Thursday of the 6th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 55

The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which, having been found, a man has hidden, and for joy in it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field." And the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for good pearls, who, having found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught fish of all kinds, which, when it was full, they dragged them ashore and, having sat down, gathered the good into vessels, and threw the bad things away. Thus shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous, and cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus asked them, Have you understood all these things? They said to Him, "Yes, Lord! And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been taught the kingdom of heaven is like a master who brings out of his treasury new and old." And when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. And when he came into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue.

Matthew 13:44–54a

Friday of the 6th week.

October 3, Dionysius the Areopagite.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 56

In those days, when Jesus came to his fatherland, he taught the people in their synagogue, so that they were amazed, and said, "Whence did he get such wisdom and power?" Is He not the son of carpenters? Is not His Mother called Mary, and His brothers James, and Josiah, and Simon, and Judas? and are not His sisters all among us? whence did He get all this? And they were offended in Him. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house." And he did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13:54–58

Monday of the 7th week.

October 23, To the Apostle James, brother of the Lord.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 57

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the rumor about Jesus and said to those who served with him, "This is John the Baptist; For Herod took John, bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." And he wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the people, because he was considered a prophet. During the celebration of Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the assembly and pleased Herod, so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. And she, at the instigation of her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." And the king was grieved, but for the sake of the oath and those who sat at table with him, he commanded that it should be given to her, and sent to cut off John's head in prison. And they brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel, and she took it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took his body, and buried it; And they went and told Jesus. And when Jesus heard this, he departed from there in a boat to a desert place alone; and the people, hearing of this, followed Him out of the cities on foot.

Matthew 14:1–13