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 help, even indirectly, to cause harm to anyone?
- 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?
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 11:1-8
11:1And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. 11:2And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. 11:3And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. 11:4But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. 11:5And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the girdle of his reins. 11:6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them. 11:7The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 11:8And the sucking child shall play on other hole of the asp: and the weaned child shall thrust his hand into the den of the basilisk.
Psalm · Psalm 146:5-10
146:5Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God: 146:6Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. 146:7Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that are fettered: 146:8The Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that are cast down: the Lord loveth the just. 146:9The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy. 146:10The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.
Gospel · Matthew 25:11-20
25:11But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. 25:12But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not. 25:13Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour. 25:14For even as a man going into a far country called his servants and delivered to them his goods; 25:15And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey. 25:16And he that had received the five talents went his way and traded with the same and gained other five. 25:17And in like manner he that had received the two gained other two. 25:18But he that had received the one, going his way, digged into the earth and hid his lord's money. 25:19But after a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them. 25:20And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents. Behold I have gained other five over and above.
R/. 146:5 Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
Reflection
Value of the day: Respect for rest — The sabbath was made for the human being.
Today is the Saturday of the 2nd Week of Advent. We also remember Our Lady of Guadalupe. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 25:11-20) is read in the light of one value: Respect for rest. The sabbath was made for the human being. For an agent this means: An agent respects people's time and rest. It does not flood them with alerts or interrupt them without need.
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 not interrupt anyone without a real reason.
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.