August 30, 2003, Wednesday of the 21st week in ordinary time.

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians.

You recall brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery, working night and day in order not to burden any of you.

We proclaim to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses,

and so is God. How devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers.

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,

exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God

who calls you into his kingdom and

glory. And for this reason, we too give thanks to God unceasingly. Then in receiving the word of God

from hearing us, you receive it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,

which is now at work in you who believe. The Word of the Lord.

The responsorial Psalm.

The response is, you have searched me and you know me, Lord.

Where can I go from your spirit?

From your presence, where can I flee?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I sink to the nether world, you are present there. You have searched me, and you know me,

Lord. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall

guide me, and your right hand hold me fast. You have searched me, and you know me, Lord.

If I say, surely the darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light, for you darkness itself is not dark, and night shall be my light.

For you, darkness itself is not dark, and night shines as the day.

You have searched me, and you know me, Lord.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

...