First Reading: Philippians 3:3-8

³ For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.
⁴ Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee,
⁶ as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless.
⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
⁸ Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ