May 12th : Second reading We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of GodA reading from the letter of St.Paul to the Ephesians 4:1-13

May 12th :  Second reading 

We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of God

A reading from the letter of St.Paul to the Ephesians 4:1-13 

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.

But grace was given to each of us

according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

Therefore, it says:

    He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;

    he gave gifts to men.

What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended

into the lower regions of the earth?

The one who descended is also the one who ascended

far above all the heavens,

that he might fill all things.

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets,

others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,

to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,

for building up the body of Christ,

until we all attain to the unity of faith

and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature to manhood,

to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 

The Word of the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;

I am with you always, until the end of the world.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.