Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.

Thus says the Lord: You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young/ and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth./ Follow the ways of your heart,/ the vision of your eyes;/ Yet understand that as regards all this/ God will bring you to judgment./ Ward off grief from your heart/ and put away trouble from your presence,/ though the dawn of youth is fleeting.

There is an appointed time for everything,/ and a time for every thing under the heavens./ A time to be born, and a time to die;/ a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant./ A time to kill, and a time to heal;/ a time to tear down, and a time to build./ A time to weep, and a time to laugh;/ a time to mourn, and a time to dance./ A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;/ a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces./ A time to seek, and a time to lose;/ a time to keep, and a time to cast away./ A time to rend, and a time to sew;/ a time to be silent, and a time to speak./ A time to love, and a time to hate;/ a time of war, and a time of peace.

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,/ vanity of vanities!

Every word of God is tested;/ he is a shield to those who take refuge in him./ Add nothing to his words,/ lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.

Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the Lord;/ wherever it pleases him, he directs it.

Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the ­unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Brothers and sisters: Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Seek the Lord while he may be found,/ call him while he is near./ Let the scoundrel forsake his way,/ and the wicked his thoughts;/ let him turn to the Lord for mercy;/ to our God, who is generous in forgiving./ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,/ nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord./ As high as the heavens are above the earth,/ so high are my ways above your ways/ and my thoughts above your thoughts.