First Reading2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12
From the Second Letter of Paul to Timothy
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,according to the promise of the lifewhich is in Christ Jesus,2to Timothy, my beloved child:Grace, mercy, and peace,from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did,with a pure conscience.How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day
verses 4–5 are not read6For this cause, I remind youthat you should stir up the gift of Godwhich is in you through the laying on of my hands.7For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear,but of power, love, and self-control.8Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,nor of me his prisoner;but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,9who saved us and called us with a holy calling,not according to our works,but according to his own purpose and grace,which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,10but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior,Christ Jesus, who abolished death,and brought lifeand immortality to light through the Good News.11For this I was appointed as a preacher,an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.12For this cause I also suffer these things.
Yet I am not ashamed,for I know him whom I have believed,and I am persuaded that he is able to guard thatwhich I have committed to him against that day.