Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Corínthios
2 Cor 8:9-15
Fratres: Scitis grátiam Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, quóniam propter vos egénus factus est, cum esset dives, ut illíus inópia vos dívites essétis. Et consílium in hoc do: hoc enim vobis útile est, qui non solum fácere, sed et velle cœpístis ab anno prióre: nunc vero et facto perfícite: ut, quemádmodum promptus est ánimus voluntátis, ita sit et perficiéndi ex eo quod habétis. Si enim volúntas prompta est, secúndum id quod habet, accépta est, non secúndum id quod non habet. Non enim ut áliis sit remíssio, vobis autem tribulátio, sed ex æqualitáte. In præsénti témpore vestra abundántia illórum inópiam súppleat: ut et illórum abundántia vestræ inópiæ sit suppleméntum, ut fiat æquálitas, sicut scriptum est: Qui multum, non abundávit: et qui módicum, non minorávit.
Lesson from the second letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2 Cor. 8:9-15
Brethren: You know the graciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ - how, being rich, He became poor for your sakes, that by His poverty you might become rich. In this matter I am giving advice. It is to your interest, since a year ago you not only began to do, but also to have the will. Now therefore complete the doing also; so that your readiness to begin it may be equaled by your desire to carry it through, according to your ability. For if there is willingness, it is welcome according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. For I do not mean that the relief of others should become your burden, but that there should be equality; that at the present time your abundance may supply their want, and that their abundance may, in its turn, make up what you lack, thus establishing an equality, as it is written, He who had much had nothing over, and he who had little had not less.