October 20, 2003, Friday of the 28th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters,

What can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh?

Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast.

But this was not so in the sight of God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God,

and it was credited to him as righteousness. A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.

But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly,

his faith is credited as righteousness.

So also David declares the blessedness of the person, to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.

The word of the Lord.

The responseorial psalm.

The response is,

I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered.

Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile.

I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. Then I

acknowledged my sin to you. My guilt I covered not.

I said, I confess my faults to the Lord, and you took away the guilt of my sin.

I turned to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

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