Wednesday of the 18th week after Pentecost

Brethren, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word … that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church. For we are members of His Body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church… Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his own wife even as himself …

Brethren, He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. So let each man give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He hath dispersed abroad, He hath given to the poor; His righteousness remains forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God.