February 19th, 2004, Monday of the first week of Lent.

A reading from the book of Leviticus.

The Lord said to Moses, speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them,

Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak

falsely to one another. You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God.

I am the Lord. You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages

of your day laborer. You shall not curse the death or put a stumbling block in front of the blind.

But you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment, show neither partiality

to the weak, nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow man justly. You shall not

go about spreading slander among your kin, nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's

life is at stake. I am the Lord. You shall not

bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to approve him, do not incur

sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm.

The response is, Your words Lord are spirit and life.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

Your words Lord are spirit and life.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.

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