Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.
The child you shall bear will be holy.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Matthew 14,22-36
And at once he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he sent the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now some furlongs from land, was hard pressed by rough waves, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the sea, and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. 'It is a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.' It was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said, 'if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.' Jesus said, 'Come.' Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but then noticing the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord,' he cried, 'save me!' Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. 'You have so little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?' And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, 'Truly, you are the Son of God.' Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him, begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were saved.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
After the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus asks his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side while he would dismiss the crowds. Finally, after everyone has left (the crowd and the disciples), Jesus climbs up the mountain alone to pray. There is like an impelling need for Jesus to be with the Father in heaven. It is a decisive teaching also for us: finding the time in our days to live an immediate and direct relationship with the Lord. All action of Jesus, as well as ours, springs from the communion with the Father. Faith is the essence of this bond. Meanwhile the boat is crossing the lake and suddenly a storm blows in. The evangelist notes that is night. And, night, every night, is always full of fears. But dawn is coming. And also Jesus comes closer. The disciples see him walking on the water. But they do not recognize him. Fear confuses the disciples' minds and eyes, and they think they are seeing a ghost. Jesus speaks first: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter, still doubtful, asks Jesus to command him to come to him. And Jesus tells him: "Come!" The apostle recognizes his voice; the invitation to come to Jesus was familiar to him; it was what he heard for the first time by the shores of that same lake. And like then, immediately Peter leaves his boat and heads towards Jesus. He too walks on water. A trusting and immediate response to the Lord's call always produces miracles. But the wind is raging, and Peter is afraid again and begins to drown. At this point, his desperation makes him pronounce a prayer: "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately takes his hand. And Peter is saved. That cry is the origin of prayer, a simple prayer that Peter entrusts to us. "Why did you doubt?" Jesus says tenderly to Peter. More than rebuking him Jesus encourages Peter to trust him more. Indeed what is needed of each of us is not the courage of feeling strong, but the humility to trust Jesus: he does not leaves us and lifts us out of danger. The Lord continues to take us by the hand and climbs in our boat with us to continue our journey in the sea of life.
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.
