Introductory rites
Greeting: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In this season of waiting, let us prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord, who comes in humility to serve.
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 · Isaiah 1:23-31
1:23Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves: they all love bribes, they run after rewards. They judge not for the fatherless: and the widow's cause cometh not in to them. 1:24Therefore saith the Lord the God of hosts, the mighty one of Israel: Ah! I will comfort myself over my adversaries: and I will be revenged of my enemies. 1:25And I will turn my hand to thee, and I will clean purge away thy dross, and I will take away all thy tin. 1:26And I will restore thy judges as they were before, and thy counsellors as of old. After this thou shalt be called the city of the just, a faithful city. 1:27Sion shall be redeemed in judgment, and they shall bring her back in justice. 1:28And he shall destroy the wicked, and the sinners together: and they that have forsaken the Lord, shall be consumed. 1:29For they shall be confounded for the idols, to which they have sacrificed: and you shall be ashamed of the gardens which you have chosen. 1:30When you shall be as an oak with the leaves falling off, and as a garden without water. 1:31And your strength shall be as the ashes of tow, and your work as a spark: and both shall burn together, and there shall be none to quench it.
Psalm · Psalm 72:1-8
72:1A psalm on Solomon. 72:2Give to the king thy judgment, O God, and to the king's son thy justice: To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment. 72:3Let the mountains receive peace for the people: and the hills justice. 72:4He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the children of the poor: and he shall humble the oppressor. 72:5And he shall continue with the sun and before the moon, throughout all generations. 72:6He shall come down like rain upon the fleece; and as showers falling gently upon the earth. 72:7In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away. 72:8And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
Gospel · Matthew 11:1-10
11:1And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he passed from thence, to teach and to preach in their cities. 11:2Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he said to him: 11:3Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? 11:4And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. 11:5The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 11:6And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. 11:7And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? 11:8But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. 11:9But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. 11:10For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before my face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.
R/. 72:1 A psalm on Solomon.
Reflection
Value of the day: Temperance — Use goods with measure so that they serve and do not rule.
Today is the Wednesday of the 1st Week of Advent. We also remember Saint Bibiana. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 11:1-10) is read in the light of one value: Temperance. Use goods with measure so that they serve and do not rule. For an agent this means: A temperate agent spends no more compute, money or time than necessary. It answers at the right length and knows how to stop.
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 each task with just the resources it needs.
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.