10th Sunday after Pentecost
1 Cor 4: 9-16

A reading - from the First Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters: As I see it, God has put us apostles at the end of the line, like men doomed to die in | the | area.

We have become a spectacle to the universe, to angels, and men alike. We are fools on Christ’s | ac|count.

Ah, but in Christ you are wise! We are the weak ones, you are the strong! They honor you, while they sneer | at | us!

Up to this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, poorly clad, roughly treated, wandering about | home|less.

We work hard at manual labor. When we are insulted we respond with a blessing. Persecution comes our way; we bear | it | patiently.

We are slandered, and we try conciliation. We have become the world’s refuse, the scum of all; that is the present state of | af|fairs.

I am writing you in this way not to shame you but to admonish you as my beloved children. Granted you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you have only one | fa|ther.

It was I who begot you in Christ Jesus through my preaching of the gospel. I beg you, then, be imitators - of - me.