16th Sunday after Pentecost
2 Cor 6:1-10

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

Brothers and sisters: As your fellow workers we beg you not to receive the grace of God | in | vain.

For he says, “In an acceptable time, I have heard you; on a day of salvation I have | helped | you.”

Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of | Sal | vation!

We avoid giving anyone offense, so that our ministry may not | be | blamed.

On the contrary, in all that we strive to present ourselves as ministers of God, acting with patient endurance amid trials, difficulties, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, and riots; as men familiar with hard work, sleepless nights, and | fast | ings;

Conducting ourselves with innocence, knowledge, and patience, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love as men with the message of truth and the power | of | God;

Wielding the weapons of righteousness with right hand and left, whether honored or dishonored, spoken of well | or | ill.

We are called imposters, yet we are truthful; nobodies who in fact are well known; dead, yet here are are | a | live;

Punished, but not put to death; sorrowful, though we are always rejoicing; poor yet we en | rich | many.

We seem to have nothing, yet every - thing - is - ours!