A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.

We do not live for ourselves, nor do we die for ourselves.  While we live, we are responsible to Christ Jesus, and when we die, we die as Christ’s subjects.  Both in life and in death we belong to Christ.   That is why Christ died and came to life again, in order to reign supreme over both the living and the dead.

The Word of God recorded in the letter of Paul to the Romans.