers to the Lord and therefore among themselves. The episode of the discovery of the book of Law in the temple after the exile in Babylon comes to mind. The book of Ezra describes the moment when it was rediscovered: “All people gathered together into the square …all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law” (Ne 8:1, 9). This is why the psalmist can say that the Law “refreshes the soul” and sustains the people in their covenant. The Law is clear and it clarifies our gazes. It is just and more desirable than gold, sweeter than honey, the psalmist sings. And it produces good effects: the “Law” makes us live, renders us wise, lightens the heart and illuminates our eyes. When Jesus came to Earth, he did not deny the Law, but he brought it to fulfilment. During his Sermon on the Mount, he said: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil” (Mt 5:17). And when they asked him which was the greatest commandment, he responded: “'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Mt 22:34-40). For Christians, the entire Law can be summarized in these two great commandments which marked the very life of Jesus and that of his disciples. It is entrusted to us as well, at the beginning of this new millennium, so that it can continue to bring forth fruits of justice, peace and love.

Prayer is the heart of the life of the Community of Sant'Egidio and is its absolute priority. At the end of the day, every the Community of Sant'Egidio, large or small, gathers around the Lord to listen to his Word. The Word of God and the prayer are, in fact, the very basis of the whole life of the Community. The disciples cannot do other than remain at the feet of Jesus, as did Mary of Bethany, to receive his love and learn his ways (Phil. 2:5).
So every evening, when the Community returns to the feet of the Lord, it repeats the words of the anonymous disciple: " Lord, teach us how to pray". Jesus, Master of prayer, continues to answer: "When you pray, say: Abba, Father". It is not a simple exhortation, it is much more. With these words Jesus lets the disciples participate in his own relationship with the Father. Therefore in prayer, the fact of being children of the Father who is in heaven, comes before the words we may say. So praying is above all a way of being! That is to say we are children who turn with faith to the Father, certain that they will be heard.
Jesus teaches us to call God "Our Father". And not simply "Father" or "My Father". Disciples, even when they pray on their own, are never isolated nor they are orphans; they are always members of the Lord's family.
In praying together, beside the mystery of being children of God, there is also the mystery of brotherhood, as the Father of the Church said: "You cannot have God as father without having the church as mother". When praying together, the Holy Spirit assembles the disciples in the upper room together with Mary, the Lord's mother, so that they may direct their gaze towards the Lord's face and learn from Him the secret of his Heart.
 The Communities of Sant'Egidio all over the world gather in the various places of prayer and lay before the Lord the hopes and the sufferings of the tired, exhausted crowds of which the Gospel speaks ( Mat. 9: 3-7 ), In these ancient crowds we can see the huge masses of the modern cities, the millions of refugees who continue to flee their countries, the poor, relegated to the very fringe of life and all those who are waiting for someone to take care of them. Praying together includes the cry, the invocation, the aspiration, the desire for peace, the healing and salvation of the men and women of this world. Prayer is never in vain; it rises ceaselessly to the Lord so that anguish is turned into hope, tears into joy, despair into happiness, and solitude into communion. May the Kingdom of God come soon among people!