Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 Peter 2 : 18 - 3 : 7
Chapter 2
| 18 | Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
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| 19 | For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
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| 20 | For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
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| 21 | For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
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| 22 | "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
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| 23 | who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
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| 24 | who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
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| 25 | For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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Chapter 3
| 1 | Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
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| 2 | when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
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| 3 | Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--
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| 4 | rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
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| 5 | For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
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| 6 | as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
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| 7 | Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
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Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.
