GEBED IEDERE DAG

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

Memory of the Saints and the Prophets

Memorial of the deportation of the Jews of Rome during the Second World War. Lees meer

Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of the Saints and the Prophets
Wednesday, October 16

Memorial of the deportation of the Jews of Rome during the Second World War.


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

Romans 2,1-11

So no matter who you are, if you pass judgement you have no excuse. It is yourself that you condemn when you judge others, since you behave in the same way as those you are condemning. We are well aware that people who behave like that are justly condemned by God. But you -- when you judge those who behave like this while you are doing the same yourself -- do you think you will escape God's condemnation? Or are you not disregarding his abundant goodness, tolerance and patience, failing to realise that this generosity of God is meant to bring you to repentance? Your stubborn refusal to repent is only storing up retribution for yourself on that Day of retribution when God's just verdicts will be made known. He will repay everyone as their deeds deserve. For those who aimed for glory and honour and immortality by persevering in doing good, there will be eternal life; but for those who out of jealousy have taken for their guide not truth but injustice, there will be the fury of retribution. Trouble and distress will come to every human being who does evil -- Jews first, but Greeks as well; glory and honour and peace will come to everyone who does good -- Jews first, but Greeks as well. There is no favouritism with God.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Paul writes that men and women are more inclined to serve themselves than God. This is a deep instinct that accompanies us all, a sort of "idolatrous" attitude that affects men and women of every time. This conviction should put us on guard against easily giving in to ourselves and our traditions. Instead it is normal for us to condemn others and absolve ourselves. Jesus urges us not to look at the speck in the eye of another but to notice the log in our own eyes. We are all poor men and poor women in need of help from the Lord. This is why Paul, a little later, repeating an assertion of the psalm, writes: "There is no one who is righteous, not even one" (Rom 3: 10). To the man who flattered him by calling him "Good Teacher," Jesus himself responds, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone" (Mk 10:18). Our smallness should encourage us not make ourselves the judges of others. Speaking directly to "whoever you are," to all men and women, Paul has harsh words for those who judge without mercy, and words of accusation to believers: they judge (and condemn) others, but then they commit the same errors and behave like those upon whom their judgment weighs. In doing so, not only are they cruel, but they forget that there is a judge who practices justice with a just measure: God. "For he will repay according to each one's deeds...for God shows no partiality." The apostle reminds us believers, too, that we need to be forgiven, that is, judged by a merciful God, abounding in love. We all need God's mercy, which is salvation.

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