Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians

A Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1)

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus

will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you

in his presence. Everything indeed is for you,

so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow

to the glory of God.

Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather,

although our outer self is wasting away,

our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For this momentary light affliction is producing

in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

as we look not to what is seen but what is unseen;

for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.

For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent,

should be destroyed, we have a building from God,

a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

The Word of the Lord.

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (5:1, 6-10)

Brothers and sisters:

We know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent,

should be destroyed,

we have a building from God,

a dwelling not made with hands,

eternal in heaven.

We are always courageous,

although we know that while we are at home in the body

we are away from the Lord,

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Yet we are courageous,

and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.

Therefore, we aspire to please him,

whether we are at home or away.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

so that each may receive recompense,

according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

The word of the Lord.