A reading from the beginning of the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

for the promise of life in Christ Jesus.

To Timothy, my dear child.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,

as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have had through the imposition of my hands.

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control.

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me a prisoner for his sake,

but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life,

not according to our works, but according to his own design. And the grace bestowed on us in

Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher.

On this account of I am suffering these things, but I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have

believed and I am confident that he is able to guard what he has been entrust, what he has trusted to me

until that day. The word of the Lord.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

To you, I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven.

Behold as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters.

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