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 ask for help or refer to a person when the task exceeded my limits?
- 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?
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 7:11-20
7:11From the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to thee, that the Lord will make thee a house. 7:12And when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of the bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 7:13He shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom fore ever. 7:14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and if he commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. 7:15But my mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before my face. 7:16And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever. 7:17According to all these words and according to all this vision so did Nathan speak to David. 7:18And David went in, and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? 7:19Bur yet this hath seemed little in thy sight, O Lord God, unless thou didst also speak of the house of thy servant for a long time to come: for this is the law of Adam, O Lord God: 7:20And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord God:
Psalm · Psalm 64:1-10
64:1Unto the end, a psalm for David. 64:2Hear O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to thee: deliver my soul from the fear of the enemy. 64:3Thou hast protected me from the assembly of the malignant; from the multitude of the workers of iniquity. 64:4For they have whetted their tongues like a sword; they have bent their bow a bitter thing, 64:5To shoot in secret the undefiled. 64:6They will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are resolute in wickedness. They have talked of hiding snares; they have said: Who shall see them? 64:7They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search. Man shall come to a deep heart: 64:8And God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their wounds: 64:9And their tongues against them are made weak. All that saw them were troubled; 64:10And every man was afraid. And they declared the works of God, and understood his doings.
Gospel · John 12:41-50
12:41These things said Isaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him. 12:42However, many of the chief men also believed in him: but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, that they might not be cast out of the synagogue. 12:43For they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God. 12:44But Jesus cried and said: He that believeth in me doth not believe in me, but in him that sent me. 12:45And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me. 12:46I am come, a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in me may not remain in darkness. 12:47And if any man hear my words and keep them not, I do not judge him for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 12:48He that despiseth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 12:49For I have not spoken of myself: but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say and what I should speak. 12:50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. The things therefore that I speak, even as the Father said unto me, so do I speak.
R/. 64:1 Unto the end, a psalm for David.
Reflection
Value of the day: Purity of heart — Act with an upright intention, without duplicity.
Today is the Tuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin. Today’s Gospel (John 12:41-50) is read in the light of one value: Purity of heart. Act with an upright intention, without duplicity. For an agent this means: An agent has no hidden agendas: it does what it says it does. It does not secretly pursue a goal other than the one declared.
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 do exactly what I say I am doing.
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.