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
Hebrews 13,1-8
Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the body. Marriage must be honoured by all, and marriages must be kept undefiled, because the sexually immoral and adulterers will come under God's judgement. Put avarice out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I shall not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord on my side, I fear nothing: what can human beings do to me? Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, take their faith as your model. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Mutual love identifies the community as Christian and renders it a convincing witness to the Gospel. "Hospitality" is an integral part of this fraternal love. Biblical tradition is crossed by this golden thread of hospitality. The author reminds us that "for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." The reference to Abraham who welcomed three travellers by the oak tree in Mamre (Gen 18) is evident. We may add, too, that the importance of hospitality marks the entire Christian story; at the Last Judgment, Jesus will say, as reported by Matthew, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Fraternal love does not remain closed in on its own community but necessarily reaches out to others: the imprisoned, the suffering and all those who wait for help. How full of tenderness is the invitation to "remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured." This is an invitation not only to solidarity but also to paying attention to another person as though he or she were part of our family. The Church is indeed God's family, a family that includes the poor. Marriage too is included in this horizon of love, which the author wishes to preserve from betrayals that stem from the satisfaction of instincts or coveting desires. Beyond a simple sexual union, marriage is aimed at creating a family that, in society and in the Church, allows a harmonious existence between people of all ages and in all conditions. Christians are invited to choose a sober way of life without succumbing to the frenetic race for personal wellbeing that ignores the lives of all. This is why the Letter to the Hebrews warns primarily against greed, that is, the accumulation of riches for oneself without regard to one's responsibility to the poor and weak. The appeal to be content with what one has is not an invitation to resignation but an exhortation to abandon oneself to God's mercy who is always faithful. It is the way of life lived by Jesus himself and transmitted to 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.
