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
Jeremiah 30,1-2.12-15.18-22
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, as follows, 'Yahweh, God of Israel, says this, "Write for yourself in a book all the words I have spoken to you. Yes, Yahweh says this: Your wound is incurable, your injury past healing. There is no one to plead your cause; for an ulcer there are remedies, but for you no cure at all. All your lovers have forgotten you, they look for you no more. Yes, I have struck you as an enemy strikes, with cruel punishment (because of your great guilt and countless sins). Why cry out because of your wound? Your pain is incurable! Because of your great guilt and countless sins, I have treated you like this. Yahweh says this: Look, I shall restore the tents of Jacob and take pity on his dwellings: the town will be rebuilt on its mound, the stronghold where it ought to stand. From them will come thanksgiving and shouts of joy. I shall make them increase, they will not decrease; I shall make them honoured, no more to be humbled. Their sons will be as once they were, their community fixed firmly before me, and I shall punish all their oppressors. Their prince will be one of their own, their ruler come from their own people, and I shall permit him to approach me freely; for who, otherwise, would be so bold as to approach me, Yahweh demands? You will be my people and I shall be your God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
This passage begins the "Book of Consolation" which includes chapters 30 and 31. Until now the prophet prophesied disaster, death and deportation, not without reason for they are the bitter consequences of rebellion by the people of Judah. They no longer listen to the Word of God and scorned the prophet who continues to proclaim it. But the Lord calls the prophet and says to him: "Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. For the days are surely coming...when I will restore the fortunes of my people...and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors and they shall take possession of it." Once again the Lord takes the initiative to liberate his people. He cannot bear to hear the "cry of panic, of terror, of no peace." He decides to intervene and thus to begin the day of their liberation. The people can look to the future with hope. The land that had been given to them will once again be in their possession. The experience of Exodus repeats itself: the people will leave the country where they lived as foreigners and will enter that land God gave them. But will the people know how to understand this new intervention by God? They will know only if they turn their ears to listen to the Lord and to his Word. The Lord is not silent or far from his people. He continues to speak: "But as for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob, says the Lord, and do not be dismayed, O Israel; for I am going to save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity." "I am with you...to save you", the Lord assures his people. The Lord's compassion was the great medicine that cured the deep wound of betrayal: the Lord promised a saviour: "has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David" (Lk 1:69). Jeremiah's prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah King who came from the same people, specifically from the tribe of Judah and from the family of David. Jesus' disciples are the people who belong to the Lord through his covenant of love: "And you shall be my people, and I will be your God." The alliance with the Lord is the medicine that heals and the Word of God is the light and power that help the path of peace.
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.
