GEBED IEDERE DAG

Memory of the Saints and the Prophets
Woord van god elke dag

Memory of the Saints and the Prophets

Memorial of Saint Romuald (†1027), anchorite and father of Camaldolensis monks. Lees meer

Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of the Saints and the Prophets
Wednesday, June 19

Memorial of Saint Romuald (†1027), anchorite and father of Camaldolensis monks.


Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

2 Corinthians 9,6-11

But remember: anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely as well -- and anyone who sows generously will reap generously as well. Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. God is perfectly able to enrich you with every grace, so that you always have enough for every conceivable need, and your resources overflow in all kinds of good work. As scripture says: To the needy he gave without stint, his uprightness stands firm for ever. The one who so freely provides seed for the sower and food to eat will provide you with ample store of seed for sowing and make the harvest of your uprightness a bigger one: you will be rich enough in every way for every kind of generosity that makes people thank God for what we have done.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

With this passage, the space reserved by the apostle to the collection for the Jerusalem community ends. The collection takes two chapters and Paul closes them insisting on the generosity in giving and the joy in doing so. A tight-fisted measure is a sign of a heart full of oneself, of men and women who are afraid of losing what they have. But in so doing, they will definitely turn away from the Gospel. In Deuteronomy the author already wrote about the needy brother: "Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so" (15:10). And the psalmist that Paul mentions sings: "He has distributed, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains in eternal "(v.9). Generosity and joy in giving that characterize Christian solidarity, free our heart from the bondage of possession and make it more consistent with that of Jesus, who "did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself" (Phil 2, 6-7), as Paul wrote to the Philippians. Generosity enriches the giver because the grace of God and the prayers of those who receive return upon him or her. It is a common belief among the Fathers of the Church that the poor will be our intercessors with God. Alms, which we throw into their hands, become a treasure for us in heaven. Yes, what we give to the poor returns to us in heaven in the hands of God. This is why the apostle suggests that the collection is a sacred service offered to God himself. Indeed it is not simply an act of solidarity and sharing, but a response to the grace of God, from whom we received everything. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back" (Lk 6:38). We are not afraid to give generously and joyfully, because in giving we will find the reward of God's grace. The Lord has given us his gifts not that we may keep them for ourselves, but that we may donate them generously to the delight of all, especially the poor.

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