Epistle – Colossians iii. 12‒17
Brethren, put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another, even as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel – Matthew xiii. 24‒30
At that time, Jesus spoke another parable to the multitudes: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and over-sowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade had sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him: “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where then has it cockle?” And he said to them: “An enemy has done this.” And the servants said to him: “Do you want us to go and gather it up?” And he said: “No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my barn.”
Praise be to you, O Christ.
On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Tunis in Africa,
the birthday of St. Felix, martyr, who, having confessed Christ, was
sent to prison, his execution being deferred. But the next day he was
found dead, as is related by St. Augustine, in his exposition of a
psalm to the people on the feast of the saint.
At Theopolis, ten holy
martyrs, who are reported to have been put to death by the Saracens.
At Barcelona, St.
Severus, bishop and martyr, who had his head pierced with a nail, and
thus received the crown of martyrdom for the faith.
In Phrygia, St.
Atticus.
At Berg, the departure
from this life of St. Winoc, abbot, who was renowned for virtues and
miracles, and for a long time served his brethren, even those who
were subject to him.
At Fundi in Campania,
St. Felix, monk.
At Limoges in
Aquitaine, St. Leonard, confessor, disciple of the blessed bishop
Remigius, who was born of a noble family, and chose to lead a
solitary life. He was celebrated for holiness and miracles, but his
miraculous gift shone particularly in the deliverance of captives.
And in other places, many other holy
martyrs, confessors, and virgins.
Thanks
be to God.
