14 September - The Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-giving Cross
1 Cor. 1:18-24

A reading - from the First letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters: the message of the Cross is complete absurdity to those who are headed for ruin, but to us who are experiencing salvation it is the power | of | God.

Scripture says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and thwart the cleverness of the clever." Where is the wise men to be found? Where | the | scribe?

Where is the master of worldly argument? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world in | to | folly?

Since in God's wisdom the world did not come to know him through" wisdom," it pleased God to save those who believe through the absurdity of the preaching of | the | gospel.

Yes, Jews demand “signs” and Greeks look for “wisdom”, but we preach Christ crucified - a stumbling block to Jews, with an absurdity | to | gentiles;

but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks like, Christ the power of God and the wis - dom - of - God.