February 29, 2004, Thursday of the second week of Lent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.

Thus says the Lord,

Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,

who seeks his strength in flesh,

whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a

barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a lava waste, a salt,

an empty earth. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream.

It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green.

In the year of drought, it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.

More torturous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy.

Who can understand it?

I, the Lord, alone, probe the mind and test the heart,

to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.

The word of the Lord.

The response is,

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked,

nor walks in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

...