European memory of the Shoah Lees meer
European memory of the Shoah
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
2 Samuel 5,1-7.10
All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron and said, 'Look, we are your own flesh and bone. In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel on its campaigns, and to you it was that Yahweh promised, "You are to shepherd my people Israel and be leader of Israel." ' So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them in Yahweh's presence at Hebron, and they anointed David as king of Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months; then he reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. The king and his men then marched on Jerusalem, on the Jebusites living in the territory. These said to David, 'You will not get in here. The blind and the lame will hold you off.' (That is to say: David will never get in here.) But David captured the citadel of Zion, that is, the City of David. David grew stronger and stronger, and Yahweh, God of Sabaoth, was with him.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
This passage tells the story of David's investiture as king of all Israel. The tribes of the North decide to ally with David they invite him to reign over Israel as well. The throne had been vacant since the assassination of Ishbaal and his general Abner. In both cases, it is striking that David does not rejoice at the misfortune that had struck the house of Saul, even if it opened the way to national reunification. David does not want to build his kingdom on blood. The various tribes decide to unite with David as their one king. David accepts because he sees the will of God in all of this. He is well aware of the fact that he is not becoming king because of any merit of his own, but because God himself is acting. God chose David in place of Saul when the former king had become unworthy of the gift of kingship. Two events solidify the foundation of David's reign: the capture of the stronghold of Zion, which will become the capital of the united kingdom (5:6-12) and a victory against the Philistines (5:17-25). The capture of the "stronghold of Zion" (v. 7) is described as David's most brilliant and successful undertaking. The "stronghold" was a fortified hill in a strategic position which had remained unvanquished. It was surrounded by the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, but they had never been able to conquer it. The difficulty of the enterprise can be seen in the scorn expressed by the inhabitants of the besieged city, whose proverb meant that even if the stronghold were only defended by the blind and the lame, no one would ever enter it. David understood that if he were able to take control of the stronghold, he would be able transform it into the capital of the united kingdom. This would give the kingdom a capital near the centre of the country, halfway between Judah and Israel, in a neutral area over which neither side had a territorial or ideological claim. Zion will be called the "city of David."
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.
