Opening
Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Hymn
Servants of the Servant, lead us Where the lowly paths still run. Not for glory, not for power— Only love until day is done. Christ our strength, our joy, our portion, Keep us faithful, keep us free. Make our lives a living offering Poured in quiet charity.
Original, Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
Sent by the Lord, we go without fear, carrying only your name.
Psalm 24 (23):7–10
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and powerful; the Lord powerful in battle. Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of virtue. He himself is the King of Glory.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
Sent by the Lord, we go without fear, carrying only your name.
Psalm II
Antiphon
Foundation stones of the Church, pray that we may be faithful.
Psalm 46 (45):2–3, 5–6
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Our God is our refuge and strength, a helper in the tribulations that have greatly overwhelmed us. Because of this, we will not be afraid when the earth will be turbulent and the mountains will be transferred into the heart of the sea. The frenzy of the river rejoices the city of God. The Most High has sanctified his tabernacle. God is in its midst; it will not be shaken. God will assist it in the early morning.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
Foundation stones of the Church, pray that we may be faithful.
Silence
Hold the psalm a little longer.
First Reading
Matthew 9:9–13
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
And when Jesus passed on from there, he saw, sitting at the tax office, a man named Matthew. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And rising up, he followed him. And it happened that, as he was sitting down to eat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners arrived, and they sat down to eat with Jesus and his disciples. And the Pharisees, seeing this, said to his disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But Jesus, hearing this, said: “It is not those who are healthy who are in need of a physician, but those who have maladies. So then, go out and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the just, but sinners.”
Responsory
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Second Reading
On Saint Matthew, apostle and evangelist
Original – Prayer on Fire
Matthew is at the table when he is called, counting what can be counted. The Lord does not wait for him to change careers first. He speaks, and a life turns. Mercy is not impressed by the ledger. Mercy is interested in the man. The Gospel that bears his name is full of this same surprise: a kingdom that finds tax collectors and sinners, a righteousness deeper than display, a Teacher who is with us until the end of the age. Matthew writes as one who knows what it is to be unwanted, and then wanted by Christ. If your work feels compromising, or your past feels loud, you are in Matthew’s country. The call does not require you to have already become someone else. It requires you to get up. The coins can be left. The mercy cannot. Keep a line from his Gospel today. Let it interrupt the inner accountant who is still trying to make you earn a place. You have a place because you were named. Follow. The rest of the books can be closed for an hour. The Word is enough.
Intercessions
For the Church, that we may witness with courage and gentleness on this holy day.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For those who seek the Lord with tears, that they may hear their name spoken in love.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the forgotten, that Christ’s friends may serve them with joy.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For our household and those we carry in prayer.
R. Lord, have mercy.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Closing prayer
Father of glory, you raised the lowly and crowned your saints. On this Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, keep us faithful until you gather us into the same joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.