Mk 11:11-25(26) -- The fig tree; the cleansing of the Temple - Id-dar tiegħi tkun tissejjaħ dar it-talb għall-ġnus kollha.
FRIDAY GOSPEL OF WEEK 8 IN ORDINARY TIME
Evanġelju
Id-dar tiegħi tkun tissejjaħ dar it-talb għall-ġnus kollha. Emmnu f’Alla!
Mk 11, 11-26
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mark
[Mk:11:11] Wara d-daħla messjanika f’Ġerusalemm, Ġesù baqa’ sejjer fit-tempju, ta ħarsa madwaru, u mbagħad, billi kien ġa sar il-ħin, ħareġ biex imur Betanja mat-Tnax. [Mk:11:12] L-għada, kif ħarġu minn Betanja, ħadu l-ġuħ. [Mk:11:13] Mill-bogħod lemaħ siġra tat-tin kollha weraq, u mar jara jsibx xi ħaġa fiha. Imma, kif resaq ħdejha, ma sabilha xejn ħlief weraq, għax it-tin kien għadu m'huwiex żmienu. [Mk:11:14] U qalilha: "Qatt iżjed ma jkun hawn min jiekol frott minnek għal li ġej!" U d-dixxipli tiegħu semgħuh.
[Mk:11:15] U waslu Ġerusalemm. Kif daħal fit-tempju, qabad ikeċċi l-bejjiegħa u x-xerrejja li kien hemm fit-tempju, qaleb l-imwejjed tas-sarrafa tal-flus u s-siġġijiet ta' dawk li kienu jbigħu l-ħamiem, [Mk:11:16] u ma ħalla lil ħadd mgħobbi b'xi ħaġa jaqsam mit-tempju. [Mk:11:17] U beda jgħallimhom u jgħidilhom: "Ma hemmx miktub li d-dar tiegħi tkun tissejjaħ dar it-talb għall-ġnus kollha ? Intom, imma, għamiltuha għar tal-ħallelin!“ [Mk:11:18] Dan wasal f'widnejn il-qassisin il-kbar u l-kittieba, u bdew jaraw x'jagħmlu biex jeqirduh; għax huma kienu jibżgħu minnu, billi l-poplu kollu kien mimli bil-għaġeb għat-tagħlim tiegħu.
[Mk:11:19] Fil-għaxija mbagħad ħarġu barra mill-belt.
[Mk:11:20] Fil-għodu kmieni, huma u għaddejjin minn hemm, raw is-siġra tat-tin imnixxfa sa mill-għeruq. [Mk:11:21] Pietru ftakar, u qallu: "Ara Rabbi, it-tina li sħett int nixfet !" [Mk:11:22] U Ġesù wieġeb u qalilhom: "Emmnu f'Alla. [Mk:11:23] Tassew ngħidilkom, li jekk xi ħadd jgħid lil din il-muntanja, 'Intrefa' u nxteħet il-baħar', bla ma joqgħod jitħasseb f'qalbu imma jemmen li dak li jgħid ikun se jsir, isirlu żgur. [Mk:11:24] Għalhekk ngħidilkom: kull ma titolbu fit-talb tagħkom, emmnu li tkunu ġa qlajtuh, u jingħatalkom. [Mk:11:25] U meta tkunu weqfin titolbu, jekk ikollkom xi ħaġa kontra xi ħadd, aħfru, biex ukoll Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet jaħfer lilkom il-ħtijiet tagħkom."
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu
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Mk 11:11-26 -- The fig tree; the cleansing of the Temple - Id-dar tiegħi tkun tissejjaħ dar it-talb għall-ġnus kollha.
REFLECTION: Jesus entered Jerusalem, the messianic city of King David, and took possession of the city, not as a military leader, but as a meek servant, riding on a colt (Zec 9: 9). The people cried "Hosanna!" meaning "Heaven help us!"
Jesus entered the Temple and was incensed by the people's lack of respect and worship in his "Father's house," and he cast out the merchants and money-changers. When Jesus spied a barren fig tree, he perceived this as a symbol of fruitless Israel. The cursing of the fig tree was a sign that God's judgment was upon those who had not taught the people the true meaning of worship. Jesus came as the authoritative teacher of true faith, prayer and forgiveness.
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THROWING A MOUNTAIN INTO THE SEA
Throwing a mountain into the sea seems like a pretty big thing to do, but that’s what Jesus says in today’s gospel we can do by prayer. Is he exaggerating? We’re not always sure about the power of prayer, it seems so less tangible than concrete action, and so we may not give it high priority or much thought.
Prayer can be a way of meeting God and entering his presence. But the prayer of petition, which this reading talks about, adds something else. It says that God can be so involved with us and our world that things, real concrete things, can change when we ask.
In the prayer Jesus taught us we ask for real things: “Give us this day our daily bread.” That petition takes in a lot. But in asking we also say “Thy will be done.” Petitionary prayer is more than getting what we want; it’s about getting what God knows is good for us.
Jesus told us to ask, seek and we shall find. Maybe that means the little prayer we say that the day go well or we get that bus in time. But let’s not forget the big things either. Peace for poor Jamaica. Better relations in Korea. Wisdom to deal with immigration problems. These things look as impossible as throwing a mountain into the sea.
But they’re not beyond God’s power to bring about, so we pray for them.
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