March 31st, 2006, Tuesday of Holy Week.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Hear me, O Islands. Listen, O distant peoples.

The Lord called me from birth.

From my mother's womb, he gave me my name.

He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.

He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me,

Israel, through whom I shall show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing,

uselessly spent my strength,

yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God.

For now the Lord has spoken, who formed me as his servant from the womb,

that Jacob may be brought back to him, and Israel gathered to him.

And I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength.

It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob,

and restore the survivors of Israel.

I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

The word of the Lord.

The response sorial psalm.

The response is, I will sing of your salvation.

In you, O Lord, I take refuge.

Let me never be put to shame.

In your justice, rescue me and deliver me.

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