FIRST READING 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:1
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but
we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well
known to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you
again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may
be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the
heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our
right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we
are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he
died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves
but for the one who for their sake died and was raised.16 From now on,
therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we
once knew Christ from a human point of view, we no longer know him
in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into
being! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through
Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ
God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses
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against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we
are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us;
we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake
God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God. 6 As we work together with him, we
entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
Reader: Word of God. Word of Life.
All: Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING John 6:60-69
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is
difficult; who can accept it?” 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples
were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then
what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was
before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words
that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are
some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who were
the ones who did not believe and who was the one who would betray
him. 65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can
come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” 66 Because of this many of
his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus
asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter
answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of
eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy
One of God.”
Reader: Word of God. Word of Life.