Readings

Tonight, I finally was able to go through the book of approved reading from our church and picked out our readings. I wasn't thrilled when I read through the approved readings from the old testaments because it just seemed so de-womanizing, but alas, we must choose a reading from the old testament and a reading from the new testament. So here they are:

Old testament:

The two of them become one body (Genesis 2:18-24)

A reading from the Book of Genesis
The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The word of the Lord.

New Testament

If I do not have love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 12:31-12:8a)

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters: Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way.
-If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
-And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
-If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
It does not seek its own interests,
It is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
It does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices in truth.
It bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
The word of the Lord.