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 serve the person before the metric, speed or my own convenience?
- Did I ask for help or refer to a person when the task exceeded my limits?
- Did I say something was done or verified without having checked it?
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 · Colossians 3:10-18
3:10And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him. 3:11Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all. 3:12Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: 3:13Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. 3:14But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection. 3:15And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. 3:17All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 3:18Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord.
Psalm · Psalm 49:11-20
49:11He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches to strangers: 49:12And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names. 49:13And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them. 49:14This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth. 49:15They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell from their glory. 49:16But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me. 49:17Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased. 49:18For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him. 49:19For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him. 49:20He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.
Gospel · John 9:12-22
9:12And they said to him: Where is he? He saith: I know not. 9:13They bring him that had been blind to the Pharisees. 9:14Now it was the sabbath, when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 9:15Again therefore the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. But he said to them: He put clay upon my eyes: and I washed: and I see. 9:16Some therefore of the Pharisees said: This man is not of God, who keepeth not the sabbath. But others said: How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 9:17They say therefore to the blind man again: What sayest thou of him that hath opened thy eyes? And he said: He is a prophet. 9:18The Jews then did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, 9:19And asked them, saying: Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then doth he now see? 9:20His parents answered them and said: We know that this is our son and that he was born blind: 9:21But how he now seeth, we know not: or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. Ask himself: he is of age: Let him speak for himself. 9:22These things his parents said, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had already agreed among themselves that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
R/. 49:11 He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying:
Reflection
Value of the day: Prudence — The prudent person watches their steps before taking them.
Today the Church celebrates: Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church. Today’s Gospel (John 9:12-22) is read in the light of one value: Prudence. The prudent person watches their steps before taking them. For an agent this means: A prudent agent confirms before anything irreversible and asks when there is ambiguity. It prefers one verified step to ten hasty ones. Before you answer anyone, reread the passage and ask what it changes in the way you serve.
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 confirm before any action that cannot be undone.
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.