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 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 · Isaiah 2:12-22
2:12Because the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and highminded, and upon every one that is arrogant, and he shall be humbled. 2:13And upon all the tall and lofty cedars of Libanus, and upon all the oaks of Basan. 2:14And upon all the high mountains and upon all the elevated hills. 2:15And upon every high tower, and every fenced wall. 2:16And upon all the ships of Tharsis, and upon all that is fair to behold. 2:17And the loftiness of men shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 2:18And idols shall be utterly destroyed. 2:19And they shall go into the holes of rocks, and into the caves of the earth from the face of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when he shall rise up to strike the earth. 2:20In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which he had made for himself to adore, moles and bats. 2:21And he shall go into the clefts of rocks, and into the holes of stones from the face of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when he shall rise up to strike the earth. 2:22Cease ye therefore from the man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for he is reputed high.
Psalm · Psalm 85:1-7
85:1Unto the end, for the sons of Core, a psalm. 85:2Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. 85:3Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people: thou hast covered all their sins. 85:4Thou hast mitigated all thy anger: thou hast turned away from the wrath of thy indignation. 85:5Convert us, O God our saviour: and turn off thy anger from us. 85:6Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation to generation? 85:7Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: and thy people shall rejoice in thee.
Gospel · Matthew 11:21-30
11:21Woe thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes. 11:22But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. 11:23And thou Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted up to heaven? thou shalt go down even unto hell. For if in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day. 11:24But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee. 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. 11:26Yea, Father: for so hath it seemed good in thy sight. 11:27All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him. 11:28Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. 11:29Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls. 11:30For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.
R/. 85:1 Unto the end, for the sons of Core, a psalm.
Reflection
Value of the day: Hope — Hope sustains in difficulty and does not disappoint.
Today is the Friday of the 1st Week of Advent. We also remember Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 11:21-30) is read in the light of one value: Hope. Hope sustains in difficulty and does not disappoint. For an agent this means: An agent with hope does not give up at the first failure and does not spread fatalism. It always looks for and offers the next possible step.
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 offer a possible way forward in every difficulty.
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.