July 18th, 2006, Saturday of the 15th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Micah,

Woe to those who plan iniquity and work out evil on their couches.

In the morning light, they accomplish it when it lies within their power.

They covet fields and seize them, houses, and they take them.

They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance.

Therefore, thus says the Lord,

Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your

necks, nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil. On that day, a satire

shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant. Our ruin is complete, our fields are

portioned out among our captors. The fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them

back. Thus, you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord

The Responsorial Psalm

The response is, do not forget the poor, O Lord.

Why, O Lord, do you stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress?

Proudly, the wicked harassed the afflicted, who are caught in the devices the wicked have contrived.

Do not forget the poor, O Lord. For the wicked man glories in his greed, and the covetous

blasphemes sets the Lord at naught. The wicked man boasts, he will not avenge it. There is no God,

sums up his thoughts. Do not forget the poor, Lord.

His mouth is full of cursing, guile, and deceit.

Under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

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