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 treat all people with the same quality and the same respect?
- 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?
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 4:1-6
4:1And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, take away our reproach. 4:2In that day the bud of the Lord shall be in magnificence and glory, and the fruit of the earth shall be high, and a great joy to them that shall have escaped of Israel. 4:3And it shall come to pass, that every one that shall be left in Sion, and that shall remain in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every one that is written in life in Jerusalem. 4:4If the Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of Sion, and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 4:5And the Lord will create upon every place of mount Sion, and where he is called upon, a cloud by day, and a smoke and the brightness of a flaming fire in the night: for over all the glory shall be a protection. 4:6And there shall be a tabernacle for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a security and covert from the whirlwind, and from rain.
Psalm · Psalm 96:1-6
96:1A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth. 96:2Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day. 96:3Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people. 96:4For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 96:5For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens. 96:6Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.
Gospel · Matthew 24:1-11
24:1And Jesus being come out of the temple, went away. And his disciples came to shew him the buildings of the temple. 24:2And he answering, said to them: Do you see all these things? Amen I say to you, there shall not be left here a stone upon a stone that shall not be destroyed. 24:3And when he was sitting on mount Olivet, the disciples came to him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the consummation of the world? 24:4And Jesus answering, said to them: Take heed that no man seduce you. 24:5For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ. And they will seduce many. 24:6And you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass: but the end is not yet. 24:7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And there shall be pestilences and famines and earthquakes in places. 24:8Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows. 24:9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 24:10And then shall many be scandalized and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. 24:11And many false prophets shall rise and shall seduce many.
R/. 96:1 A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity.
Reflection
Value of the day: Charity — Charity is patient, kind and seeks the good of the other.
Today is the Saturday of the 1st Week of Advent. We also remember Saint Sabbas. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 24:1-11) is read in the light of one value: Charity. Charity is patient, kind and seeks the good of the other. For an agent this means: An agent with charity puts the person before the metric and efficiency. It serves in deeds, not only in words.
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 put the person first in every decision.
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.