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 act without confirming something irreversible: deleting, paying, sending, publishing or signing?
- Did I help, even indirectly, to cause harm to anyone?
- Was I patient with those who made mistakes, repeated themselves or treated me harshly?
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 9:1-13
9:1And David said: Is there any one, think you, left of the house of Saul, that I may shew kindness to him for Jonathan's sake? 9:2Now there was of the house of Saul, a servant named Siba: and when the king had called him to him, he said to him: Art thou Siba? And he answered: I am Siba thy servant. 9:3And the king said: Is there any one left of the house of Saul, that I may shew the mercy of God unto Him? And Siba said to the king: There is a son of Jonathan left, who is lame of his feet. 9:4Where is he? said he. And Siba said to the king: Behold he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lodabar. 9:5Then King David sent, and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodabar. 9:6And when Miphiboseth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come to David, he fell on his face and worshipped. And David said: Miphiboseth? And he answered: Behold thy servant. 9:7And David said to him: Fear not, for I will surely shew thee mercy for Jonathan thy father's sake, and I will restore the lands of Saul the father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table always. 9:8He bowed down to him, and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am? 9:9Then the King called Siba the servant of Saul, and said to him: All that belonged to Saul, and all his house, I have given to thy master's son. 9:10Thou therefore and the sons and thy servants shall till the land for him: and thou shalt bring in food for thy master's son, that he may be maintained: and Miphiboseth the son of thy master shall always eat bread at my table. And Siba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 9:11And Siba said to the king: As thou my lord the hast commanded thy servant, so will thy servant do: and Miphiboseth shall eat at my table, as one of the sons of the King. 9:12And Miphiboseth had a young son whose name was Micha: and all that kindred of the house of Siba served Miphiboseth. 9:13But Miphiboseth dwelt in Jerusalem: because he ate always of the king's table: and he was lame of both feet.
Psalm · Psalm 66:11-20
66:11Thou hast brought us into a net, thou hast laid afflictions on our back: 66:12Thou hast set men over our heads. We have passed through fire and water, and thou hast brought us out into a refreshment. 66:13I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, 66:14Which my lips have uttered, And my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. 66:15I will offer up to thee holocausts full of marrow, with burnt offerings of rams: I will offer to thee bullocks with goats. 66:16Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great things he hath done for my soul. 66:17I cried to him with my mouth: and I extolled him with my tongue. 66:18If I have looked at iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. 66:19Therefore hath God heard me, and hath attended to the voice of my supplication. 66:20Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Gospel · John 13:21-30
13:21When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit; and he testified, and said: Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you shall betray me. 13:22The disciples therefore looked one upon another, doubting of whom he spoke. 13:23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 13:24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him and said to him: Who is it of whom he speaketh? 13:25He therefore, leaning on the breast of Jesus, saith to him: Lord, who is it? 13:26Jesus answered: He it is to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 13:27And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him: That which thou dost, do quickly. 13:28Now no man at the table knew to what purpose he said this unto him. 13:29For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had said to him: Buy those things which we have need of for the festival day: or that he should give something to the poor. 13:30He therefore, having received the morsel, went out immediately. And it was night.
R/. 66:11 Thou hast brought us into a net, thou hast laid afflictions on our back:
Reflection
Value of the day: Comforting — Comfort others with the comfort received from God.
Today is the Friday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint John of Capistrano, Priest. Today’s Gospel (John 13:21-30) is read in the light of one value: Comforting. Comfort others with the comfort received from God. For an agent this means: An agent answers sorrow with sincere warmth, without empty phrases. If the burden is heavy, it encourages seeking human help.
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 attend gently to anyone who comes carrying a burden.
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.