First Reading1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12
From the First Letter of Peter
2as newborn babies,long for the pure spiritual milk,that with it you may grow,3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.4Come to him, a living stone,rejected indeed by men,but chosen by God, precious.5You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house,to be a holy priesthood,to offer up spiritual sacrifices,acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. verses 6–8 are not read9But you are a chosen race,a royal priesthood,a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession,that you may proclaim the excellence of himwho called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.10In the past, you were not a people,but now are God’s people,who had not obtained mercy,but now have obtained mercy.
11Beloved, I beg you as foreignersand pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lustswhich war against the soul,12having good behavior among the nations,so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers,they may see your good worksand glorify God in the day of visitation.