Thursday
of the Fourth Week of Lent
FIRST
READING: Exodus
32:7-14
7
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee down: thy people,
which thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt, hath sinned.
8
They have quickly strayed from the way which thou didst shew them:
and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and have adored it,
and sacrificing victims to it, have said: These are thy gods, O
Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
9
And again the Lord said to Moses: See that this people is
stiffnecked:
10
Let me alone, that my wrath may be kindled against them, and that I
may destroy them, and I will make of thee a great nation.
11
But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O Lord, is thy
indignation kindled against thy people, whom thou hast brought out of
the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand?
12
Let not the Egyptians say, I beseech thee: He craftily brought them
out, that he might kill them in the mountains, and destroy them from
the earth: let thy anger cease, and be appeased upon the wickedness
of thy people.
13
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou
sworest by thy own self, saying: I will multiply your seed as the
stars of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will
give to you seed, and you shall possess it for ever.
14
And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken
against his people.
PSALM:
Psalms 106:19-23
19
They made also a calf in Horeb: and they adored the graven thing.
20
And they changed their glory into the likeness of a calf that eateth
grass.
21
They forgot God, who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
22
Wondrous works in the land of Cham: terrible things in the Red Sea.
23
And he said that he would destroy them: had not Moses his chosen
stood before him in the breach: To turn away his wrath, lest he
should destroy them.
GOSPEL:
John 5:31-47
31
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the
witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33
You sent to John, and he gave testimony to the truth.
34
But I receive not testimony from man: but I say these things, that
you may be saved.
35
He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a time
to rejoice in his light.
36
But I have a greater testimony than that of John: for the works which
the Father hath given me to perfect; the works themselves, which I
do, give testimony of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37
And the Father himself who hath sent me, hath given testimony of me:
neither have you heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38
And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him
you believe not.
39
Search the scriptures, for you think in them to have life
everlasting; and the same are they that give testimony of me.
40
And you will not come to me that you may have life.
41
I receive glory not from men.
42
But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.
43
I am come in the name of my Father, and you receive me not: if
another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.
44
How can you believe, who receive glory one from another: and the
glory which is from God alone, you do not seek?
45
Think not that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that
accuseth you, Moses, in whom you trust.
46
For if you did believe Moses, you would perhaps believe me also; for
he wrote of me.
47
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my
words?
