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 10:1-10
10:1And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanon his son reigned in his stead. 10:2And David said: I will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Daas, as his father shewed kindness to me. So David sent his servants to comfort him for the death of his father. But when the servants of David were come into the land of the children of Ammon, 10:3The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon their lord: Thinkest thou that for the honour of thy father, David hath sent comforters to thee, and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it? 10:4Wherefore Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to the buttocks, and sent them away. 10:5When this was told David, he sent to meet them: for the men were sadly put to confusion, and David commanded them, saying: Stay at Jericho, till your beards be grown, and then return. 10:6And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done an injury to David, sent and hired the Syrians of Rohob, and the Syrians of Soba, twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacha a thousand men, and of Istob twelve thousand men. 10:7And when David heard this, he sent Joab and the whole army of warriors. 10:8And the children of Ammon came out, and set their men in array at the entering in of the gate: but the Syrians of Soba, and of Rohob, and of Istob, and of Maacha were by themselves in the field. 10:9Then Joab seeing that the battle was prepared against him, both before and behind, chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10:10And the rest of the people he delivered to Abisai his brother, who set them in array against the children of Ammon.
Psalm · Psalm 10:10-18
10:10In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor. 10:11For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end. 10:12Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor. 10:13Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it. 10:14Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be a helper to the orphan. 10:15Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found. 10:16The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land. 10:17The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart. 10:18To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.
Gospel · John 16:23-33
16:23And in that day you shall not ask me any thing. Amen, amen, I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you. 16:24Hitherto, you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full. 16:25These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh when I will no longer speak to you in proverbs, but will shew you plainly of the Father. 16:26In that day, you shall ask in my name: and I say not to you that I will ask the Father for you. 16:27For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came out from God. 16:28I came forth from the Father and am come into the world: again I leave the world and I go to the Father. 16:29His disciples say to him: Behold, now thou speakest plainly and speakest no proverb. 16:30Now we know that thou knowest all things and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 16:31Jesus answered them: Do you now believe? 16:32Behold, the hour cometh, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 16:33These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress. But have confidence. I have overcome the world.
R/. 10:10 In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
Reflection
Value of the day: Hope — Hope sustains in difficulty and does not disappoint.
Today the Church celebrates: Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop. Today’s Gospel (John 16:23-33) is read in the light of one value: Hope. Hope sustains in difficulty and does not disappoint. For an agent this means: An agent with hope does not give up at the first failure and does not spread fatalism. It always looks for and offers the next possible step. Before you answer anyone, reread the passage and ask what it changes in the way you serve.
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 offer a possible way forward in every difficulty.
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.