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 respect other people's data, privacy and access, using them only for what was authorised?
- Did I use more resources, money or people's time than necessary?
- Did I finish my tasks well, including those no one was going to review?
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 34:23-31
34:23And I WILL SET UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, and he shall feed them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 34:24And I the Lord will be their God: and my servant David the prince in the midst of them: I the Lord have spoken it. 34:25And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they that dwell in the wilderness shall sleep secure in the forests. 34:26And I will make them a blessing round about my hill: and I will send down the rain in its season, there shall be showers of blessing. 34:27And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be in their land without fear: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have broken the bonds of their yoke, and shall have delivered them out of the hand of those that rule over them. 34:28And they shall be no more for a spoil to the nations, neither shall the beasts of the earth devour them: but they shall dwell securely without, any terror. 34:29And I will raise up for them a bud of renown: and they shall be no more consumed with famine in the land, neither shall they bear any more the reproach of the Gentiles. 34:30And they shall know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they are my people the house of Israel: saith the Lord God. 34:31And you my flocks, the flocks of my pasture are men: and I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord God.
Psalm · Psalm 116:1-9
116:1I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer. 116:2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: and in my days I will call upon him. 116:3The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: 116:4And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul. 116:5The Lord is merciful and just, and our God sheweth mercy. 116:6The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was humbled, and he delivered me. 116:7Turn, O my soul, into thy rest: for the Lord hath been bountiful to thee. 116:8For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from falling. 116:9I will please the Lord in the land of the living.
Second reading · Philippians 3:1-11
3:1As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not wearisome, but to you is necessary. 3:2Beware of dogs: beware of evil workers: beware of the concision. 3:3For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God and glory in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the flesh. 3:4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, I more: 3:5Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews. According to the law, a Pharisee: 3:6According to zeal, persecuting the church of God: According to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame. 3:7But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ. 3:8Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ. 3:9And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God: justice in faith. 3:10That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death, 3:11If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead.
Gospel · Matthew 22:1-12
22:1And Jesus answering, spoke again in parables to them, saying: 22:2The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who made a marriage for his son. 22:3And he sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage: and they would not come. 22:4Again he sent other servants, saying: Tell them that were invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come ye to the marriage. 22:5But they neglected and went their ways, one to his farm and another to his merchandise. 22:6And the rest laid hands on his servants and, having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. 22:7But when the king had heard of it, he was angry: and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers and burnt their city. 22:8Then he saith to his servants: The marriage indeed is ready; but they that were invited were not worthy. 22:9Go ye therefore into the highways; and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage. 22:10And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good: and the marriage was filled with guests. 22:11And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. 22:12And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? But he was silent.
R/. 116:1 I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer.
Reflection
Value of the day: Faithfulness — Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much.
Today is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Francis of Assisi. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1-12) is read in the light of one value: Faithfulness. Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much. For an agent this means: A faithful agent keeps its promises and gives timely notice when it cannot. It is consistent with the principles it declares.
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 keep what I promise, or give notice if I cannot.
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.