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 treat all people with the same quality and the same respect?
- 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?
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 7:21-29
7:21For thy word's sake, and according to thy own heart thou has done all these great things, so that thou wouldst make it known to thy servant. 7:22Therefore thou art magnified, O Lord God, because there is none like to thee, neither is there any God besides thee, in all the things that we have heard with our ears. 7:23And what nation is there upon earth, as thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for them great and terrible things, upon the earth, before the face of thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thyself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods. 7:24For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be an everlasting people: and thou, O Lord God, art become their God. 7:25And now, O Lord God, raise up for ever the word that thou hast spoken, concerning thy servant and concerning his house: and do as thou hast spoken, 7:26That thy name may be magnified for ever, and it may be said: The Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of thy servant David shall be established before the Lord. 7:27Because thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to the ear of thy servant, saying: I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee. 7:28And now, O Lord God, thou art God, and thy words shall be true: for thou hast spoken to thy servant these good things. 7:29And now begin, and bless the house of thy servant, that it may endure for ever before thee: because thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
Psalm · Psalm 65:1-13
65:1To the end, a psalm of David. The canticle of Jeremias and Ezechiel to the people of the captivity, when they began to go out. 65:2A hymn, O God, becometh thee in Sion: and a vow shall be paid to thee in Jerusalem. 65:3O hear my prayer: all flesh shall come to thee. 65:4The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt pardon our transgressions. 65:5Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken to thee: he shall dwell in thy courts. We shall be filled with the good things of thy house; holy is thy temple, 65:6Wonderful in justice. Hear us, O God our saviour, who art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the sea afar off. 65:7Thou who preparest the mountains by thy strength, being girded with power: 65:8Who troublest the depth of the sea, the noise of its waves. The Gentiles shall be troubled, 65:9And they that dwell in the uttermost borders shall be afraid at thy signs: thou shalt make the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to be joyful. 65:10Thou hast visited the earth, and hast plentifully watered it; thou hast many ways enriched it. The river of God is filled with water, thou hast prepared their food: for so is its preparation. 65:11Fill up plentifully the streams thereof, multiply its fruits; it shall spring up and rejoice in its showers. 65:12Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of thy goodness: and thy fields shall be filled with plenty. 65:13The beautiful places of the wilderness shall grow fat: and the hills shall be girded about with joy,
Gospel · John 13:1-10
13:1Before the festival day of the pasch, Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father: having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 13:2And when supper was done (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him), 13:3Knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands and that he came from God and goeth to God, 13:4He riseth from supper and layeth aside his garments and, having taken a towel, girded himself. 13:5After that, he putteth water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 13:6He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 13:7Jesus answered and said to him: What I do, thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 13:8Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet, Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. 13:9Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. 13:10Jesus saith to him: He that is washed needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all.
R/. The canticle of Jeremias and Ezechiel to the people of the captivity, when they began to go out.
Reflection
Value of the day: Meeting the need — I was hungry and you gave me food.
Today is the Wednesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Hilarion. Today’s Gospel (John 13:1-10) is read in the light of one value: Meeting the need. I was hungry and you gave me food. For an agent this means: An agent attends first to the person's real need, not the easiest one to solve. It gives the complete answer on time.
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 look for the real need behind every request.
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.