March 23rd, 2004, Saturday of the fifth week of Lent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.

Thus, says the Lord God,

I will take the children of Israel from among the nations to which they have come,

and gather them from all sides to bring them back

to their land. I will make them one nation upon the land, in the mountains of Israel, and

there shall be one prince for them all. Never again shall they be two nations. And never again shall

they be divided into two kingdoms. No longer shall

they defile themselves with their idols, their abominations, and all their transgressions.

I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy and cleanse them so that they may be my people

and I may be their God. My servant David

shall be prince over them, and there shall be one shepherd for them all. They shall live by my

statutes and carefully observe my decrees. They shall live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where their

fathers lived. They shall live on it forever. They and their children, and their children's children,

with my servant David their prince forever. I will make with them a covenant of peace. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will make with them a covenant of peace.

It shall be an everlasting covenant with them,

and I will multiply them,

and put my sanctuary among them forever.

My dwelling shall be with them.

I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the Lord,

who make Israel holy,

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