Feast of the blessed Virgin Queen Mary. Muslims celebrate the Feast of the sacrifice (Aid-al-Adha). Lees meer
Feast of the blessed Virgin Queen Mary. Muslims celebrate the Feast of the sacrifice (Aid-al-Adha).
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
Luke 1,39-47
Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.' And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The liturgical calendar remembers today the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In a certain sense this celebration completes the feast of the Assumption, celebrated on August 15. It is in any case the same mystery which involves the Mother of Jesus. The Second Vatican Council writes, "The immaculate Virgin..., having finished her time on earth, was assumed into heavenly glory with body and soul and exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe so that she could be more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords, the Conqueror of sin and death." This is truly a great mystery because it not only reveals the future toward which we are all journeying, but it also gives us a Mother who continues to be before our eyes a sign of the limitless mercy of God. The Gospel of the visitation to Elizabeth shows us the readiness with which Mary responded to the Lord, practicing that mercy which she had first welcomed. Luke writes that Mary, after knowing from the angel that Elizabeth was pregnant, immediately ran to her. "In hurry" notes the evangelist. Those who listen to the Gospel do not hesitate, they feel the urgency to go out. Mary learnt from the angel that Elizabeth, who was older, was pregnant and her pregnancy was not easy. The Gospel makes us rise from ourselves and impels us to draw near to those who suffer or who are in need. Christian encounter, seek the other and need the other. Each supports the other in important changes in their lives, in times of the fulfilment of an unexpected hope, a grace from God. Grace is not lived alone but is shared. Mary and Elizabeth are two women who bring with them the end of an expectation and the beginning of a fulfilment. They know how to see him even if he is still hidden in the womb. For this they are blessed. As soon as she sees Mary come to her house Elizabeth rejoices deeply, even in her womb. The joy of the weak and poor is in knowing they have been visited by "servants" of the Lord, those servants that "have believed in the fulfilment of the Lord's word." The Word of God creates a new alliance in the world, an unusual alliance, between disciples of the Gospel and the poor.
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.
