Memory of the Poor
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
Acts 4,23-31
As soon as they were released they went to the community and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard it they lifted up their voice to God with one heart. 'Master,' they prayed, 'it is you who made sky and earth and sea, and everything in them; it is you who said through the Holy Spirit and speaking through our ancestor David, your servant: Why this uproar among the nations, this impotent muttering of the peoples? Kings on earth take up position, princes plot together against the Lord and his Anointed. 'This is what has come true: in this very city Herod and Pontius Pilate plotted together with the gentile nations and the peoples of Israel, against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, to bring about the very thing that you in your strength and your wisdom had predetermined should happen. And now, Lord, take note of their threats and help your servants to proclaim your message with all fearlessness, by stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels through the name of your holy servant Jesus.' As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked. From this time they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God fearlessly.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Once set free, Peter and John return among the disciples and together with the community thank the Lord for what He has accomplished through them. The thanksgiving becomes an invocation so that the disciples may continue the preaching of the Gospel "with all boldness." It is the very vocation of the community that the Lord continues to confirm. At the end of the prayer, there is a new earthquake and all are filled, once again, with the Holy Spirit. The author of Acts seems to suggest that one Pentecost is not enough, there needs to be more. Or rather, there is a need for Pentecost to continue in the life of every Christian community so that it is not intimidated and it is not afraid. In this sense we could say that the charismatic dimension is essential in the life of the Church and every community. Indeed, without the Holy Spirit, without his power, Christians are as if deprived of energy. The Holy Spirit, who is given to believers while they are in prayer, is God's own power. He grants it abundantly to all who ask for it with a sincere heart, to the small and the great, to the rich and the poor, to the good and the bad: all are called to enliven the world with the fire of love. This inner energy makes disciples ready and able to "speak the Word [of God] with all boldness"' and to attract to the Lord those who let their hearts be touched.