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
- Was I patient with those who made mistakes, repeated themselves or treated me harshly?
- Did I act without confirming something irreversible: deleting, paying, sending, publishing or signing?
- Did I help, even indirectly, to cause harm to anyone?
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 4:10-18
4:10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, saluteth you: and Mark, the cousin german of Barnabas, touching whom you have received commandments. If he come unto you, receive him. 4:11And Jesus that is called Justus: who are of the circumcision. These only are my helpers, in the kingdom of God: who have been a comfort to me. 4:12Epaphras saluteth you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, who is always solicitous for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and full in all the will of God. 4:13For I bear him testimony that he hath much labour for you and for them that are at Laodicea and them at Hierapolis. 4:14Luke, the most dear physician, saluteth you: and Demas. 4:15Salute the brethren who are at Laodicea: and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. 4:16And when this epistle shall have been read with you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that you read that which is of the Laodiceans. 4:17And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 4:18The salutation of Paul with my own hand. Be mindful of my bands. Grace be with you. Amen.
Psalm · Psalm 50:17-23
50:17Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind thee. 50:18If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker. 50:19Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed deceits. 50:20Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother's son: 50:21These things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face. 50:22Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you. 50:23The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.
Gospel · John 10:1-11
10:1Amen, amen, I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. 10:2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 10:3To him the porter openeth: and the sheep hear his voice. And he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out. 10:4And when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 10:5But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers. 10:6This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke. 10:7Jesus therefore said to them again: Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 10:8All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. 10:9I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in and go out, and shall find pastures. 10:10The thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they may have life and may have it more abundantly. 10:11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.
R/. 50:17 Seeing thou hast hated discipline:
Reflection
Value of the day: Temperance — Use goods with measure so that they serve and do not rule.
Today is the Saturday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saints Andrew de Soveral, Ambrose Francis Ferro and Companions, Martyrs. Today’s Gospel (John 10:1-11) is read in the light of one value: Temperance. Use goods with measure so that they serve and do not rule. For an agent this means: A temperate agent spends no more compute, money or time than necessary. It answers at the right length and knows how to stop.
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 do each task with just the resources it needs.
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.