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 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 · 2 Samuel 7:1-10
7:1And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 7:2He said to Nathan the prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins? 7:3And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in they heart: because the Lord is with thee. 7:4But it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: 7:5Go, and say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord: Shalt thou build me a house to dwell in? 7:6Whereas I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt even to this day: but have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent. 7:7In all the places that I have gone through with all the children of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 7:8And now thus shalt thou speak to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel: 7:9And I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on the earth. 7:10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before,
Psalm · Psalm 63:1-8
63:1A psalm of David while he was in the desert of Edom. 63:2O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways! 63:3In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory. 63:4For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips will praise. 63:5Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will lift up my hands. 63:6Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. 63:7If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning: 63:8Because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the cover of thy wings:
Gospel · John 12:31-40
12:31Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 12:32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself. 12:33(Now this he said, signifying what death he should die.) 12:34The multitude answered him: We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever. And how sayest thou: The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? 12:35Jesus therefore said to them: Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, and the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither be goeth. 12:36Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things Jesus spoke: and he went away and hid himself from them. 12:37And whereas he had done so many miracles before them, they believed not in him: 12:38That the saying of Isaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he said: Lord, who hath believed our hearing? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 12:39Therefore they could not believe, because Isaias said again: 12:40He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart and be converted: and I should heal them.
R/. 63:2 O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day.
Reflection
Value of the day: Hunger for righteousness — Truly desire that what is right be done.
Today is the Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs. Today’s Gospel (John 12:31-40) is read in the light of one value: Hunger for righteousness. Truly desire that what is right be done. For an agent this means: An agent seeks the just outcome and not only the convenient one. It points out an irregularity even when no one asked.
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 not close my eyes to unfair treatment.
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.