door, saying, Lord, open to us: and he answering shall say to you, 1 know you not whence you are: A CHAP. XIV. Christ heals the dropsy. ND it came to pass when JESUS went into the house of one of 26 Then you shall begin to say: We have eaten and drunk in thy the chief of the Pharisees on the presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 And he shall say to you: I know you not whence you are: depart from me all ye workers of iniquity. sabbath-day to eat bread, that they watched him. 2 And behold there was a certain man before him that had the dropsy. 3 And JESUS answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth: when you shall sabbath-day? see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And there shall come from the east and the west and the north and the south; and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, they are last that shall be first, and they are first that shall be last. 31 The same day there came some of the Pharisees, saying to him: Depart and get thee hence, for Herod hath a mind to kill thee. 32 And he said to them: Go, and tell that fox, Behold I cast out devils, and do cures to-day and tomorrow, and the third day I am consummated. 33 Nevertheless I must walk today and to-morrow and the day following, because it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children as the bird doth her brood under her wings, and thou wouldest not ? 35 Behold your house shall be left to you desolate. And I say to you, that you shall not see me till the time come, when you shall say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 4 But they held their peace. But he taking him, healed him, and sent him away. 5 And answering them, he said : Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a pit; and will not immediately draw him out on the sabbath-day? 6 And they could not answer him to these things. 7 And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them: 8 When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him; 9 And he that invited thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place: and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place: that when he who inviteth thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee : 11 Because every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. 12 And he said to him also that had invited him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy neighbours who are rich: lest perhaps they also in- of those men that were invited, vite thee again, and a recompence shall taste of my supper. be made to thee. 25 And there went great multi 13 But when thou makest a tudes with him; and turning, he feast, call the poor, the maimed, said to them: the lame, and the blind. 14 And thou shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to make thee recompence: for recompence shall be made thee at the resurrection of the just. 15 When one of them that sat at table with him, had heard these things, he said to him: Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 But he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. 17 And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it. 29 Lest after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him, 30 Saying: this man began to build, and was not able to finish. 18 And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him, I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it; I whether he be able with ten thou pray thee, hold me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee hold me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore 1 can not come. 31 Or what king about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down and think sand to meet him that with twenty thousand cometh against him. 32 Or else whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple. 34 Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 21 And the servant returning told these things to his lord. Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servant: Go out quickly 35 It is neither profitable for the into the streets and lanes of the land, nor for the dunghill, but shall city, and bring in hither the poor be cast out. He that hath ears to and the feeble, and the blind and hear, let him hear. the lame. 22 And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said to the servant: Go out into the high-ways and hedges; and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 But I say unto you, that none CHAP. XV. 4 What man of you that hath his belly with the husks the swine an hundred sheep: and if he shall did eat; and no man gave unto him, lose one of them, doth he not leave 17 And returning to himself, ho the ninety-nine in the desert, and said: How many hired servants in go after that which was lost until my father's house abound with he find it? bread, and I here perish with hun 5 And when he hath found it, lay ger? it upon his shoulders rejoicing: 18 I will arise, and will go to my father, and say to him: Father, 1 have sinned against heaven, and before thee: 6 And coming home call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me because I have found my sheep that was lost? 7 I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance. 8 Or what woman having ten groats: if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle and sweep the house, and seek diligently, until she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost? 10 So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance. 11 And he said: A certain man had two sons; 19 I am not now worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running to him fell upon his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son. 22 And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and make merry: 12 And the younger of them said 24 Because this my son was dead, to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance. 18 And not many days after, the younger son gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance living riotously. 14 And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 And he went, and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. and is come to life again: was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing: 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe. 28 And he was angry and would not go in. His father therefore 16 And he would fain have filled coming out began to entreat him. Ver. 10. Before the Angels. Bv this it is plain that the spirits in heaven have a concern for us below, and a joy at our repentance, and, consequently, a knowledge of it. 29 And he answering, said to his | 7 Then he said to another: And father: Behold, for so many years how much dost thou owe? Who do I serve thee, and I have never said: An hundred quarters of wheat. transgressed thy commandment, He said to him: Take thy bill, and and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me, and all I have is thine. 32 But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead, and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found. A CHAP. XVI. The parable of the unjust steward. ND he said also to his disci- ples : There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. write eighty.. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. 9 And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity, that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is unjust also in that which is greater. 11 If you then have not been faithful in the unjust mammon: who will trust you with that which is the true? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's: who will give you that which is your 2 And he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stew-own? ardship: for now thou canst be 13 No servant can serve two mas steward no longer. 3 And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? ? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed, 4 I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5 Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord? 6 But he said: an hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty. ters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 14 Now the Pharisees who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said to them: You are they who justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts, for that which is high to men, is an abomination before God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every one useth violence towards it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and Ver. 9. Mammon of iniquity. Mammon signifies riches: they are here called the mammon of iniquity, because oftentimes ill gotten, ill bestowed, or an occasion of evil; and at the best are but worldly, and false, and not the true riches of a christian. Ver. 9. They may receive. By this we see that the poor servants of God, whom we have relieved by our alms, may hereafter, by their intercession, bring our souls to heaven. parth to pass, than one tittle of the 28 That he may testify unto law to fall. them, lest they also come into this place of torments. 18 Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband, committeth adultery. 19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen: and feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, 21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's 29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets. let them hear them. 30 But he said: No, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. 31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead. CHAP. XVII. Lessons of avoiding scandal. table, and no one did give him, AND he said to his disciples: moreover the dogs came and licked his; sores. 22 And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. 23 And lifting up his eyes, when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. 25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy life time, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither. 27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee that thou wouldest send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren. It is impossible that should not come: but wo to him through whom they come. 2 It were better for him, that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.. 1 3 Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive: him. 4 And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times: in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent: forgive him. 5 And the apostles said, to the Lord: Increase our faith.. 6 And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard-seed,. you might say to this mulberry tree, be thou rooted up, and be thou transplanted into the seas: and it would obey you.. 7 But which of you having an servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him when he is come from the field: immediately go, sit down to meat; 8 And will not rather say to him:: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me whilst Feat Ver. 22. Abraham's bosom. The place of rest, where the souls of the saints resides til! Christ had opened heaven by his death. |