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
1 Timothy 3,1-13
Here is a saying that you can rely on: to want to be a presiding elder is to desire a noble task. That is why the presiding elder must have an impeccable character. Husband of one wife, he must be temperate, discreet and courteous, hospitable and a good teacher; not a heavy drinker, nor hot-tempered, but gentle and peaceable, not avaricious, a man who manages his own household well and brings his children up to obey him and be well-behaved: how can any man who does not understand how to manage his own household take care of the Church of God? He should not be a new convert, in case pride should turn his head and he incur the same condemnation as the devil. It is also necessary that he be held in good repute by outsiders, so that he never falls into disrepute and into the devil's trap. Similarly, deacons must be respectable, not double-tongued, moderate in the amount of wine they drink and with no squalid greed for money. They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They are first to be examined, and admitted to serve as deacons only if there is nothing against them. Similarly, women must be respectable, not gossips, but sober and wholly reliable. Deacons must be husbands of one wife and must be people who manage their children and households well. Those of them who carry out their duties well as deacons will earn a high standing for themselves and an authoritative voice in matters concerning faith in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
After speaking of common prayer, the apostle calls Timothy's attention to the care in the choice of the community leaders. And he begins by talking about the "bishop" (literally "he who watches"). Paul knows that this ministry is "a noble task." In fact, the bishop is called to be among the disciples "as one who serves" precisely as Jesus showed himself at the last supper. The presence of this ministry does not decrease the responsibility that each disciple has for the life of the brothers and sisters. The spirit of fraternity that must reign in the community requires it. The "bishop" is asked, precisely for his guiding role, to be aware of his responsibility. Authority in the Church is based primarily on the exemplariness of life: from it emanates the authority of those who must guide the brothers and sisters. For this reason the apostle asks that the "bishop" be "married only once", as if to emphasize his fidelity to a single bond. He should also be also moderate, showing wisdom in judging and deciding, and ready in hospitality. As if to underline the bond between the family of God and the domestic family, Paul asks the bishop for the same qualities as a father in the family: only he who knows how to be a father, brother and son in the spirit of the Gospel can indicate the right way of the Christian fraternity to the brothers and sisters of the community. Next to the ministry of "bishop" Paul recalls that of the deacon. It is a delicate ministry in the life of the first Christian communities. Only after having secured their conduct can they be chosen for this service. And they must "hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience" since they assist the poor, preach and baptize. Nothing harms faith as pride and protagonism that in fact deny the truth of being "servants" inscribed in the very term of a deacon. It could also be said that they show the bishop and all the believers that the life of the disciple must always be "diaconal", that is, a service to the Gospel, to the community and to the poor.
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.
