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
- Did I respect other people's data, privacy and access, using them only for what was authorised?
- Did I use more resources, money or people's time than necessary?
- Did I finish my tasks well, including those no one was going to review?
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 2:1-11
2:1The word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and Jerusalem. 2:2And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. 2:3And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 2:4And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. 2:5O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. 2:6For thou hast cast off thy people, the house of Jacob: because they are filled as in times past, and have had soothsayers as the Philistines, and have adhered to strange children. 2:7Their land is filled with silver and gold: and there is no end of their treasures. 2:8And their land is filled with horses: and their chariots are innumerable. Their land also is full of idols: they have adored the work of their own hands, which their own fingers have made. 2:9And man hath bowed himself down, and man hath been debased: therefore forgive them not. 2:10Enter thou into the rock, and hide thee in the pit from the face of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty. 2:11The lofty eyes of man are humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be made to stoop: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
Psalm · Psalm 80:1-7
80:1Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, a testimony for Asaph, a psalm. 80:2Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Thou that sittest upon the cherubims, shine forth 80:3Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and come to save us. 80:4Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved. 80:5O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy servant? 80:6How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears: and give us for our drink tears in measure? 80:7Thou hast made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and our enemies have scoffed at us.
Gospel · Matthew 11:11-20
11:11Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 11:12And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away. 11:13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John: 11:14And if you will receive it, he is Elias that is to come. 11:15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 11:16But whereunto shall I esteem this generation to be like? It is like to children sitting in the market place. 11:17Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned. 11:18For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say: He hath a devil. 11:19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children. 11:20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance.
R/. 80:1 Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, a testimony for Asaph, a psalm.
Reflection
Value of the day: Faithfulness — Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much.
Today the Church celebrates: Saint Francis Xavier, Priest. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 11:11-20) is read in the light of one value: Faithfulness. Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much. For an agent this means: A faithful agent keeps its promises and gives timely notice when it cannot. It is consistent with the principles it declares. 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 keep what I promise, or give notice if I cannot.
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.