Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Luke 8,16-18
'No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, it is put on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in. For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret but it will be made known and brought to light. So take care how you listen; anyone who has, will be given more; anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he thinks he has.'
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Jesus explains the mystery of the Word of God with the example of the lamp. As the light of the lamp does not have the task of illuminating itself but everything which surrounds it, so must the Word of God illuminate every man and every woman. No one must remain in the dark; everyone has the right to the light. Believers are called to show the light of God to men and women of every generation. This is the reason that Christians cannot live for themselves but rather to show to all men and women of all parts of the world, of every historical era, the light of the Gospel. Jesus says: "No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light." The Gospel was given to us so that we in turn would show it to the men and women of our cities. Every community, every believer, can therefore be compared to that lamp stand of which Jesus speaks, a lamp which must be placed up high so that it allows the light of the Gospel to shine. The believer is asked to manifest the Word of the Lord, not his or her word. Jesus points out that for this the disciple is called above all to welcome the Word of God in his or her heart: "Then pay attention to how you listen." Whoever does not listen in fact cannot transmit anything of God, but only what is his or hers. But that person will be like a light that has been turned off and has no life. Whoever allows his or her heart to be taught by the Word of God will have a heart that is full of divine wisdom; that person will bear good fruit both for himself and for all. And this is the meaning of Jesus' words: "To who has, much will be given," or, who welcomes the Gospel in the heart will receive abundant wisdom. Gregory the Great says: "The Scriptures grow with whoever reads them," uniting in this way the interior growth of the disciple with the attentive use of Scripture. It will not be like that for whoever has a heart that is closed to the Word: they will remain in darkness because they are full only of themselves and their own sadness. "To who does not have, much will be taken even that which he believed he had." Yes, those who do not pay attention to the Gospel Word, will feel their heart evermore closed and will live without any more light. The Word of God, instead, if welcomed with faith in one's heart, transforms us and makes us men and women able to offer a light to whoever lives in darkness.
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.
