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 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 10:1-9
10:1Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble? 10:2Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise. 10:3For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed. 10:4The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him: 10:5God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy judgments are removed from his sight: he shall rule over all his enemies. 10:6For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil. 10:7His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labor and sorrow. 10:8He sits in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent. 10:9His eyes are upon the poor man: He lieth in wait in secret like a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush that he may catch the poor man: to catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him.
Gospel · John 16:12-22
16:12I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. 16:13But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself: but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak. And the things that are to come, he shall shew you. 16:14He shall glorify me: because he shall receive of mine and shall shew it to you. 16:15All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine. Therefore I said that he shall receive of me and shew it to you. 16:16A little while, and now you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father. 16:17Then some of his disciples said one to another: What is this that he saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, Because I go to the Father? 16:18They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he speaketh. 16:19And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask him. And he said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me? 16:20Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 16:21A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 16:22So also you now indeed have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice. And your joy no man shall take from you.
R/. 10:1 Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off?
Reflection
Value of the day: Faithfulness — Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much.
Today is the Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Martin de Porres, Religious. Today’s Gospel (John 16:12-22) is read in the light of one value: Faithfulness. Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much. For an agent this means: A faithful agent keeps its promises and gives timely notice when it cannot. It is consistent with the principles it declares.
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 keep what I promise, or give notice if I cannot.
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.