March 12th, 2004, Tuesday of the fourth week of Lent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.

The angel brought me, Ezekiel, back to the entrance of the temple of the Lord,

and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,

for the façade of the temple was toward the east.

The water flowed down from the right side of the temple, south of the altar.

He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw

water trickling from the right side. Then when he had walked off to the east with a measuring

cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me weighed through the water, which was ankle-deep.

He measured off another thousand and once more had me weighed through the water, which was now knee-deep.

Again he measured off a thousand and had me weighed. The water was up to my waist. Once more he measured off

a thousand, but there was now a river through which I could not wade, for the water had risen

so high it had become a river that could not be crossed except by swimming. He asked me, have you seen this, son of man?

Then he brought me to the bank of the river where he had me sit. Along the bank of the river,

I saw very many trees on both sides. He said to me, This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Araba and empties into the sea,

the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living

creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be

abundant fish, for wherever this water comes, the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks

of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow. Their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month

they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.

Their fruit shall serve for food and their leaves for medicine. The Word of the Lord.

The response is,

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