July 4, 2004, Thursday of the 13th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Amos.

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam, king of Israel.

Amos has conspired against you here within Israel.

The country cannot endure all his words.

For this is what Amos says.

Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.

To Amosiah said, Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah.

There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary

and a royal temple.

Amos answered Amaziah.

I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets.

I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.

The Lord took me from following the flock and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.

Now hear the word of the Lord. You say, prophesy not against Israel. Preach not against the house of Isaac.

Now thus says the Lord, your wife shall be made a harlot in the city, and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword. Your land shall be divided by measuring line,

and you yourself shall die in an unclean land.

Israel shall be exiled far from its land.

The Word of the Lord.

The responsorial psalm.

The response is, the judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

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

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