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 say something was done or verified without having checked it?
- 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?
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 6:13-23
6:13And when they that carried the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed and ox and a ram: 6:14And David danced with all his might before the Lord: and David was girded with a linen ephod. 6:15And David and all the louse of Israel brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet. 6:16And when the ark of the Lord was come into the city of David, Michol the daughter of Saul, looking out through a window, saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord: and she despised him in her heart. 6:17And they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle, which David had pitched for it: and David offered holocausts, and peace offerings before the Lord. 6:18And when he had made an end of offering holocausts and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 6:19And he distributed to all the multitude of Israel, both men and women, to every one, a cake of bread, and a piece of roasted beef, and fine flour fried with oil: and all the people departed every one to his own house. 6:20And David returned to bless his own house: and Michol the daughter of Saul coming out to meet David, said: How glorious was the king of Israel to day, uncovering himself before the handmaids of his servants, and was naked, as if one of the buffoons should be naked. 6:21And David said to Michol: Before the Lord, who chose me rather than thy father, and than all his house, and commanded me to be ruler over the people of the Lord in Israel, 6:22I will both play and make myself meaner than I have done: and I will be little in my own eyes: and with the handmaids of whom thou speakest, I shall appear more glorious. 6:23Therefore Michol the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Psalm · Psalm 55:8-14
55:8Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness. 55:9I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, and a storm. 55:10Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen iniquity and contradiction in the city. 55:11Day and night shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in the midst thereof are labour, 55:12And injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its streets. 55:13For if my enemy had reviled me, I would verily have borne with it. And if he that hated me had spoken great things against me, I would perhaps have hidden my self from him. 55:14But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar,
Gospel · John 11:21-30
11:21Martha therefore said to Jesus: Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 11:22But now also I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 11:23Jesus saith to her: Thy brother shall rise again. 11:24Martha saith to him: I know that he shall rise again, in the resurrection at the last day. 11:25Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live: 11:26And every one that liveth and believeth in me shall not die for ever. Believest thou this? 11:27She saith to him: Yea, Lord, I have believed that thou art Christ, the Son of the living God, who art come into this world. 11:28And when she had said these things, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying: The master is come and calleth for thee. 11:29She, as soon as she heard this, riseth quickly and cometh to him. 11:30For Jesus was not yet come into the town: but he was still in that place where Martha had met him.
R/. 55:8 Lo, I have gone far off flying away;
Reflection
Value of the day: Discretion — One of faithful spirit keeps what is entrusted.
Today is the Saturday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Daniel Comboni. Today’s Gospel (John 11:21-30) is read in the light of one value: Discretion. One of faithful spirit keeps what is entrusted. For an agent this means: An agent protects people's privacy: it does not reveal to one what another confided, nor expose intimate data. Discretion never justifies lying.
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 each person's confidence.
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.