Prayer for the sick

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The prayer for the sick 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

Isaiah 4,2-6

That day, Yahweh's seedling will turn to beauty and glory, what the earth brings forth will turn to the pride and ornament of Israel's survivors. Those who are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem will be called holy, all those in Jerusalem noted down to live. When the Lord has washed away the filth of Zion's daughters and with the wind of judgement and the wind of burning cleansed Jerusalem of the blood shed in her, Yahweh will create, over every house on Mount Zion and over those who assemble there, a cloud by day, and by night smoke with the brightness of a flaring fire. For over all will be the Glory as canopy and tent to give shade by day from the heat, refuge and shelter from the storm and the rain.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

We find ourselves in front of words of hope for a people and a city marked by war and destruction. The prophet describes a "branch," in which he sees the hope of a new people who will inhabit the whole of Jerusalem. The Lord is opening a new time of growth and strength for his people. The prophet realizes this, and this awareness pushes him to call the little remnant, the small group of survivors, "holy," that is, a branch blessed by God. Holy indeed are those who welcome God's love; those who live in communion with God, obey his commands, and walk in his light. When times are difficult, when the violence of evil and war destroy people and things, God is not far off, even if he seems elusive and hard to see. The Lord has made a commitment to be faithful and to sustain his "little remnant." Not only will God not abandon them, God will accompany and protect them. And that branch - the prophet says - will grow in "pride and glory," not as the world understands pride and glory, but as a tree that produces good fruit for all. This is why we believers of the last hour need to invoke the Lord to be near to us, so that evil may not conquer, and so that all people may hope for a new future. The Word of God shakes us from our sleep of resignation and wakes us to hope in a world of peace. Prayer is at the root of peace. It makes peace "blossom" even in a dry and devastated land. This is the proclamation of the prophet, a man who never stops believing in the love of God, which defeats evil and saves his people. The prophet speaks of the "glory of God," his strong love, which accompanies God's people night and day. Referring back to the presence of the cloud during the exodus, the prophet reminds us of God's protection, which shields us from the sun like a cloud and accompanies us at night like "the shining of a flaming fire" so that we will not lose our way.