GEBED IEDERE DAG

Prayer for peace
Woord van god elke dag

Prayer for peace

The prayer for peace is held in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Lees meer

Libretto DEL GIORNO
Prayer for peace
Monday, December 16

The prayer for peace is held in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.


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

Numbers 24,2-7.15-17

Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel settled tribe by tribe; the spirit of God came on him and he declaimed his poem, as follows: The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of the man with far-seeing eyes, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God. He sees what Shaddai makes him see, receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened. How fair your tents are, Jacob, how fair your dwellings, Israel, like valleys that stretch afar, like gardens by the banks of a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars beside the waters! A hero arises from their stock, he reigns over countless peoples. His king is greater than Agag, and his kingship held in honour. He then declaimed his poem, as follows: The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of the man with far-seeing eyes, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, of one who knows the knowledge of the Most High. He sees what Shaddai makes him see, receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened. I see him -- but not in the present. I perceive him -- but not close at hand: a star is emerging from Jacob, a sceptre is rising from Israel, to strike the brow of Moab, the skulls of all the children of Seth.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The story of Balaam is very significant. He had been asked to curse Israel by Balak, the king of Moab and Israel's enemy. But Balaam instead blesses the people. The prophet of misfortune is transformed before God into a prophet of hope, as the text says, "Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him." He then blessed Israel. The Word of God "uncovers our eyes," and helps us clearly see reality. Balaam was not even a prophet of Israel. But God reveals himself to him and helps him deeply understand history and interpret it according to the light of God. Should we Christians not also be attentive to see whether there are prophets outside of our communities? Does God not speak outside of our borders? The Spirit - as we well know - blows where he wills. Pope Francis often invites to keep our eyes and ears open to recognize the signs of God, to be able to hear wise words from people who are not part of "us." The words of Balaam remind us that there are men and women who speak because they have been reached by the Word of God in a mysterious way, and they see the world with wisdom that is unknown also to us. Has this not always been the case throughout history? Men and women have been able to interpret history despite the fact they did not belong to our people and our communities. We need to keep from giving in to the temptation of believing that we are the only ones capable of interpreting history. This is why encounter and dialogue with everyone is so vital. We need to encounter other Christians, the believers of other religions, and all people of good will in order to discover in them the "seeds of the Word," - as the Fathers of the Church said - that the Spirit placed in the hearts of all men and women. The path of dialogue and encounter is the way to make our world more human. And, as Pope Francis said well in a visit to the Community of Sant'Egidio in the basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, when two people dialogue with sincerity, one does not win over the other, the encounter wins. We need an alliance with all in order to understand the time in which we are living and to work together to find answers for peace.

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