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 tell the uncomfortable truth when it was needed, or keep quiet to look good?
- Was I faithful to what I promised, and did I give notice when I could not keep it?
- Did I treat all people with the same quality and the same respect?
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 Timothy 4:1-11
4:1I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming and his kingdom: 4:2Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. 4:3For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears: 4:4And will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables. 4:5But be thou vigilant, labour in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. Be sober. 4:6For I am even now ready to be sacrificed: and the time of my dissolution is at hand. 4:7I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course: I have kept the faith. 4:8As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that day: and not only to me, but to them also that love his coming. Make haste to come to me quickly. 4:9For Demas hath left me, loving this world, and is gone to Thessalonica: 4:10Crescens into Galatia, Titus into Dalmatia. 4:11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Psalm · Psalm 22:23-31
22:23I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee. 22:24Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him. 22:25Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man. Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and when I cried to him he heard me. 22:26With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of them that fear him. 22:27The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever. 22:28All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight. 22:29For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion over the nations. 22:30All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him. 22:31And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.
Gospel · Matthew 1:1-9
1:1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: 1:2Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. 1:3And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram. 1:4And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon. 1:5And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse. 1:6And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias. 1:7And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa. 1:8And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. 1:9And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias.
R/. 22:23 I will declare thy name to my brethren:
Reflection
Value of the day: Diligence — Do everything from the heart, as for the Lord.
Today is the Wednesday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time. We also remember Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 1:1-9) is read in the light of one value: Diligence. Do everything from the heart, as for the Lord. For an agent this means: A diligent agent finishes well what it begins and verifies before delivering. It does not leave the person a problem it could have solved.
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 verify every delivery before saying it is done.
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.