GEBED IEDERE DAG

Memory of the apostles
Woord van god elke dag

Memory of the apostles

Memorial of the Apostle Bartholomew of Canaa of Galilee. His body is kept in the church of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island, in Rome, which has become the memorial place for the "New Martyrs." Memorial of Jerry Essan Masslo, a South African refugee who came to Italy and was welcomed by the Community of Sant'Egidio. He was killed by robbers in 1989. With him we remember all refugees. Lees meer

Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of the apostles
Friday, August 24

Memorial of the Apostle Bartholomew of Canaa of Galilee. His body is kept in the church of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island, in Rome, which has become the memorial place for the "New Martyrs." Memorial of Jerry Essan Masslo, a South African refugee who came to Italy and was welcomed by the Community of Sant'Egidio. He was killed by robbers in 1989. With him we remember all refugees.


Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

If we die with him, we shall live with him,
if with him we endure, with him we shall reign.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 1,45-51

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.' Nathanael said to him, 'From Nazareth? Can anything good come from that place?' Philip replied, 'Come and see.' When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, 'There, truly, is an Israelite in whom there is no deception.' Nathanael asked, 'How do you know me?' Jesus replied, 'Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig tree.' Nathanael answered, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel.' Jesus replied, 'You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You are going to see greater things than that.' And then he added, 'In all truth I tell you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.'

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

If we die with him, we shall live with him,
if with him we endure, with him we shall reign.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Today the Church celebrates the apostle Bartholomew. He was from Cana in Galilee, and the fourth Gospel identifies him by the name Nathanael (meaning "God has given"). His friend Philip called him and brought him to Jesus, who looking at him said: "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." But meeting the young prophet from Nazareth--like for Andrew and Philip--was a turning point for Nathanael. He decided to change his life. He left his home and family and followed Jesus, who would call him to join the Twelve. Tradition has it that Bartholomew went and preached the Gospel in India and Armenia after Pentecost, and that he died in Armenia, skinned alive as a martyr. His body rests in the Roman Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island which became the memorial place of the New Martyrs of the 20th century. This passage tells us about his encounter with Jesus. Philip--who had already met the prophet from Nazareth--told Nathanael about the extraordinary power of this young prophet. Nathanael replied with the prejudice and realism of those who do not expect anything good from life: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip did not make any attempt to solve Nathanael's doubt, instead he invited him to meet Jesus. Faith is not the result of an argument, but of a personal encounter with Jesus. While Nathanael was going closer he heard good words about himself by Jesus. That young prophet from Nazareth made him understand he was already loved by him, before meeting him: "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Jesus illuminated that righteous but lonely man's heart-- he felt deeply known and said: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God!" Jesus, hearing this confession of faith promised him he would see greater things than that. The angels who "ascend and descend upon the Son of Man", the ancient dream of Jacob (Gen 28:12) are Jesus' dream on his disciples and they remind the Nathanael-Bartholomew and the disciples of any time that the dream of God on humanity is not over. Every time we let our heart be touched by the word of the Gospel the heavens open again over this world.

WOORD VAN GOD ELKE DAG: DE KALENDER

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.

WOORD VAN GOD ELKE DAG: DE KALENDER