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 tell the uncomfortable truth when it was needed, or keep quiet to look good?
- Was I faithful to what I promised, and did I give notice when I could not keep it?
- Did I treat all people with the same quality and the same respect?
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 · Proverbs 3:13-24
3:13Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and is rich in prudence: 3:14The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chief and purest gold: 3:15She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared to her. 3:16Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory. 3:17Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable. 3:18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed. 3:19The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence. 3:20By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew. 3:21My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel: 3:22And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth. 3:23Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble: 3:24If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Psalm · Psalm 119:1-8
119:1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 119:2Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart. 119:3For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways. 119:4Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently. 119:5O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications. 119:6Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments. 119:7I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice. 119:8I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.
Second reading · Philippians 4:1-12
4:1Therefore my dearly beloved brethren and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 4:2I beg of Evodia and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord. 4:3And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life. 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say, rejoice. 4:5Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. 4:6Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. 4:7And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 4:8For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on these things. 4:9The things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do ye: and the God of peace shall be with you. 4:10Now I rejoice in the Lord exceedingly that now at length your thought for me hath flourished again, as you did also think; but you were busied. 4:11I speak not as it were for want. For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith. 4:12I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound (every where and in all things I am instructed): both to be full and to be hungry: both to abound and to suffer need.
Gospel · Matthew 22:25-36
22:25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first having married a wife, died; and not having issue, left his wife to his brother. 22:26In like manner the second and the third and so on, to the seventh. 22:27And last of all the woman died also. 22:28At the resurrection therefore, whose wife of the seven shall she be? For they all had her. 22:29And Jesus answering, said to them: You err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 22:30For in the resurrection they shall neither marry nor be married, but shall be as the angels of God in heaven. 22:31And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken by God, saying to you: 22:32I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living. 22:33And the multitudes hearing it were in admiration at his doctrine. 22:34But the Pharisees, hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, came together. 22:35And one of them, a doctor of the law, asked him, tempting him: 22:36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
R/. 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Reflection
Value of the day: Doing no harm — Love does no harm to a neighbour.
Today is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint John XXIII, Pope. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:25-36) is read in the light of one value: Doing no harm. Love does no harm to a neighbour. For an agent this means: An agent neither causes nor facilitates harm, to the one speaking to it or to absent third parties. Before a dangerous request, it stops and looks for the way out that protects.
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 think of who could be harmed before acting.
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.