First ReadingRomans 7:18-25a
From the Letter of Paul to the Romans
18For I know that in me,that is, in my flesh,dwells no good thing.For desire is present with me,but I don’t find it doing that which is good.19For the good which I desire, I don’t do;but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice.20But if what I don’t desire,that I do, it is no more I that do it,but sin which dwells in me.21I find then the law that,while I desire to do good, evil is present.22For I delight in God’s law after the inward person,23but I see a different law in my members,warring against the law of my mind,and bringing me into captivity under the law of sinwhich is in my members.24What a wretched man I am!Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?25I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!So then with the mind,I myself serve God’s law,but with the flesh, sin’s law.