March 26th, 2006, Thursday of the fifth week of Lent.

A reading from the book of Genesis.

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him,

My covenant with you is this.

You are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called

Abram. Your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. I will render

you exceedingly fertile. I will make nations of you.

Kings shall stem from you.

I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you

throughout the ages as an everlasting pact

to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants

after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan as a permanent possession,

and I will be their God. God also said to Abraham, on your part, you and your descendants after you

must keep my covenant throughout the ages. The word of the Lord. The response is,

The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Look to the Lord and his strength,

seek to serve him constantly.

Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,

his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. The Lord remembers

his covenant forever. You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.

He, the Lord, is our God. Throughout the earth, his judgments prevail. The Lord remembers

his covenant forever. He remembers forever his covenant, which he made

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