Memorial of Saint Anselm (+1109), a Benedictine monk and bishop of Canterbury, who suffered exile for his love for the Church. Lees meer
Memorial of Saint Anselm (+1109), a Benedictine monk and bishop of Canterbury, who suffered exile for his love for the Church.
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
John 6,35-40
Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst. But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe. Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; I will certainly not reject anyone who comes to me, because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me. Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise it up on the last day. It is my Father's will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise that person up on the last day.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." The Lord's promise was finally fulfilled. Jesus also responded to the hunger for salvation hidden in the hearts of people: hunger for meaning of a life that does not end with death and leads to complete happiness. Jesus was the heaven-sent answer that everyone could accept and make his or her own. However, Jesus notes with bitterness that many, although having seen the signs he performed, did not open welcome his word. And he reiterates his availability to all: "Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away." All who came closer to Jesus were welcomed; it was sufficient to knock to receive an answer. Had he not said to the crowds that were following him: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest"? Besides, he had come down from heaven for this very reason: to do the will of the Father who had sent him; and the Father's will was clear that he should not lose anyone that had been entrusted to him. The commitment to save everyone, not losing anyone, is the continual labour of the Lord Jesus. This is his true and only pastoral "program" that appears evident and clear in the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus wants to describe not only his passion to save even one sheep but also his availability to run risks and traverse perilous terrains to save those who are lost. This is Jesus' constant worry. And he wants his concern to be that of the Church and of his disciples.
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.
