August 19th, 2004, Monday of the 20th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet, Ezekiel.

The word of the Lord came to me.

Son of man by a sudden blow,

I am taken away from you the delight of your eyes,

but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears.

Grown in silence, make no lament for the dead. Bind on your turban, put your sandals on your

feet. Do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread. That evening my wife died, and the next morning I did as I had been

commanded. Then the people asked me, will you not tell us what all these things that you are doing

mean for us? I therefore spoke to the people that morning, saying to them, thus the word of the

Lord came to me. Say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God.

I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride, the delight of your eyes,

the desire of your soul.

The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword. Ezekiel shall be a sign

for you. All that he did you shall do when it happens. Thus you shall know that I am the Lord.

You shall do as I have done, not covering your beard nor eating the customary bread.

Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet.

You shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.

The word of the Lord.

The response is, you have The responsorial psalm.

The response is,

You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

...