Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Corínthios.
2 Cor 4:5-14.
Fratres: Non nosmetípsos prædicámus, sed Jesum Christum, Dóminum nostrum: nos autem servos vestros per Jesum: quóniam Deus, qui dixit de ténebris lucem splendéscere, ipse illúxit in córdibus nostris ad illuminatiónem sciéntiæ claritátis Dei, in fácie Christi Jesu. Habémus autem thesáurum istum in vasis fictílibus: ut sublímitas sit virtútis Dei, et non ex nobis. In ómnibus tribulatiónem pátimur, sed non angustiámur: aporiámur, sed non destitúimur: persecutiónem pátimur, sed non derelínquimur: dejícimur, sed non perímus: semper mortificatiónem Jesu in córpore nostro circumferéntes, ut et vita Jesu manifestétur in corpóribus nostris. Semper enim nos, qui vívimus, in mortem trádimur propter Jesum: ut et vita Jesu manifestétur in carne nostra mortáli. Ergo mors in nobis operátur, vita autem in vobis. Habéntes autem eúndem spíritum fídei, sicut scriptum est: Crédidi, propter quod locútus sum: et nos crédimus, propter quod et lóquimur: sciéntes, quóniam qui suscitávit Jesum, et nos cum Jesu suscitábit et constítuet vobíscum.
Lesson from the second letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2 Cor. 4:5-14
Brethren: We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves merely as your servants in Jesus. For God, Who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give enlightenment concerning the knowledge of the glory of God, shining on the face of Christ Jesus. But we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, to show that the abundance of the power is God’s and not ours. In all things we suffer tribulation, but we are not distressed; we are sore pressed, but we are not destitute; we endure persecution, but we are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we do not perish; always bearing about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodily frame. For we the living are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh. Thus death is at work in us, but life in you. But since we have the same spirit of faith, as shown in that which is written - I believed, and so I spoke - we also believed, wherefore we also speak. For we know that He Who raised up Jesus will raise up us also with Jesus, and will place us with you.