Reading I
Eph 5:21-33
Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ.
Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord:
Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body.
Therefore as the church is subject to Christ: so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and delivered himself up for it:
That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life:
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 also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church:
Because we are members of him, body, of his flesh and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother: and shall cleave to his wife. And they shall be two in one flesh.
This is a great sacrament: but I speak in Christ and in the church.
Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular love for his wife as himself: And let the wife fear her husband.