Part 694 (1/2)
16:11. If then you have not been faithful in the unjust mammon, who will trust you with that which is the true?
16:12. And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
16:13. No servant can serve two masters: 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 G.o.d and mammon.
16:14. Now the Pharisees, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
16:15. And he said to them: you are they who justify yourselves before men, but G.o.d knoweth your hearts. For that which is high to men is an abomination before G.o.d.
16:16. The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the kingdom of G.o.d is preached: and every one useth violence towards it.
16:17. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pa.s.s than one t.i.ttle of the law to fall.
16:18. 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.
16:19. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day.
16:20. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,
16:21. Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. And no one did give him: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22. And it came to pa.s.s 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 h.e.l.l.
Abraham's bosom... The place of rest, where the souls of the saints resided, till Christ had opened heaven by his death.
16:23. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom:
16:24. 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.
16:25. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.
16:26. And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pa.s.s from hence to you cannot, nor from thence come hither.
16:27. And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren,
16:28. That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments.
16:29. And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.
16:30. But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.
16:31. And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.
Luke Chapter 17
Lessons of avoiding scandal and of the efficacy of faith. The ten lepers. The manner of the coming of Christ.
17:1. And he said to his disciples: It is impossible that scandals should not come. But woe to him through whom they come!