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
Matthew 8,1-4
After he had come down from the mountain large crowds followed him. Suddenly a man with a virulent skin-disease came up and bowed low in front of him, saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can cleanse me.' Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him saying, 'I am willing. Be cleansed.' And his skin-disease was cleansed at once. Then Jesus said to him, 'Mind you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses, as evidence to them.'
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Jesus has just finished giving the Sermon on the Mount in front of a great crowd. It was a long speech, and he began it by overturning rules and habits. He called the poor blessed, along with the afflicted, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for justice. Now he is coming down from the mountain, just as Moses came down from the mountain, and he continues to look at the crowd with emotion and kindness as they gather around him looking for a leader, a shepherd. And at that moment a leper comes towards Jesus and kneels before him. It is an unexpected encounter, of the kind that often bother us because they upset our habits and plans and often upset those who are around us. Jesus teaches us to go into the midst of the crowd, letting ourselves be close to all, not looking distrustfully at those who approach us. That leper is the object of scorn and no one had been able (or had wanted) to help him. He finally finds someone who not only does not drive him away but listens to him. Amazed but also trusting, he asks him for healing, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." It is a simple prayer, but full of faith: "if you choose." Jesus, who later will tell the disciples, "Knock, and the door will be opened for you," immediately opens the door of his mercy, stretches out his hand, touches the leper, and heals him. And the leprosy disappears. Jesus is not afraid of stopping in front of that sick man. He takes care of him, touches him, and speaks a kind word to him. That is how he heals him. Jesus shows the disciples how to be close to those who are in need, how to take care of them. This is the meaning of his listening, of his hand that touches, of the words he speaks to him. And he clearly affirms God's will: "I do choose. Be made clean!" This must also be the choice of the disciples and of every Christian community. Jesus teaches us how to welcome at the same time the leper, he also teaches us how to stay in front of him. We should all be like that leper. Let us reach out our hands towards Jesus, and he will heal us.
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.
