vulnerability

⁹And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me. ¹⁰Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful.

¹⁶Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be saved. For the unremitting prayer of a just person prevails over many things.

¹¹Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians; our heart is enlarged. ¹²You are not narrowed by us, but it is by your own inner selves that you are narrowed. ¹³But since we have the same recompense, (I am speaking as if to my own sons), you, too, should be enlarged.

¹James, servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the dispersion, greetings. ²My brothers, when you have fallen into various trials, consider everything a joy, ³knowing that the proving of your faith exercises patience, ⁴and patience brings a work to perfection, so that you may be perfect and whole, deficient in nothing. ⁵But if anyone among you is in need of wisdom, let him petition God, who gives abundantly to all without reproach, and it shall be given to him. ⁶But he should ask with faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave on the ocean, which is moved about by the wind and carried away;

²Carry one another’s burdens, and so shall you fulfill the law of Christ.

²⁷But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. ²⁸Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who slander you. ²⁹And to him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your coat, do not withhold even your tunic. ³⁰But distribute to all who ask of you. And do not ask again of him who takes away what is yours. ³¹And exactly as you would want people to treat you, treat them also the same. ³²And if you love those who love you, what credit is due to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

³⁴I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also must you love one another. ³⁵By this, all shall recognize that you are my disciples: if you will have love for one another.”

¹⁰Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not turn away, for I am your God. I have strengthened you, and I have assisted you, and the right hand of my just one has upheld you.

³⁰The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.

⁷But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us.

⁹And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.

⁵For this understanding in you was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized. ⁷Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man. ⁸He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the Cross. ⁹Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name, ¹⁰so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell,