August 16th, 2004, Friday of the 19th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.

The word of the Lord came to me,

Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations.

Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem. By origin and birth, you are of the land of

Canaan. Your father was an Amarite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, the day you were

born, your navel cord was not cut. You were neither washed with water nor anointed, nor

were you rubbed with salt, nor swathed in swaddling clothes. No one looked on you with pity or

compassion to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out on the ground as something loathsome the day you were born.

Then I passed by and saw you weltering in your blood.

I said to you, live in your blood and grow like a plant in the field.

You grew and developed. You came to the age of puberty. Your breasts were formed.

Your hair had grown, but you were still stark naked. Again, I passed by you and saw that you

were now old enough for love. So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover your nakedness. I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you. You became mine, says the Lord God. Then I bathed you with water, washed away your blood, and anointed you with oil. I clothed you with an embroidered gown, put sandals of

fine leather on your feet. I gave you a fine linen sash and silk robes to wear. I adorned you

with jewelry. I put bracelets on your arms, a necklace about your neck, a ring in your nose, pendants in your ears,

and a glorious diadem upon your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver. Your garments were

of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. Fine flour, honey, and oil were your food. You were exceedingly

beautiful, with the dignity of a queen. You were renowned among the nations for your beauty,

perfect as it was. Because of my splendor which I had bestowed on you, says the Lord God.

But you were captivated by your own beauty.

You used your renown to make yourself a harlot,

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