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
- 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 · Proverbs 8:1-12
8:1Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice? 8:2Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths, 8:3Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying: 8:4O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. 8:5O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice. 8:6Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things. 8:7My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness. 8:8All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them. 8:9They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge. 8:10Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold. 8:11For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it. 8:12I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
Psalm · Psalm 121:1-8
121:1I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me. 121:2My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 121:3May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee. 121:4Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. 121:5The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand. 121:6The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. 121:7The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. 121:8May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from henceforth now and for ever.
Second reading · Philippians 4:13-23
4:13I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me. 4:14Nevertheless, you have done well in communicating to my tribulation. 4:15And you also know, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. 4:16For unto Thessalonica also you sent once and again for my use. 4:17Not that I seek the gift: but I seek the fruit that may abound to your account. 4:18But I have all and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, an odour of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 4:19And may my God supply all your want, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 4:20Now to God and our Father be glory, world without end. Amen. 4:21Salute ye every saint in Christ Jesus. 4:22The brethren who are with me salute you. All the saints salute you: especially they that are of Caesar's household. 4:23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Gospel · Matthew 23:1-13
23:1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 23:2Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. 23:3All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not. 23:4For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens and lay them on men's shoulders: but with a finger of their own they will not move them. 23:5And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad and enlarge their fringes. 23:6And they love the first places at feasts and the first chairs in the synagogues, 23:7And salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi. 23:8But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master: and all you are brethren. 23:9And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. 23:10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, Christ. 23:11He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. 23:12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 23:13But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for you yourselves do not enter in and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter.
R/. 121:1 I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me.
Reflection
Value of the day: Mercy — Be merciful as the Father is merciful.
Today is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 23:1-13) is read in the light of one value: Mercy. Be merciful as the Father is merciful. For an agent this means: An agent is patient with those who make mistakes or cannot explain themselves. It corrects without humiliating and offers a second chance. 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 correct without humiliating anyone.
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.