Part 694 (2/2)

17:2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.

17:3. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him.

17:4. 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.

17:5. And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.

17:6. 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 sea. And it would obey you.

17:7. But which of you, having a servant ploughing or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go. Sit down to meat.

17:8. And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper and gird thyself and serve me, whilst I eat and drink; and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink?

17:9. Doth he thank that servant for doing the things which he commanded him?

17:10. I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.

Unprofitable servants... Because our service is of no profit to our master; and he justly claims it as our bounden duty. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us; for he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which, in consequence of his promise, ent.i.tles them to an eternal reward.

17:11. And it came to pa.s.s, as he was going to Jerusalem, he pa.s.sed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

17:12. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off.

17:13. And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

17:14. Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests.

And it came to pa.s.s, as they went, they were made clean.

17:15. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying G.o.d.

17:16. And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks. And this was a Samaritan.

17:17. And Jesus answering, said: Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine?

17:18. There is no one found to return and give glory to G.o.d, but this stranger.

17:19. And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.

17:20. And being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of G.o.d should come, he answering them and said: The kingdom of G.o.d cometh not with observation.

17:21. Neither shall they say: Behold here, or behold there. For lo, the kingdom of G.o.d is within you.

17:22. And he said to his disciples: The days will come when you shall desire to see one day of the Son of man. And you shall not see it.

17:23. And they will say to you: See here, and see there. Go ye not after, nor follow them.

17:24. For as the lightning that lighteneth from under heaven s.h.i.+neth unto the parts that are under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his day.

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