Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Luke 19,1-10
He entered Jericho and was going through the town and suddenly a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He kept trying to see which Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your house today.' And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. 'He has gone to stay at a sinner's house,' they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, 'Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.' And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost.'
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Jesus enters Jericho. Jericho is a decisive destination in "Jesus' journey;" the last stop before Jerusalem. Situated on the border of Perea, it was a strategic point for the Roman authorities in Palestine. It was not difficult to find imperial officials, army men and tax collectors there. Jesus is not distracted when he enters the city; as we often are when we walk along the streets of our cities. He always pays attention to the people. He knows that everyone needs love and salvation. No one is a foreigner to his heart. He feels he is the shepherd of all. The evangelist Luke speaks of Zacchaeus, a tax collector, a noted sinner who nevertheless wanted to see Jesus. Zacchaeus, however, was small of stature. He was a little like us who are too close to the earth, too preoccupied with our material things, and walking looking down. Zacchaeus however had a spiritual restlessness that led him to climb a little higher for only then could he see Jesus. To do so, it is not enough just to make a slight adjustment, like standing on tip toe, but remaining where one is. To see Jesus, we need to rise a little higher, to get out of the confusion of the crowd, to go beyond our habits. Zacchaeus climbed a tree. This was enough. In fact, it was Jesus who saw him. If earlier Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, then just the opposite happened. It was Jesus who raised his eyes and saw. Whoever seeks the Lord - no matter how or with whom - that person has already been found by Him. The entire spiritual tradition of the Church confirms that we would not seek Jesus if we had not already been found. Jesus, passing under the sycamore tree, raised his eyes, saw Zacchaeus and called him by name: he invited him to come down and asked him to host him in his house. This time the rich man did not go away sad; just the opposite, he came down in a hurry and welcomed Jesus in his house. After this encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus was not as before: he was happy, had a new heart and was more generous. In fact, he decided to give half of his goods to the poor. He did not say, "I give all that I have." Half was sufficient. Everyone, in fact, must find his and her measure. What counts is to follow the Lord. The story of Zacchaeus invites each of us to welcome the Lord and find our own measure in love.
Het gebed is het hart van het leven van de Gemeenschap van Sant’Egidio. Het is haar eerste “werk”. Aan het einde van de dag komt elke Gemeenschap, of die nu klein of groot is, samen bij de Heer om het Woord te beluisteren en zich tot Hem te richten in het gebed. De leerlingen kunnen niet anders dan aan de voeten van Jezus zitten, zoals Maria van Bethanië, om het “betere deel” te kiezen (Lc 10, 42) en van Hem zijn gezindheid te leren (vgl. Fil 2, 5).
Elke keer dat de Gemeenschap zich tot de Heer richt, maakt ze zich die vraag eigen van de anonieme leerling: “Heer, leer ons bidden!” (Lc 11, 1). En Jezus, meester in het gebed, antwoordt: “Wanneer jullie bidden, zeg dan: Abba, Vader”.
Wanneer we bidden, ook in de geslotenheid van ons eigen hart, zijn we nooit alleen of verweesd. Integendeel, we zijn leden van de familie van de Heer. In het gemeenschappelijk gebed wordt naast het mysterie van het kindschap, ook dat van de broederschap en zusterschap duidelijk.
De Gemeenschappen van Sant’Egidio, verspreid over de wereld, verzamelen zich op de verschillende plaatsen die gekozen zijn voor het gebed en brengen de hoop en het verdriet van de “uitgeputte en hulpeloze mensenmenigte” waarover het Evangelie spreekt (Mt 9, 37) bij de Heer. Deze oude menigte omvat de inwoners van onze hedendaagse steden, de armen die zich bevinden in de marge van het leven, en iedereen die wacht om als dagloner te worden aangenomen (vgl. Mt 20).
Het gemeenschappelijk gebed verzamelt de schreeuw, de hoop, het verlangen naar vrede, genezing, zin en redding, die beleefd worden door de mannen en vrouwen van deze wereld. Het gebed is nooit leeg. Het stijgt onophoudelijk op naar de Heer opdat verdriet verandert in vreugde, wanhoop in blijheid, angst in hoop, eenzaamheid in gemeenschap. En het rijk Gods zal spoedig temidden van de mensen komen.
