Today the Armenian Church remembers Metz Yeghern, "the "great Evil". It is the memorial of the massacre suffered during the First World War in which more than one million Armenians were killed. Lees meer
Today the Armenian Church remembers Metz Yeghern, "the "great Evil". It is the memorial of the massacre suffered during the First World War in which more than one million Armenians were killed.
Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.
The child you shall bear will be holy.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
John 10,22-30
It was the time of the feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said, 'How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us openly.' Jesus replied: I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from my hand. The Father, for what he has given me, is greater than anyone, and no one can steal anything from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The festival of the Dedication was celebrated every year in Jerusalem during the winter. Jesus, the evangelist John tells us, finds himself at the portico of Solomon, which was one of the porticos looking out on the temple plaza, on the day of this festival. After the resurrection, this place will be where the first Christian community will gather for its meetings as a way of wanting to continue with what Jesus said and did there. Many have gathered under that portico to listen to Jesus and are asking him to tell them clearly if he is the Messiah or not. They no longer want to be uncertain or in doubt. Their requests seem legitimate: "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,* tell us plainly." In truth, rather than seeking Jesus, or understanding his heart and his thoughts, therefore becoming involved in his mission, those Jews are seeking after their own security and tranquillity. Their search -which is somehow present - is far from the one of John the Baptist who, differently from them, left behind his certainties and his selfish tranquillity that prevents from seeking God seriously. His was a desire so deep that not even prison could stifle it. Our behaviours are very plain: rather than seeking truth and the good, we want to have an easy conscience free of any anxiety and responsibility. Nevertheless, searching for God requires that we abandon our certainties and habits so as to accept a word that comes from outside of us and that asks us to be welcomed with generosity. Jesus responded to their requests for clarification by saying that the works he had performed testify to him: "The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me." But their eyes were blurred by egoism and solitude. For this reason, Jesus says to them: "But you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep." The question is that without being familiar with the Gospel, no one can draw nearer to God's mystery. Whoever listens to the Gospel with an open heart will feel how great Jesus' love is and will understand that no one can rip it out of their hands. The Lord, indeed, is stronger than evil and death.
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.
