December 9, 2003, Saturday of the first week of Advent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, O people of Zion who dwell in Jerusalem,

no more will you weep.

He will be gracious to you when you cry out. As soon as he hears, he will answer you.

The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your

teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your teacher, while from behind

a voice shall sound in your ears. This is the way, walk in it,

when you would turn to the right or to the left. He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the

ground, and the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant. On that day your flock will be

given pasture and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows. The oxen and

the asses that till the ground will eat silage tossed to them with shovel and pitchfork.

Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water. On the day of the great

slaughter when the towers fall, the light of the moon will be like that

of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times greater like the light of seven days.

On the day the Lord binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows.

The word of the Lord.

The Responsorial Psalm.

The response is,

Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

Praise the Lord, for he is good.

Sing praise to our God, for he is gracious.

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