December 11, 2004, Wednesday of the second week of Advent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

To whom can you liken me as an equal, says the Holy One.

Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things.

He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name.

By his great might and the strength of his power, not one of them is missing.

Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, my way is hidden from the Lord, and my right

is disregarded by my God.

Do you not know, or have you not heard?

The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.

He gives strength to the fainting, for the weak he makes vigor abound.

Though young men faint and grow weary, and youth stagger and fall, they that hope in the Lord

will renew their strength. They will soar as with eagle's wings. They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

The word of the Lord.

The Responsorial Psalm. The response is, O bless the Lord, my soul.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all my being bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all my being bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Oh, bless the Lord, my soul.

He pardons all your iniquities.

He heals all your ills.

He redeems your life from destruction.

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