Reading VII Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28
The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their land,
they defiled it by their conduct and deeds.
Therefore I poured out my fury upon them
because of the blood that they poured out on the ground,
and because they defiled it with idols.
I scattered them among the nations,
dispersing them over foreign lands;
according to their conduct and deeds I judged them.
But when they came among the nations wherever they came,
they served to profane my holy name,
because it was said of them: "These are the people of the LORD,
yet they had to leave their land."
So I have relented because of my holy name
which the house of Israel profaned
among the nations where they came.
Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD:
Not for your sakes do I act, house of Israel,
but for the sake of my holy name,
which you profaned among the nations to which you came.
I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations,
in whose midst you have profaned it.
Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,
when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.
For I will take you away from among the nations,
gather you from all the foreign lands,
and bring you back to your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you
to cleanse you from all your impurities,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you,
taking from your bodies your stony hearts
and giving you natural hearts.
I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes,
careful to observe my decrees.
You shall live in the land I gave your fathers;
you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
When baptism is not celebrated
R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a holocaust, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Epístola Rm 6, 3-11
Hermanos: Todos los que hemos sido incorporados a Cristo Jesús por medio del bautismo,
hemos sido incorporados a él en su muerte. En efecto, por el bautismo fuimos sepultados
con él en su muerte, para que, así como Cristo resucitó de entre los muertos por la gloria del Padre,
así también nosotros llevemos una vida nueva.
Porque, si hemos estado íntimamente unidos a él por una muerte semejante a la suya, también
lo estaremos en su resurrección. Sabemos que nuestro hombre viejo fue crucificado con Cristo,
para que el cuerpo del pecado quedara destruido, a fin de que ya no sirvamos al pecado, pues
el que ha muerto queda libre del pecado.
Por lo tanto, si hemos muerto con Cristo, estamos seguros de que también viviremos con él;
pues sabemos que Cristo, una vez resucitado de entre los muertos, ya no nunca morirá.
La muerte ya no tiene dominio sobre él, porque al morir, murió al pecado de una vez para siempre;
y al resucitar, vive ahora para Dios. Lo mismo ustedes, considérense muertos al pecado y vivos para
Dios en Cristo Jesús, Señor nuestro.
Salmo Responsorial Salmo 117, 1-2. 16ab-17. 22-23
R. Aleluya, aleluya.
Te damos gracias, Señor, porque eres bueno,
porque tu misericordia es eterna.
Diga la casa de Israel:
"Su misericordia es eterna".
R. Aleluya, aleluya.
La diestra del Señor es poderosa,
la diestra del Señor es nuestra orgillo.
No moriré, continuaré viviendo
para contar lo que el Señor ha hecho.
R. Aleluya, aleluya.
La piedra que desecharon los constructores,
es ahora la piedra angular.
Esto es obra de la mano del Señor,
es un milagro patente.
R. Aleluya, aleluya.