Daily Reading for Tuesday, March 16th, 2021

Reading 1, Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

¹ He brought me back to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream flowed eastwards from under the Temple threshold, for the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar.

² He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side.

³ The man went off to the east holding his measuring line and measured off a thousand cubits; he then made me wade across the stream; the water reached my ankles.

⁴ He measured off another thousand and made me wade across the stream again; the water reached my knees. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across the stream again; the water reached my waist.

⁵ He measured off another thousand; it was now a river which I could not cross; the stream had swollen and was now deep water, a river impossible to cross.

⁶ He then said, 'Do you see, son of man?' He then took me and brought me back to the bank on the river.

⁷ Now, when I reached it, I saw an enormous number of trees on each bank of the river.

⁸ He said, 'This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome.

⁹ Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows.

¹² Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.'

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

² so we shall not be afraid though the earth be in turmoil, though mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,

³ and its waters roar and seethe, and the mountains totter as it heaves. (Yahweh Sabaoth is with us, our citadel, the God of Jacob.)

⁵ God is in the city, it cannot fall; at break of day God comes to its rescue.

⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are tumbling, when he raises his voice the earth crumbles away.

⁸ Come, consider the wonders of Yahweh, the astounding deeds he has done on the earth;

⁹ he puts an end to wars over the whole wide world, he breaks the bow, he snaps the spear, shields he burns in the fire.

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