DOA HARIAN

Memory of the Church
Firman tuhan setiap hari
Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of the Church
Thursday, March 22


Reading of the Word of God

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

I am the good shepherd,
my sheep listen to my voice,
and they become
one flock and one fold.
.

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

John 8,51-59

In all truth I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death. The Jews said, 'Now we know that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, "Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death." Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?' Jesus answered: If I were to seek my own glory my glory would be worth nothing; in fact, my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, 'He is our God,' although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say, 'I do not know him,' I should be a liar, as you yourselves are. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad. The Jews then said, 'You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!' Jesus replied: In all truth I tell you, before Abraham ever was, I am. At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

 

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

"Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death." This statement that open today's Gospel passage speaks clearly of the liberating power of the Word of God. Jesus' insistence on the importance of listening to and observing the Gospel shows the disciples the way to be free from the many kinds of slavery of this world, including death. It is truly strange: while the Lord wants to give us "eternal" life (that does not end with death), we resist his words. Many people look with diffidence and hostility at the Lord's generous offer of a different life, one that is more human and meaningful. It is as if we are refusing this great love. Sometimes we would accept the Gospel, if it were only a little less demanding, if it would not disturb us too much, or if it would not ask us to change our lives and our habits too much. It is easy for us to join in the question asked by those who wanted to cast doubt on Jesus' authority: "Are you greater than Abraham?" Their point was to flatten the Gospel, to empty it of its power, and to lower it to normalcy. "Who do you think you are?", they asked him brazenly. Indeed, only God can conquer death. This is the Gospel, the good news, which Jesus came to bring into the world. If the Gospel loses its prophetic voice, if it stops being foreign to the world, if it does not point to the goal of heaven, it is as if we have killed it. Once again, Jesus responds by saying that he was not exalting himself. His words come from his direct knowledge of the Father who is in heaven. He is the one who sent him. And Jesus presents himself as the first one who listens and obeys. We could say that Jesus clearly professes his "faith" when he says: "If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad." It is a reference to the vision God gave Abraham, which he accepted with joyful faith. Choosing to follow the Gospel requires us to stop living bent over ourselves and, with joy, to welcome God's vision, God's plan of love, which he wants us to participate in making real. If we close ourselves up in our selfishness, we will be like those listeners who first bitterly criticize Jesus and then pick up stones to throw at him. The stones are like our feelings and behaviours, which block the Gospel and its power. The Lord is looking for disciples who know how to listen to him and welcome the loving plan of the Father, who wants everyone to be saved.

FIRMAN TUHAN SETIAP HARI: KALENDER

Doa merupakan jantung kehidupan Komunitas Sant'Egidio dan merupakan prioritas yang paling penting. Di penghujung hari, setiap Komunitas Sant'Egidio, besar maupun kecil, akan berkumpul di sekeliling Tuhan untuk mendengarkan sabda-Nya. Sesungguhnya Sabda Allah dan doa merupakan landasan seluruh kehidupan Komunitas. Para rasul tidak bisa tidak selain tetap di sekitar kaki Yesus, seperti yang dilakukan oleh Maria dari Bethani, untuk menerima kasih dan belajar cara-Nya (Fil. 2:5).

Sehingga setiap malam, ketika Komunitas kembali ke kaki Tuhan, Komunitas mengulangi kata-kata dari rasul tak bernama: "Tuhan ajarkanlah kami cara berdoa" Yesus, Sang Guru, terus menjawab: "Ketika kamu berdoa, katakanlah: Abba, Bapa". Hal itu bukanlah satu seruan sederhana. Dengan kata-kata ini, Yesus membiarkan para murid untuk berperan serta dalam hubungan mereka sendiri dengan Bapa. Oleh sebab itu, fakta bahwa sebagai anak-anak Bapa yang bertahta di surga, muncul sebelum kata-kata yang mungkin kita ucapkan. Jadi doa di atas segalanya merupakan cara untuk menjadi manusia. Ini untuk mengatakan bahwa kita anak-anak yang berpaling kepada Bapa dengan iman, dan yakin bahwa hal itu akan didengar.

Yesus mengajar kita memanggil Allah dengan sebutan "Bapa Kami" Tidak hanya "Bapa" atau "Bapaku" Para murid, meskipun mereka berdoa dengan cara mereka, tidak pernah terisolasi tidak juga menjadi yatim; mereka selalu menjadi anggota keluarga Tuhan.

Dalam doa bersama, di samping misteri anak Allah, ada juga misteri persaudaraan, seperti Bapa Gereja mengatakan: "Kamu tidak bisa memiliki Allah sebagai Bapa tanpa memiliki gereja sebagai ibu". Ketika berdoa bersama, Roh Kudus menyatukan para rasul di ruangan atas bersama dengan Maria, Bunda Allah, sehingga mereka dapat memusatkan pandangan mereka kepada wajah Tuhan dan belajar dari Dia rahasia hati-Nya.

Komunitas Sant'Egidio di seluruh dunia berkumpul bersama di berbagai tempat doa dan menghamparkan di hadapan Tuhan harapan dan penderitaan manusia yang lelah dan letih seperti yang di katakan oleh Injil (Mat. 9:37). Dalam kumpulan di masa lalu ini kita bisa melihat jumlah massa yang sangat besar di kota-kota modern ini, jutaan pengungsi yang terus melarikan diri dari negeri mereka, orang miskin yang terpinggirkan ke tepi kehidupan dan mereka yang menantikan seseorang yang akan merawat mereka. Berdoa bersama termasuk di dalamnya tangisan, seruan, permohonan, keinginan bagi damai, penyembuhan dan penebusan manusia di dunia ini. Doa tidak pernah sia-sia, doa terus menerus kepada Tuhan sehingga mengubah kecemasan menjadi harapan, air mata menjadi kegembiraan, putus asa menjadi kebahagiaan, dan kesepian menjadi persatuan. Semoga Kerajaan Allah hadir segera di antara manusia.