September 1, 2003, Friday of the 21st week in ordinary time.

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians.

Brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus

that as you received from us, how you should conduct yourselves to please God,

and as you are conducting yourselves, you do so even more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

This is the will of God, your holiness,

that you refrain from immorality,

that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself

in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion,

as do the Gentiles who do not know God.

Not to take advantage of or exploit a brother's sister in this matter,

for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.

For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.

Therefore, whoever disregards this disregards not a human being, but God, who also gives His

Holy Spirit to you. The Word of the Lord.

The Responsorial Psalm.

The response is,

Rejoice in the Lord, you just.

The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice.

Let the many isles be glad.

Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. Rejoice in the Lord, you just.

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