December 3, 2004.

Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, priest.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

On that day, a chute shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,

and from his roots a bud shall blossom.

The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom

and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge, and of fear of the

Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord. Not by appearance shall he judge,

nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide

a right for the lands afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.

The calf and the young lion shall browse together with a little child to guide them.

The cow and the bear shall be neighbors.

Together their young shall rest. The lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den,

and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain,

for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water

covers the sea. On that day, the root of Jesse set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles

shall seek out for his dwelling shall be glorious.

The Word of the Lord.

The Psalm response,

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