Thursday of the 11th week of Ordinary Time

1I wish that you would endure a small amount of my foolishness, so as to bear with me. 2For I am jealous toward you, with the jealousy of God. And I have espoused you to one husband, offering you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I am afraid lest, as the serpent led astray Eve by his cleverness, so your minds might be corrupted and might fall away from the simplicity which is in Christ. 4For if anyone arrives preaching another Christ, one whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, one whom you have not received; or another Gospel, one which you have not been given: you might permit him to guide you. 5For I consider that I have done nothing less than the great Apostles. 6For although I may be unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge. But, in all things, we have been made manifest to you. 7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you would be exalted? For I preached the Gospel of God to you freely. 8I have taken from other churches, receiving a stipend from them to the benefit of your ministry. 9And when I was with you and in need, I was burdensome to no one. For the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied whatever was lacking to me. And in all things, I have kept myself, and I will keep myself, from being burdensome to you. 10The truth of Christ is in me, and so this glorying shall not be broken away from me in the regions of Achaia. 11Why so? Is it because I do not love you? God knows I do.

1Alleluia. I will confess to you, O Lord, with my whole heart, in the council of the just and in the congregation.

2Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all his intentions.

3Confession and magnificence are his work. And his justice remains from age to age.

4He has created a memorial to his wonders; he is a merciful and compassionate Lord.

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7so that he may give them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are truth and judgment.

8All his commands are faithful: confirmed from age to age, created in truth and fairness.

7And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded. 8Therefore, do not choose to imitate them. For your Father knows what your needs may be, even before you ask him. 9Therefore, you shall pray in this way: Our Father, who is in heaven: May your name be kept holy. 10May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth. 11Give us this day our life-sustaining bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation. But free us from evil. Amen. 14For if you will forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father also will forgive you your offenses. 15But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your sins.