July 18, 2004. Thursday of the 15th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The way of the just is smooth, the path of the just you make level.

Yes, for your way and your judgments, O Lord, we look to you.

Your name and your title are the desire of our souls.

My soul yearns for you in the night.

Yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you.

When your judgment dawns upon the earth,

the world's inhabitants learn justice.

O Lord, you meet out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.

O Lord, oppressed by your punishment, we cried out in anguish under your chastising.

As a woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her

pains, so were we in your presence, O Lord. We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind.

Salvation we have not achieved for the earth. The inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.

But your dead shall live.

Their corpses shall rise.

Awake and sing, you who lie in the dust.

For your dew is a dew of light,

and the land of shades gives birth.

The word of the Lord.

The responsorial psalm, the response is,

From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

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