SPEAKER_01

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

A reading from the second letter of St.

Paul to the Corinthians.

So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Working together with him then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.

For he says, at the acceptable time I have listened to you and helped you on the day of salvation.

Behold, now is the acceptable time.

Behold, now is the day of salvation.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men.

Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men.

Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.