First ReadingEphesians 5:21-33
From the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians
21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife,as Christ also is the head of the assembly,being himself the savior of the body.24But as the assembly is subject to Christ,so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives,even as Christ also loved the assemblyand gave himself up for her,26that he might sanctify her,having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously,not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,but that she should be holy and without defect.28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies.He who loves his own wife loves himself.29For no man ever hated his own flesh,but nourishes and cherishes it,even as the Lord also does the assembly,30because we are members of his body,of his flesh and bones.31“For this cause a man will leave his fatherand mother and will be joined to his wife.Then the two will become one flesh.”32This mystery is great,but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself;and let the wife see that she respects her husband.