October 5, 2003, Thursday of the 26th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the Book of Nehemiah.

The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the water gate,

and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the Lord prescribed

for Israel.

On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the

assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand.

Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Watergate,

he read out of the book from daybreak until midday

in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand.

And all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. Ezra, the scribe, stood on a wooden platform that

had been made for the occasion. He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it, for he

was standing higher up than any of the people, and as he opened it, all the people rose. Ezra blessed the Lord the great God,

and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, Amen, amen. Then they bowed down and

prostrated themselves before the Lord, their faces to the ground. As the people remained in their places, Ezra read

plainly from the Book of the Law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.

Then Nehemiah, that is His Excellency, and Ezra, the priest scribe, and the Levites who were

instructing the people, said to all the people,

Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad and do not weep. For all the people were

weeping as they heard the words of the law. He said further, go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to

those who had nothing prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day,

for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength. And the Levites quieted all the people

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