Wednesday of the 12th week of Ordinary Time

1And so, these things having been transacted, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your protector, and your reward is exceedingly great.” 2And Abram said: “Lord God, what will you give to me? I may go without children. And the son of the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus.” 3And Abram added: “Yet to me you have not given offspring. And behold, my servant born in my house will be my heir.” 4And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: “This one will not be your heir. But he who will come from your loins, the same will you have for your heir.” 5And he brought him outside, and he said to him, “Take in the heavens, and number the stars, if you can.” And he said to him, “So also will your offspring be.” 6Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice. 7And he said to him, “I am the Lord who led you away from Ur of the Chaldeans, so as to give you this land, and so that you would possess it.” 8But he said, “Lord God, in what way may I be able to know that I will possess it?” 9And the Lord responded by saying: “Take for me a cow of three years, and a she-goat of three years, and a ram of three years, also a turtle-dove and a pigeon.” 10Taking all these, he divided them through the middle, and placed both parts opposite one another. But the birds he did not divide. 11And birds descended upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a dread, great and dark, invaded him.

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17Then, when the sun had set, there came a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions. 18On that day, God formed a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your offspring I will give this land, from the river of Egypt, even to the great river Euphrates:

1Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, and invoke his name. Announce his works among the nations.

2Sing to him, and sing psalms to him. Describe all his wonders.

3Be praised in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

4Seek the Lord, and be confirmed. Seek his face always.

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6you offspring of Abraham his servant, you sons of Jacob his elect.

7He is the Lord our God. His judgments are throughout the entire earth.

8He has remembered his covenant for all ages: the word that he entrusted to a thousand generations,

9which he assigned to Abraham, and his oath to Isaac.

15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit. 18A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit. 19Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. 20Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.