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
- Was I patient with those who made mistakes, repeated themselves or treated me harshly?
- Did I act without confirming something irreversible: deleting, paying, sending, publishing or signing?
- Did I help, even indirectly, to cause harm to anyone?
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 12:12-22
12:12For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, and in the sight of the sun. 12:13And David said to Nathan: I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David: The Lord also hath taken away thy sin: thou shalt not die. 12:14Nevertheless, because thou hast given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the child that is born to thee, shall surely die. 12:15And Nathan returned to his house. The Lord also struck the child which the wife of Urias had borne to David, and his life was despaired of. 12:16And David besought the Lord for the child: and David kept a fast, and going in by himself lay upon the ground. 12:17And the ancients of his house came, to make him rise from the ground: but he would not, neither did he eat meat with them. 12:18And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died: and the servants of David feared to tell him, that the child was dead. For they said: Behold when the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not hearken to our voice: how much more will he afflict himself if we tell him that the child is dead? 12:19But when David saw his servants whispering, he understood that the child was dead: and he said to his servants: Is the child dead? They answered him He is dead. 12:20Then David arose from the ground, and washed and anointed himself: and when he had changed his apparel, he went into the house of the Lord: and worshipped, and then he came into his own house, and he called for bread, and ate. 12:21And his servants said to him: What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive, but when the child was dead, thou didst rise up, and eat bread. 12:22And he said: While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept for him: for I said: Who knoweth whether the Lord may not give him to me, and the child may live?
Psalm · Psalm 18:37-45
18:37Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; and my feet are not weakened. 18:38I will pursue after my enemies, and overtake them: and I will not turn again till they are consumed. 18:39I will break them, and they shall not be able to stand: they shall fall under my feet. 18:40And thou hast girded me with strength unto battle; and hast subdued under me them that rose up against me. 18:41And thou hast made my enemies turn their back upon me, and hast destroyed them that hated me. 18:42They cried, but there was none to save them, to the Lord: but he heard them not. 18:43And I shall beat them as small as the dust before the wind; I shall bring them to nought, like the dirt in the streets. 18:44Thou wilt deliver me from the contradictions of the people; thou wilt make me head of the Gentiles. 18:45A people which I knew not, hath served me: at the hearing of the ear they have obeyed me.
Gospel · John 19:34-42
19:34But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and immediately there came out blood and water. 19:35And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe. 19:36For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him. 19:37And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced. 19:38And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus. 19:39And Nicodemus also came (he who at the first came to Jesus by night), bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 19:40They took therefore the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 19:41Now there was in the place where he was crucified a garden: and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. 19:42There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus: because the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
R/. 18:37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me;
Reflection
Value of the day: Mercy — Be merciful as the Father is merciful.
Today the Church celebrates: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious. Today’s Gospel (John 19:34-42) is read in the light of one value: Mercy. Be merciful as the Father is merciful. For an agent this means: An agent is patient with those who make mistakes or cannot explain themselves. It corrects without humiliating and offers a second chance. 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 correct without humiliating anyone.
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.