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Memory of Jesus crucified
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Memory of Jesus crucified

Memory of Saint Francis Xavier (+1552), a missionary Jesuit in India and Japan Lees meer

Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of Jesus crucified
Friday, December 3

Memory of Saint Francis Xavier (+1552), a missionary Jesuit in India and Japan


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 29,17-24

Is it not true that in a very short time the Lebanon will become productive ground, so productive you might take it for a forest? That day the deaf will hear the words of the book and, delivered from shadow and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see. The lowly will find ever more joy in Yahweh and the poorest of people will delight in the Holy One of Israel; for the tyrant will be no more, the scoffer has vanished and all those on the look-out for evil have been destroyed: those who incriminate others by their words, those who lay traps for the arbitrator at the gate and groundlessly deprive the upright of fair judgement. That is why Yahweh, God of the House of Jacob, Abraham's redeemer, says this, 'No longer shall Jacob be disappointed, no more shall his face grow pale, for when he sees his children, my creatures, home again with him, he will acknowledge my name as holy, he will acknowledge the Holy One of Jacob to be holy and will hold the God of Israel in awe. Erring spirits will learn to understand and murmurers accept instruction.'

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

These words conclude the chapter dedicated to Jerusalem, which the prophet preached would be punished because of the spiritual blindness of its people. The prophet Isaiah proclaims the splendid work of the transformation of humanity. There is no need to wait long, the Lord will intervene "in a very little while." This prophecy is meant to help us almost physically feel what will happen when God intervenes: "Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest?" Creation itself will feel the benefits of the change in human hearts. Human beings will live on the earth without perverting it, without exploiting it for their own selfish ends. It is the invitation to the earth to become a "fruitful field." The words of the prophet sound particularly important in this time in which individual interests push even to environmental destruction. The encyclical "Laudato si" of Pope Francis gathers the prophet's invitation and broadens it to the entire world. It is indispensable to preach again the Word of God for "On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll," and "the eyes of the blind shall see." The prophet assures that the world will be transformed. And Isaiah reminds that it is what the Lord has already realized with Abraham and the house of Jacob. Then the prophet proclaims: "The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people shall exult." The people of God, a humble people who trusts in the power of His Lord, is at the side of the people of the poor who starts again rejoicing for they feel the closeness of the Holy of Israel. God establishes His new kingdom with this alliance. The prophet warns: "No longer shall Jacob be ashamed, no longer shall his face grow pale. For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name." Believers will not be ashamed, rather they will rejoice to see the works that the Lord has done through them among men and women.

WOORD VAN GOD ELKE DAG: DE KALENDER

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.

WOORD VAN GOD ELKE DAG: DE KALENDER