The New Testament Lesson is a reading
from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corithians (4:16; 5:9)

So we do not lose heart.

Even though our outer nature is wasting away,
our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

For this slight momentary affliction
is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory
beyond all measure,
because we look not at what can be seen
but at what cannot be seen;
for what can be seen is temporary,
but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent
we live in is destroyed,
we have a building from God,
a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.

For in this tent we groan,
longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling -
if indeed, when we have taken it off
we will not be found naked.

For while we are still in this tent,
we groan under our burden,
because we wish not to be unclothed
but to be further clothed,
so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God,
who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident;
even though we know
that while we are at home in the body
we are away from the Lord —
for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Yes, we do have confidence,
and we would rather be away from the body
and at home with the Lord.

So whether we are at home or away,
we make it our aim to please him.

Hear endeth the reading
by David Watts

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