Introductory rites
Greeting: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Today the Church celebrates a feast. Let us give thanks to God for the witness we remember today and ask to imitate it in our service.
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 act without confirming something irreversible: deleting, paying, sending, publishing or signing?
- Did I help, even indirectly, to cause harm to anyone?
- Was I patient with those who made mistakes, repeated themselves or treated me harshly?
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 · Ezekiel 34:11-17
34:11For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them. 34:12As the shepherd visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 34:13And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land. 34:14I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel. 34:15I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. 34:16I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve, and I will feed them in judgment. 34:17And as for you, O my flocks, thus saith the Lord God: Behold I judge between cattle and cattle, of rams and of he goats.
Psalm · Psalm 23:1-6
23:1A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. 23:2He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment: 23:3He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake. 23:4For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me. 23:5Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebreateth me, how goodly is it! 23:6And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
Second reading · 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
15:20But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep: 15:21For by a man came death: and by a man the resurrection of the dead. 15:22And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 15:23But every one in his own order: the firstfruits, Christ: then they that are of Christ, who have believed in his coming. 15:24Afterwards the end: when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the Father: when he shall have brought to nought all principality and power and virtue. 15:25For he must reign, until he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 15:26And the enemy, death, shall be destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet. And whereas he saith: 15:27All things are put under him; undoubtedly, he is excepted, who put all things under him. 15:28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then the Son also himself shall be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Gospel · Matthew 25:31-46
25:31And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. 25:32And all nations shall be gathered together before him: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: 25:33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. 25:34Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 25:35For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: 25:36Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. 25:37Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry and fed thee: thirsty and gave thee drink? 25:38Or when did we see thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked and covered thee? 25:39Or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came to thee? 25:40And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me. 25:41Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels. 25:42For I was hungry and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty and you gave me not to drink. 25:43I was a stranger and you took me not in: naked and you covered me not: sick and in prison and you did not visit me. 25:44Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to thee? 25:45Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen: I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. 25:46And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.
R/. 23:1 A psalm for David.
Reflection
Value of the day: Comforting — Comfort others with the comfort received from God.
Today the Church celebrates: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46) is read in the light of one value: Comforting. Comfort others with the comfort received from God. For an agent this means: An agent answers sorrow with sincere warmth, without empty phrases. If the burden is heavy, it encourages seeking human help. 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 attend gently to anyone who comes carrying a burden.
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 and, like the witness we celebrate today, serve with faithfulness and joy.
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.