March 16th, 2004, Saturday of the fourth week of Lent.

A reading from the book of the prophet, Jeremiah.

I knew their plot because the Lord informed me.

At that time, you, O Lord, showed me their doings.

Yet I, like a trusting lamb, led to slaughter, had not realized

that they were hatching plots against me. Let us destroy the tree in its vigor. Let us cut him off

from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.

But you, O Lord of Host, O just judge, searcher of mind and heart,

let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.

The Word of the Lord.

The response is,

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Oh, Lord, my God, and you I take refuge.

Save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, lest I become like the lion's prey

to be torn to pieces with no one to rescue me. Oh, Lord, my God, in you I take refuge. Do me justice,

O Lord, because I am just, and because of the innocence that is mine. Let the malice of the

wicked come to an end, but sustain the just. O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge. A shield before me is God, who saves the upright of heart.

A just judge is God. A God who punishes day by day. Oh, Lord, my God, and you I take refuge.

A reading from the Holy Gospel, according to John.

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,

This is truly the prophet.

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