Friday in the Thirteenth Week after Pentecost

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
II Corinthians §192 (11:5-21a).
Brethren: I suppose that I have done nothing less than the great apostles. For although I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but in all things we have been made manifest to you. Or did I commit a fault, humbling myself, that you might be exalted? Because I preached unto you the gospel of God freely? I have taken from other churches, receiving wages of them for your ministry. And, when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was wanting to me, the brethren supplied who came from Macedonia; and in all things I have kept myself from being burthensome to you, and so I will keep myself. The truth of Christ is in me, that this glorying shall not be broken off in me in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth it. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off the occasion from them that desire occasion, that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such false apostles are deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder: for Satan himself transformeth himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed as the ministers of justice, whose end shall be according to their works. I say again, (let no man think me to be foolish, otherwise take me as one foolish, that I also may glory a little,) that which I speak, I speak not according to God, but as it were in foolishness, in this matter of glorying. Seeing that many glory according to the flesh, I will glory also. For you gladly suffer the foolish; whereas yourselves are wise. For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man be lifted up, if a man strike you on the face. I speak according to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this part.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark.
Saint Mark §15 (4:1-9).
At that time: Jesus began to teach by the sea side; and a great multitude was gathered together unto Him, so that He went up into a ship, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude was upon the land by the sea side. And He taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in His doctrine: Hear ye: Behold, the sower went out to sow. And whilst he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate it up. And other some fell upon stony ground, where it had not much earth; and it shot up immediately, because it had no depth of earth. And when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And some fell upon good ground; and brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased and yielded, one thirty, another sixty, and another a hundred. And He said: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.