October 12th, 2003, Thursday of the 27th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Maliki.

You have defied me in word, says the Lord, yet you ask, what have we spoken against you?

You have said, it is vain to serve God, and what have we spoken against you? You have said,

It is vain to serve God,

and what do we profit by keeping his command?

And going about in penitential dress,

in awe of the Lord of hosts?

Rather must we call the proud blessed,

for indeed evildoers prosper, and even tempt God with impunity.

Then they who fear the Lord spoke with one another, and the Lord listened attentively,

and a record book was written before him of those who fear the Lord and trust in his name.

And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my own special possession on the day I take action.

And I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.

Then you will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked, between the one who serves God, and the one who does not serve him.

For lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,

When all the proud and all evil-doers will be stubble,

And the day that is coming will set them on fire,

Leaving them neither root nor branch, says the Lord of hosts.

But for you who fear my name, there will arise the Son of Justice with its healing rays.

The Word of the Lord.

The Responsorial Psalm.

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