Dominica VI post Epiphaniam

Brethren: We give thanks to God always for you all: making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing; being mindful of the work of your faith and labour and charity: and of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our Father. Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election: for our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also: and in the Holy Ghost and in much fulness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes. And you became followers of us and of the Lord: receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost: so that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and in Achaia but also in every place: your faith which is towards God is gone forth, so that we need not to speak anything.

The nations shall fear Thy name, O Lord: and all the kings of the earth Thy glory. For the Lord hath built up Sion: and He shall be seen in His majesty. Alleluia, alleluia. The Lord hath reigned: let the earth rejoice: let the many islands be glad. Alleluia.

At that time: Jesus spoke to the multitudes this parable: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field: which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in the branches thereof. He spoke to them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables He did not speak to them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open My mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.

Being fed, O Lord, with heavenly delights, we beseech Thee that we may ever hunger after those things by which we truly live. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.