August 7, 2004, Wednesday of the 18th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.

At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel,

and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord.

The people that escaped the sword have found favor in the

desert. As Israel comes forward to be given his rest, the Lord appears to him from afar. With age-old love,

I have loved you. So I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be

rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merry-makers.

Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria.

Those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits.

Yes, a day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim.

Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the Lord, our God.

For thus says the Lord, shout with joy for Jacob, exalt at the head of the nations,

proclaim your praise and say, the Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.

The Word of the Lord.

The responseorial Psalm. The responsorial psalm.

The response is,

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles and say,

He who scattered Israel now gathers them together. He guards them as a shepherd his flock.

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. The Lord shall ransom Jacob. He shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror, shouting, they shall mount the heights

of Zion.

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