Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Corinthios
2 Cor 4:1-6, 15-18
Fratres: Habéntes administratiónem juxta quod misericórdiam consecúti sumus, non defícimus, sed abdicámus occúlta dedécoris, non ambulántes in astútia, neque adulterántes verbum Dei, sed in manifestatióne veritátis commendántes nosmetípsos ad omnem consciéntiam hóminum coram Deo. Quod si étiam opértum est Evangélium nostrum: in iis, qui péreunt, est opértum: in quibus Deus hujus sǽculi excæcávit mentes infidélium, ut non fúlgeat illis illuminátio Evangélii glóriæ Christi, qui est imágo Dei. Non enim 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. Omnia enim propter vos: ut grátia abúndans, per multos in gratiárum actione, abúndet in glóriam Dei. Propter quod non deficimus: sed licet is, qui foris est, noster homo corrumpátur: tamen is, qui intus est, renovatur de die in diem. Id enim, quod in præsenti est momentáneum et leve tribulatiónis nostræ, supra modum in sublimitáte ætérnum glóriæ pondus operátur in nobis, non contemplántibus nobis quæ vidéntur, sed quæ non vidéntur. Quæ enim vidéntur, temporália sunt: quæ autem non vidéntur, ætérna sunt.
Lesson from the second letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2 Cor 4:1-6; 4:15-18
Brethren: Discharging this ministry in accordance with the mercy shown us, we do not lose heart. On the contrary, we renounce those practices which shame conceals, we avoid unscrupulous conduct, we do not corrupt the word of God; but making known the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And if our Gospel also is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this world has blinded their unbelieving minds, that they should not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God. For we preach not of 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. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which abounds through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Wherefore we do not lose heart. On the contrary, even though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our present light affliction, which is for the moment, prepares for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure; while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.