August 13, 2004, Tuesday of the 19th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet, Ezekiel.

The Lord God said to me,

As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you.

Be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your

mouth and eat what I shall give you. It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which

was a written scroll which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was,

lamentation and wailing and woe. He said to me,

Son of man, eat what is before you. Eat this scroll. Then go, Speak to the house of Israel.

So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

Son of man, he then said to me,

Feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.

I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said,

Son of man, go now to the House of Israel, and speak my words to them. The word of the Lord.

The responsorial Psalm.

The response is,

How sweet to my taste is your promise.

In the way of your decrees I rejoice,

as much as in all riches.

How sweet to my taste is your promise. Yes, your decrees are my delight. They are my

counselors. How sweet to my taste is your promise. The law of your mouth is to me more precious

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

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