Tuesday of the 5th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 46b

In those days a multitude followed Jesus, and he healed them all, and forbade them to declare him, that it might be fulfilled that which was spoken through the prophet Isaiah, who said, Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim judgment to the nations; He will not rebuke, nor will he cry out, and no one will hear His voice in the streets; He will not break a bruised reed, nor quench smoking flax, until he brings victory to judgment; and in his name the nations shall trust.

Matthew 12:15–21

Saturday after the Nativity of Christ.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 47

The Lord said, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and whoever does not gather with Me scatters. Therefore I say unto you, All sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men; if any man speak a word against the Son of man, he shall be forgiven; but if anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him either in this world or in the world to come. Or acknowledge the tree as good and its fruit as good; or acknowledge the tree as bad, and its fruit as bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. Spawn of vipers! How can you speak good when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man brings out good from a good treasure, and an evil man brings out evil from an evil treasure. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men speak, they will give account in the day of judgment: for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Matthew 12:30–37

Saturday of the 8th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 48

In those days some of the scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus, saying, "Teacher! we would like to see a sign from You. But he answered and said to them, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign; and no sign shall be given him, except the sign of Jonah the prophet; for as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The Ninevites will rise up to judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they have repented from the preaching of Jonah; and behold, there is more Jonah here. The queen of the south shall rise up in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, for she has come from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, there is more Solomon here. When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, he walks in dry places, seeking rest, and does not find; Then he says, "I will return to my house from whence I came." And when he comes, he finds it unoccupied, swept and tidy; then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits, which are worse than himself, and having entered, they dwell there; and for that man the latter is worse than the first. So it will be with this evil generation.

Matthew 12:38-45

Wednesday of the 5th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 49