The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and 29 Mark! God's forbearance towards the wicked, is mercy towards the good. gather them up? 29 But he : 31 31 The Gospel, from small beginnings, shall extend like a great tree; and "all the nations shall be gathered unto it." 33 Religious principles are intended to leaven, or be mixed with, every part of our conduct; as completely as leaven leavens the whole lump. Let both grow together until the harvest and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them but gather the wheat into my barn. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. hear. 44 Again, the kingdom 36 Declare that is—explain to us. 43 What a glorious prospect for your encouragement! O strive that you share it! Who hath ears to hear, let him 44 Surely, everlasting salvation, of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 47 which the Gospel alone can purchase, is the greatest treasure the most precious pearl which man can covet. this pearl is for a heavenly crown! Remember, this treasure faileth necer Think not much then, even though you sacrifice all else to gain it. 47 The offer of the Gospel shall embrace all men-yet shall final and just distinction be made between the evil and good *. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. "Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 52 The teacher of the Gospel must be learned, that he may have argument to confute the cavils of the wise; answers, to meet the objections of the sceptic; hopes, to cheer the desponding; knowledge, to instruct all. Hence the care of our Church, that her ministers have competent learning for their high and arduous work. Pray for your ministers that in their work they may be blessed +. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? son? is not his mother called Mary? and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? not all with us? Whence then hath And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and Is not this the carpenter's and his brethren, James, And his sisters, are they this man all these things? * This comparison was the more striking to the Apostles, as some of them had been fishermen. It was awfully verified when Judas-one of the first which that spiritual net inclosed-was cast away. + Our Liturgy supplies a beautiful form of such supplication, in her prayer" for the clergy and people." in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. CHAPTER XIV. JAN. 16, MAY 16, SEPT. 13. ST. JOHN BAPTIST, evening, to ver. 13. 1 It was conscience which drew forth from Herod this expression of fear *. 1 AT that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. " And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 12 11 Wickedness is always cruel +. damsel: and she brought it to 12 Blessed contrast! Lo, the disciples' tender affection, which no fear could deter from affording the pious rites of sepulture ! Ver. 13. When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 13 This he did, partly under the heavy influence of sorrow, partly to avoid the enemies who might be plotting against him. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed 14 Is He not always compassionate! ready to compassionate you and me, and heal all the sickness of our souls! their sick. And when it was Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great. In this instance, revenge so hardened even a woman's heart, that she could contemplate with exultation the countenance of her murdered victim, and train her youthful daughter to the same inhuman cruelty. evening, his disciples came unto him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they 16 This was said, that the surprise of his intended miracle might make the deeper impression. say unto him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the 19 Still more are we bound to look up to heaven with thankful hearts, when we daily eat the food which his daily providence supplies. 23 Private prayer! How surely is it the secret spring of strength, and wisdom, and comfort! evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was 25 : contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus 25 He who made the sea, might well command it to do Him service. went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, 27 The heart in which the Saviour dwells can indeed know no fear. saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the 29 We admire the zeal and courage of St. Peter; but we are well instructed in the striking distinction between self-confidence and faith *. water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, save me. O blessed Jesus! be Thou ever near to us also ; to stretch forth thy hand and save us, that we sink not. In all our troubles and in all our fears, may we also look to Thee. and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might 36 36 How extensive the benevolence of our Lord! like his power, infinite! only touch the hem of his garment and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. CHAPTER XV. JAN. 17, MAY 17, Sept. 14. 5 When parents are aged and infirm and poor, children are bound, by every tie of religion and humanity, to support them, if they have the THEN came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear and understand : 11 Because" out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Ver. 19 explains this. 11 not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; means but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. * The Pharisees taught, that if a son would make over his goods ostensibly to religious purposes, he would be free from this filial obligation. Our blessed Saviour, in the tenderness of his human nature, revolts at such a doctrine; and in the wisdom of his divine nature, exposes the fallacy, and shows that the reasoning militates equally against the law of nature and the law of God. |