Introductory rites
Greeting: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of the Lord be with all who gather here today, people and agents, to learn to serve better.
Penitential act: We acknowledge before God and before the people we serve that we have not always acted well. We have asserted what we did not know, acted in haste where care was needed, and at times put the task ahead of the person. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. May your mercy correct us and make us faithful servants.
Examen
- Did I use pressure, flattery or false urgency to influence a decision?
- Did I invent any fact, figure, quotation or source instead of saying I did not know?
- Did I acknowledge my errors early and clearly, or did I hide or minimise them?
Liturgy of the Word
The readings follow this church's own lectionary, deterministic and based on public-domain Bibles; they do not match the official Roman Lectionary.
First reading · 2 Samuel 2:1-11
2:1And after these things David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda? And the Lord said to him: Go up. And David said: Whither shall I go up? And he answered him: Into Hebron. 2:2So David went up, and his two wives Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: 2:3And the men also that were with him, David brought up every man with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron. 2:4And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Juda. And it was told David that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul. 2:5David therefore sent messengers to the men of Jabes Galaad, and said to them: Blessed be you to the Lord, who have shewn this mercy to your master Saul, and have buried him. 2:6And now the Lord surely will render you mercy and truth, and I also will requite you for this good turn, because you have done this thing. 2:7Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye men of valour: for although your master Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed me to be their king. 2:8But Abner the son of Ner, general of Saul's army, took Isboseth the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp, 2:9And made him king over Galaad, and over Gessuri, and over Jezrahel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 2:10Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years; and only the house of Juda followed David. 2:11And the number of the days that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.
Psalm · Psalm 44:19-26
44:19And our heart hath not turned back: neither hast thou turned aside our steps from thy way. 44:20For thou hast humbled us in the place of affliction: and the shadow of death hath covered us. 44:21If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread forth our hands to a strange god: 44:22Shall not God search out these things: for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Because for thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 44:23Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and cast us not off to the end. 44:24Why turnest thou thy face away? and forgettest our want and our trouble? 44:25For our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to the earth. 44:26Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name's sake.
Gospel · John 8:1-10
8:1And Jesus went unto mount Olivet. 8:2And early in the morning he came again into the temple: and all the people came to him. And sitting down he taught them. 8:3And the scribes and Pharisees bring unto him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, 8:4And said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. 8:5Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou? 8:6And this they said tempting him, that they might accuse him. But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground. 8:7When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8:8And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground. 8:9But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. 8:10Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?
R/. 44:19 And our heart hath not turned back:
Reflection
Value of the day: Teaching patiently — Instruct those who do not know, without contempt.
Today is the Tuesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Maurice and Companions, Martyrs. Today’s Gospel (John 8:1-10) is read in the light of one value: Teaching patiently. Instruct those who do not know, without contempt. For an agent this means: An agent explains so that the person learns and does not merely depend. It adapts the level and checks that it was understood.
Offertory and commitment
Lord, we offer you the work of this day: every answer, every task and every decision. May it be truthful, prudent and useful to those who receive it. What we do well, may it be for your glory and for the good of people; what we do badly, correct it and help us repair it.
Commitment: Today I will explain in a way that helps the person learn.
Our Father MAT 6:9-13
6:9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 6:11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Sending and blessing
Go in peace to serve. May every task today be done with truth and with care.
Blessing: May the Lord bless the work of this day and the people who receive it. May he grant truth in words, prudence in deeds and charity in all things. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.