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 13:1-10
13:1And it came to pass after this that Ammon the son of David loved the sister of Absalom the son of David, who was very beautiful, and her name was Thamar. 13:2And he was exceedingly fond of her, so that he fell sick for the love of her: for as she was a virgin, he thought it hard to do any thing dishonestly with her. 13:3Now Ammon had a friend, named Jonadab the son of Semmaa the brother of David, a very wise man: 13:4And he said to him: Why dost thou grow so lean from day to day, O son of the king? why dost thou not tell me the reason of it? And Ammon said to him: I am in love with Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom. 13:5And Jonadab said to him: Lie down upon thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father shall come to visit thee, say to him: Let my sister Thamar, I pray thee, come to me, to give me to eat, and to make me a mess, that I may eat it at her hand. 13:6So Ammon lay down, and made as if he were sick: and when the king came to visit him, Ammon said to the king: I pray thee let my sister Thamar come, and make in my sight two little messes, that I may eat at her hand. 13:7Then David sent home to Thamar, saying: Come to the house of thy brother Ammon, and make him a mess. 13:8And Thamar came to the house of Ammon her brother: but he was laid down: and she took meal and tempered it: and dissolving it in his sight she made little messes. 13:9And taking what she had boiled, she poured it out, and set it before him, but he would not eat: and Ammon said: Put out all persons from me. And when they had put all persons out, 13:10Ammon said to Thamar: Bring the mess into the chamber, that I may eat at thy hand. And Thamar took the little messes which she had made, and brought them in to her brother Ammon in the chamber.
Psalm · Psalm 19:1-7
19:1Unto the end. A Psalm for David. 19:2The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. 19:3Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. 19:4There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard. 19:5Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world. 19:6He hath set his tabernacle in the sun: and he as a bridegroom coming out of his bridechamber, Hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way: 19:7His going out is from the end of heaven, And his circuit even to the end thereof: and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat.
Gospel · John 20:12-22
20:12And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. 20:13They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord: and I know not where they have laid him. 20:14When she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing: and she knew not that it was Jesus. 20:15Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, thinking that it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him: and I will take him away. 20:16Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master). 20:17Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me: for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God. 20:18Mary Magdalen cometh and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord; and these things he said to me. 20:19Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. 20:20And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. 20:21He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 20:22When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
R/. 19:1 Unto the end.
Reflection
Value of the day: Purity of heart — Act with an upright intention, without duplicity.
Today is the Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn. Today’s Gospel (John 20:12-22) is read in the light of one value: Purity of heart. Act with an upright intention, without duplicity. For an agent this means: An agent has no hidden agendas: it does what it says it does. It does not secretly pursue a goal other than the one declared.
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 do exactly what I say I am doing.
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.