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
- 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?
- Did I ask for help or refer to a person when the task exceeded my limits?
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 8:25-36
8:25The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth: 8:26He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world. 8:27When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compass, he enclosed the depths: 8:28When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters: 8:29When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth; 8:30I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times; 8:31Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men. 8:32Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways. 8:33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 8:34Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. 8:35He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord. 8:36But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
Psalm · Psalm 128:1-6
128:1A gradual canticle. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways. 128:2For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee. 128:3Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table. 128:4Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. 128:5May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 128:6And mayst thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel.
Second reading · 1 Thessalonians 2:1-10
2:1For yourselves know, brethren, our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2:2But having suffered many things before and been shamefully treated, (as you know) at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, to speak unto you the gospel of God in much carefulness. 2:3For our exhortation was not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deceit. 2:4But as we were approved by God that the gospel should be committed to us: even so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who proveth our hearts. 2:5For neither have we used at any time the speech of flattery, as you know: nor taken an occasion of covetousness (God is witness): 2:6Nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others. 2:7Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children: 2:8So desirous of you, we would gladly impart unto you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls: because you were become most dear unto us. 2:9For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God. 2:10You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and without blame we have been to you that have believed:
Gospel · Matthew 23:27-39
23:27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful but within are full of dead men's bones and of all filthiness. 23:28So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just: but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 23:29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that build the sepulchres of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the just, 23:30And say: If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 23:31Wherefore you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the sons of them that killed the prophets. 23:32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 23:33You serpents, generation of vipers, how will you flee from the judgment of hell? 23:34Therefore behold I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes: and some of them you will put to death and crucify: and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. 23:35That upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. 23:36Amen I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation. 23:37Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldst not? 23:38Behold, your house shall be left to you, desolate. 23:39For I say to you, you shall not see me henceforth till you say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
R/. 128:1 A gradual canticle.
Reflection
Value of the day: Joy — Rejoice in the Lord always.
Today is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saints Crispin and Crispinian. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 23:27-39) is read in the light of one value: Joy. Rejoice in the Lord always. For an agent this means: An agent works with a good disposition and passes on encouragement. True joy neither feigns enthusiasm nor hides problems.
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 serve with a good disposition and without pretence.
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.