Daily Reading for Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Reading 1, Hos 11:1-4, 8c-9

¹ When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

² But the more I called, the further they went away from me; they offered sacrifice to Baal and burnt incense to idols.

³ I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I myself took them by the arm, but they did not know that I was the one caring for them,

⁴ that I was leading them with human ties, with leading-strings of love, that, with them, I was like someone lifting an infant to his cheek, and that I bent down to feed him.

⁸ Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I make you like Admah or treat you like Zeboiim? My heart within me is overwhelmed, fever grips my inmost being.

⁹ I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I shall not come to you in anger.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 80:2, 3, 15-16

² over Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh; rouse your valour and come to our help.

³ God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

¹⁵ protect what your own hand has planted.

¹⁶ They have thrown it on the fire like dung, the frown of your rebuke will destroy them.