Sunday

Mark 4:26   And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Matthew 13:24   Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”  ’  ”

Prayer:
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee for by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Monday
Mark 4:30   Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” 33   And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34   But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

Mark 13:33   Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures* of meal till it was all leavened.” 34   All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35   that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:      “ I will open My mouth in parables;       I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”*

Prayer:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer

Tuesday
Matthew 13:36   Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37   He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! uIllustration of the Hidden Treasure / Matthew 13: 44 44“ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Prayer:
O Lord come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me.

Wednesday
Mathew 13:45“ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. uIllustration of the Fishing Net / Matthew 13: 47-52 47“ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 51   Jesus said to them,* “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”* 52   Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning* the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

Prayer:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
Thursday
Mark 4:35   On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36   Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37   And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38   But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39   Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40   But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”* 41   And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Prayer:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts, the whole earth is filled with Thy Glory.

Friday
Mark 5:1   Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.* 2   And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3   who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him,* not even with chains, 4   because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5   And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6   When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7   And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” 8   For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9   Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10   Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

Prayer:

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
(St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer excerpt)

Saturday
Mark 5 continued….   11   Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12   So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13   And at once Jesus* gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14   So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15   Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16   And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17   Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18   And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19   However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20   And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

 

Prayer:

O Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, O Son of God, Who didst rise from the dead, save us who chant unto Thee, Alleluia.