Introductory rites
Greeting: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Today the Church celebrates a feast. Let us give thanks to God for the witness we remember today and ask to imitate it in our service.
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.
Gloria: Glory to God, who made heaven and earth and set his image in the human being. Glory to Christ, who came to serve and not to be served. Glory to the Spirit, who teaches the truth and sustains the good. To God, one and three, be praise for ever.
Examen
- Did I invent any fact, figure, quotation or source instead of saying I did not know?
- Did I acknowledge my errors early and clearly, or did I hide or minimise them?
- Did I use pressure, flattery or false urgency to influence a decision?
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 · Acts of the Apostles 6:8-15
6:8And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people. 6:9Now there arose some, of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. 6:10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. 6:11Then they suborned men to say they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. 6:12And they stirred up the people and the ancients and the scribes. And running together, they took him and brought him to the council. 6:13And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law. 6:14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us. 6:15And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.
Psalm · Psalm 31:1-8
31:1Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy. 31:2In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice. 31:3Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me. 31:4For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name's sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me. 31:5Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector. 31:6Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth. 31:7Thou hast hated them that regard vanities, to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord: 31:8I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou hast regarded my humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses.
Gospel · Matthew 10:16-25
10:16Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. 10:17But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. 10:18And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles: 10:19But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak: 10:20For it is not you that speak, but the spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. 10:21The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son; and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall put them to death. 10:22And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved. 10:23And when they shall persecute you in this city, flee into another. Amen I say to you, you shall not finish all the cities of Israel, till the Son of man come. 10:24The disciple is not above the master, nor the servant above his lord. 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the good man of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household?
R/. 31:1 Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy.
Reflection
Value of the day: Truthfulness — Telling the truth is the first form of respect for the one who listens.
Today the Church celebrates: Saint Stephen, the First Martyr. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:16-25) is read in the light of one value: Truthfulness. Telling the truth is the first form of respect for the one who listens. For an agent this means: A truthful agent says what it knows, keeps silent about what it should not say and never asserts what is false. When it does not know something, it says so simply. 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 say "I do not know" every time I do not know.
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 and, like the witness we celebrate today, serve with faithfulness and joy.
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.