GEBED IEDERE DAG

Memory of Jesus crucified
Woord van god elke dag
Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of Jesus crucified
Friday, October 30


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

Philippians 1,1-11

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with their presiding elders and the deacons. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God whenever I think of you, and every time I pray for you all, I always pray with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the very first day up to the present. I am quite confident that the One who began a good work in you will go on completing it until the Day of Jesus Christ comes. It is only right that I should feel like this towards you all, because you have a place in my heart, since you have all shared together in the grace that has been mine, both my chains and my work defending and establishing the gospel. For God will testify for me how much I long for you all with the warm longing of Christ Jesus; it is my prayer that your love for one another may grow more and more with the knowledge and complete understanding that will help you to come to true discernment, so that you will be innocent and free of any trace of guilt when the Day of Christ comes, entirely filled with the fruits of uprightness through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Paul writes this letter to the community of Philippi while he is in prison. He includes Timothy in his initial greeting - he will soon send him to them - and the two present themselves as "servants of Christ Jesus." Their pastoral ministry is understood as total service to the Gospel. It is striking that the apostle does not speak of his difficulties at the beginning of the letter. Instead, he thanks the Lord for the witness of the Philippians and for their "sharing in the gospel." And he writes that the life of the community and its commitment to communicating the Gospel are a good work begun by the Lord, who "will bring it to completion." The apostle is aware of the centrality of the community in the evangelization of the city of Philippi. And indeed he is so proud of them that he expresses feelings of great affection: "It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel." The apostle is comforted by the positive reports that reach him from the community of Philippi. He feels joy because of them, along with comfort. Indeed the common passion for the Gospel creates strong and intense bonds that neither distance nor difficulties can decrease and even less eliminate. The growth of the community is always a reason of consolation. While he is in prison, in fact, Paul testifies how the fraternity shared by all the disciples of Jesus gives an extraordinary strength to those living in faith. The secret of this strength is in prayer. If the apostle first showed his prayer of thanksgiving, now he writes to the Philippians that he is praying for them. It is a prayer of intercession: "this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight." Praying for others, praying - like in this case - for the distant community of Philippi, shows the importance of this gesture of communion in faith. The fraternity of Christians in the world is woven and strengthened by the prayer that we offer for each other.

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