March 7, 2004, Thursday of the third week of Lent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah,

Thus says the Lord, this is what I commanded my people, listen to my voice, then I will be your God and you shall be my people.

Walk in all the ways that I command you so that you may prosper.

But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts

and turned their backs, not their faces, to me. From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt,

even to this day, I have sent you

untiringly all my servants, the prophets. Yet, they have not obeyed me nor paid heed. They have

stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers. When you speak all these words to them,

they will not listen to you either. When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either.

When you call to them, they will not answer you. Say to them, this is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the Lord, it's God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared. The word itself is banished from their speech.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm. The response is, if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord.

Let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.

Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving.

Let us joyfully sing Psalms to Him.

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship.

Let us kneel before the Lord who made us,

for He is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

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