In the days when Jesus was still speaking to the people, the Mother and His brothers stood outside the house, wishing to speak with Him. And someone said to Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee. And he answered and said to him that said, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And pointing with his hand to his disciples, he said, Behold my mother and my brethren; for whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven shall be my brother, and sister, and mother. And Jesus went out of the house that day, and sat down by the sea. And a great multitude gathered together to him, so that he went into the boat and sat down; and all the people stood on the shore. And he taught them many parables.

Matthew 12:46–13:3a

Thursday, 5th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 50

The Lord said this parable: Behold, a sower went out to sow; And while he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and birds flew down and pecked at them; some fell on stony places, where there was little earth, and soon sprang up, because the earth was shallow. But when the sun rose, it withered, and as it had no root, it withered; some fell into thorns, and thorns grew, and choked him; some fell on good ground and bore fruit: one a hundredfold, and another sixty, and some thirty. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!

Matthew 13:3b–9

Friday of the 5th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 51

In those days, the disciples came and said to Jesus, "Why do you speak to them in parables? He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but it has not been given to them: for whoever has, to him will be given and will abound, but whoever does not have, even that which he has will be taken away from him; therefore I say to them in parables, that when they see, they do not see, and when they hear, they do not hear, and do not understand; And the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled over them, which says, "With your ears you will hear, and you will not understand, and with your eyes you will see, and you will not see: for the heart of these people is hardened, and with their ears they can hardly hear, and their eyes are closed, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, that I may heal them." But blessed are your eyes that they see, and your ears that they hear, for verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear. Listen to the meaning of the parable of the sower: to everyone who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one cometh and steals away what is sown in his heart — this is what is sown by the wayside means. And what is sown in stony places signifies the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; but it has no root in itself and is inconstant: when tribulation or persecution for the word comes, it is immediately offended. And that which is sown in thorns signifies the one who hears the word, but the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it is fruitless. And what is sown in good ground signifies him who hears the word and understands, who is also fruitful, so that some bear fruit a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.

Matthew 13:10–23

Monday of the 6th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 52a

The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; And while the people were asleep, his enemy came, and sowed tares among the wheat, and departed. When the greenery sprang up and the fruit appeared, then the tares also appeared. And when the householder's servants came, they said to him, "Lord! Did you not sow good seed in your field? whence then are the tares on it? And he said to them, The enemy man has done this. And the slaves said to him, "Do you want us to go and choose them?" But he said, "No, lest you pick up the tares and pull up the wheat with them, let both grow together until the harvest; And at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather first the tares, and bind them into sheaves to burn them, and gather the wheat into my garner.

Matthew 13:24-30