October 14, 2003, Saturday of the 27th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Joel.

Thus says the Lord, let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

For there will I sit in judgment upon all the neighboring nations. Apply the

sickle for the harvest is ripe. Come and tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for great is

their malice. Crowd upon crowd in the valley of decision, for near is the day of the Lord in the valley of decision.

Sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withhold their brightness.

The Lord roars from Zion and from Jerusalem raises his voice.

The heavens and the earth quake, but the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the children of Israel.

Then shall you know that I, the Lord, am your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain.

Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall pass through her no more.

And then on that day the mountains shall drip new wine, and the hills

shall flow with milk, and the channels of Judah shall flow with water. A fountain shall issue from the

house of the Lord to water the valley of Chitim. Egypt shall be a waste, and Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of

Judah, because they shed innocent blood in their land.

But Judah shall abide forever, and Jerusalem for all generations.

I will avenge their blood, and not leave it unpunished. The Lord dwells in Zion.

The Word of the Lord.

The response oral psalm. The response is,

Rejoice in the Lord you just. The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice, let the many isles be glad.

Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment, are the foundation of his throne.

Rejoice in the Lord, you just.

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