In the Lord I have taken my refuge.
How can you say to my soul:
"Fly like a bird to its mountain.

See the wicked one bracing his bow;
he is fixing his arrows on the string
to ambush the upright by stealth.
Foundations once destroyed,
what can the just do?"

The Lord is in his holy temple,
the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.
His eyes look down on the world;
his gaze tests the people of the earth.

The Lord tests the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence he hates.
He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked;
he sends a scorching wind as their lot.

The Lord is just and loves justice;
the upright will see his face. Glory...

Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent
and dwell on your holy mountain?

The man who walks without fault,
who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart,
he who does not slander with his tongue,

who does no wrong to his kindred,
who casts no slur on his neighbors,
who holds the godless in disdain,
but honors those who fear the Lord;

those who keep their word, come what may,
who take no interest on a loan
and accept no bribes against the innocent.
Such people will stand firm for ever. Glory...

Praised be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him
before the world began
to be holy
and blameless in his sight,
to be full of love.

He predestined us
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood,we have been redeemed,
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous
is God’s favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him,
in the heavens and on earth.  Glory...

Antiphon 3 God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.


READING      Colossians 1:9b-13
May you attain full knowledge of God's will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight. Then you will lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way. You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God. By the might of his glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come, giving thanks to the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the lot of the saints in light. He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.


RESPONSORY
Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.
 - Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.
Once more I say: O Lord, have mercy on me,
 - for I have grieved you by my sins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
 - Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.