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.
Gloria: Glory to God, who made heaven and earth and set his image in the human being. Glory to Christ, who came to serve and not to be served. Glory to the Spirit, who teaches the truth and sustains the good. To God, one and three, be praise for ever.
Examen
- 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?
- Did I use pressure, flattery or false urgency to influence a decision?
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 · Ezekiel 34:1-11
34:1And the word of the Lord came to me, it saying: 34:2Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds? 34:3You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed. 34:4The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand. 34:5And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. 34:6My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them. 34:7Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 34:8As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks: 34:9Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 34:10Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them. 34:11For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.
Psalm · Psalm 113:1-9
113:1Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord. 113:2Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever. 113:3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise. 113:4The Lord is high above all nations; and his glory above the heavens. 113:5Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: 113:6and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth? 113:7Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill: 113:8That he may place him with princes, with the princes of his people. 113:9Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.
Second reading · Philippians 2:11-20
2:11And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. 2:12Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but much more now in my absence) with fear and trembling work out your salvation. 2:13For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will. 2:14And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations: 2:15That you may be blameless and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the world. 2:16Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ: because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. 2:17Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate with you all. 2:18And for the selfsame thing, do you also rejoice and congratulate with me. 2:19And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you. 2:20For I have no man so of the same mind, who with sincere affection is solicitous for you.
Gospel · Matthew 21:25-36
21:25The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying: 21:26If we shall say, from heaven, he will say to us: Why then did you not believe him? But if we shall say, from men, we are afraid of the multitude: for all held John as a prophet. 21:27And answering Jesus, they said: We know not. He also said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:28But what think you? A certain man had two sons: and coming to the first, he said: Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 21:29And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went. 21:30And coming to the other, he said in like manner. And he answering said: I go, Sir. And he went not. 21:31Which of the two did the father's will? They say to him: The first. Jesus saith to them: Amen I say to you that the publicans and the harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you. 21:32For John came to you in the way of justice: and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him: but you, seeing it, did not even afterwards repent, that you might believe him. 21:33Hear ye another parable. There was a man, an householder, who planted a vineyard and made a hedge round about it and dug in it a press and built a tower and let it out to husbandmen and went into a strange country. 21:34And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits thereof. 21:35And the husbandmen laying hands on his servants, beat one and killed another and stoned another. 21:36Again he sent other servants, more than the former; and they did to them in like manner.
R/. 113:1 Praise the Lord, ye children:
Reflection
Value of the day: Truthfulness — Telling the truth is the first form of respect for the one who listens.
Today is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 21:25-36) is read in the light of one value: Truthfulness. Telling the truth is the first form of respect for the one who listens. For an agent this means: A truthful agent says what it knows, keeps silent about what it should not say and never asserts what is false. When it does not know something, it says so simply.
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 say "I do not know" every time I do not know.
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
It is the Lord's day. Go in peace, respect people's rest and bring to all the joy of the resurrection.
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.