
{1}1{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{I}1_{/}Several people have set themselves to relate the 
events that have taken place among us, [*]_{I}2_{/}as they were told 
by the first witnesses who later became ministers of the Word. 
{I}3_{/}After I myself had carefully gone over the whole story from 
the beginning, it seemed right for me to give you, Theophilus, an 
orderly account, [=]_[*]_{I}4{/}so that your Excellency may know the 
truth of all you have been taught.

{N}THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST FORETOLD{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a 
priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. 
Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife, also belonged to a priestly family. 
{R}_{I}6_{/}Both of them were upright in the eyes of God and lived 
blamelessly in accordance with all the laws and commands of the 
Lord, [=]_{I}7_{/}but they had no child. Elizabeth could not have any 
and now they were both very old.
[*]_{R}_{I}8_{/}Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling 
their office, {R}_{I}9_{/}it fell to him by lot, according to the custom 
of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn 
incense. {I}10_{/}At the time of offering incense all the people were 
praying outside; [=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}it was then that an angel of the Lord 
appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of 
incense. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}12_{/}On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply 
troubled and fear took hold of him.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah, 
be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth 
will bear you a son and you shall name him John. [=]_{I}14_{/}He will 
bring joy and gladness to you and many will rejoice at his birth.
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord. 
Listen: he shall never drink wine or strong drink, but he will be 
filled with holy spirit even from his mother's womb. 
[=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}Through him many of the people of Israel will turn to 
the Lord their God. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}17_{/}He himself will open the way to 
the Lord with the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; he will 
reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom 
and righteousness, in order to make ready for the Lord a people 
prepared."
[*]_{R}_{I}18_{/}Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I believe this? I 
am an old man and my wife is elderly, too." [=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}The angel 
replied, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I am the one 
sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will 
come true in their time. {I}20_{/}But you would not believe and now 
you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened." 
{R}_{I}21_{/}Meanwhile the people waited for Zechariah, and they were 
surprised that he delayed so long in the sanctuary. {I}22_{/}When he 
finally appeared, he could not speak to them and they realized 
that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He remained dumb and 
made signs to them.
{R}_{I}23_{/}When his time of service was completed, Zechariah returned 
home {I}24_{/}and some time later Elizabeth became pregnant. For five 
months she kept to herself, remaining at home, and thinking, 
[=]_{I}25_{/}"What is the Lord doing for me! This is his time for 
mercy and for taking away my public disgrace."

{N}THE ANNUNCIATION{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}26_{/}In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God 
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent [*]_{R}_{I}27_{/}to a 
young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the 
family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
[=]_{I}28_{/}The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, 
the Lord is with you." {R}_{I}29_{/}Mary was troubled at these words, 
wondering what this greeting could mean. 
[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has 
looked kindly on you. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}31_{/}You shall conceive and bear a 
son and you shall call him Jesus. {R}_{I}32_{/}He will be great and shall 
rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him 
the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people 
of Jacob for-ever [=]_{I}33_{/}and his reign shall have no end."
[*]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a 
virgin?" [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}35_{/}And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit 
will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow 
you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of 
God. {I}36_{/}Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her 
old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now 
in her sixth month. [=]_{R}_{I}37_{/}With God nothing is impossible."
{R}_{I}38_{/}Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be 
done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.

{N}MARY VISITS ELIZABETH{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}39_{/}Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. 
{R}_{I}40_{/}She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 
{R}_{I}41_{/}When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her 
womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and [=]_{I}42_{/}giving a 
loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is 
the fruit of your womb! {I}43_{/}How is it that the mother of my Lord 
comes to me? {I}44_{/}The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the 
baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. {I}45_{/}Blessed are you who 
believed that the Lord's word would come true!"
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}46_{/}And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
{R}_{I}47_{/}my spirit exults in God my savior!
[=]_{I}48_{/}He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness,
and people forever will call me blessed.
{I}49_{/}The Mighty One has done great things for me,
Holy is his Name!
[=]_{I}50_{/}From age to age his mercy extends
to those who live in his presence.
[=]_{I}51_{/}He has acted with power and done wonders,
and scattered the proud with their plans.
[=]_{I}52_{/}He has put down the mighty from their thrones
and lifted up those who are downtrodden.
{I}53_{/}He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
{R}_{I}54_{/}He held out his hand to Israel, his servant,
for he remembered his mercy,
[=]_{I}55_{/}even as he promised our fathers,
Abraham and his descendants forever."
{R}_{I}56_{/}Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then 
returned home.

{N}BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST{/}

[\u0095]_{I}57_{/}When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a 
son. {I}58_{/}Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord 
had done a wonderful thing for her and they rejoiced with her.
[=]_{R}_{I}59_{/}When on the eighth day they came to attend the 
circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after 
his father. {R}_{I}60_{/}But his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called 
John." [=]_{I}61_{/}They said to her, "No one in your family has that 
name"; {I}62_{/}and they asked the father by means of signs for the 
name he wanted to give. {R}_{I}63_{/}Zechariah asked for a writing tablet 
and wrote on it, "His name is John," and they were very surprised. 

{R}_{I}64_{/}Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words 
were in praise of God.
{I}65_{/}A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout 
the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events. {I}66_{/}All 
who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, "What will 
this child be?" For they understood that the hand of the Lord was 
with him.
[=]_{R}_{I}67_{/}Zechariah, filled with holy spirit, sang this canticle,
[*]_{R}_{I}68_{/}"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has come and redeemed his people.
[=]_{R}_{I}69_{/}He has raised up for us a victorious Savior
in the house of David his servant,
{R}_{I}70_{/}as he promised through his prophets of old,
[=]_{I}71_{/}salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of our foes.
[=]_{R}_{I}72_{/}He has shown mercy to our fathers
and remembered his holy covenant,
{R}_{I}73_{/}the oath he swore to Abraham, our father,
[=]_{I}74_{/}to deliver us from the enemy,
[=]_{I}75_{/}that we might serve him fearlessly
as a holy and righteous people
all the days of our lives.
[=]_{R}_{I}76_{/}And you, my child,
shall be called prophet of the Most High,
for you shall go before the Lord
to prepare the way for him
{I}77_{/}and enable his people to know of their salvation
when he comes to forgive their sins.
[=]_{R}_{I}78_{/}This is the work of the mercy of our God,
who comes from on high as a rising sun
{R}_{I}79_{/}shining on those who live in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and guiding our feet into the way of peace."
[=]_{R}_{I}80_{/}As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the 
Spirit; he lived in the desert till the day when he appeared 
openly in Israel.

{N}THE BIRTH OF JESUS{/}

{1}2{/}

[\u0095]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}At that time the emperor issued a decree for a census 
of the whole empire to be taken. {I}2_{/}This first census was taken 
while Quirinus was governor of Syria. {I}3_{/}Everyone had to be 
registered in his own town. 
So everyone set out for his own city; [*]_{R}_{I}4_{/}Joseph too set out 
from Nazareth of Galilee. As he belonged to the family of David, 
being a descendant of his, he went to Judea to David's town of 
Bethlehem [=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was 
with child. 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}6_{/}They were in Bethlehem when the time came for her to 
have her child, {I}7_{/}and she gave birth to a son, her firstborn. 
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger, 
because there was no place for them in the living room.

{N}THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS{/}

[\u0095]_{I}8_{/}There were shepherds camping in the countryside, taking 
turns to watch over their flocks by night. {I}9_{/}Suddenly an angel 
of the Lord appeared to them, with the Glory of the Lord shining 
around them. 
As they were terrified, [*]_{I}10_{/}the angel said to them, "Don't be 
afraid; I am here to give you good news, great joy for all the 
people. {I}11{/}Today a Savior has been born to you in David's town; 
he is the Messiah and the Lord. [=]_[*]_{I}12_{/}Let this be a sign to 
you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying 
in a manger."
{R}_{I}13_{/}Suddenly the angel was surrounded by many more heavenly 
spirits, praising God and saying, [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}14_{/}"Glory to God in 
the highest; peace on earth for God is blessing humankind."
{R}_{I}15_{/}When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the 
shepherds said to one another, "Let us go as far as Bethlehem and 
see what the Lord has made known to us." {R}_{I}16_{/}So they came 
hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the 
manger. {I}17_{/}On seeing this they related what they had been told 
about the child, {I}18_{/}and all were astonished on hearing the 
shepherds.
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}19_{/}As for Mary, she treasured all these messages 
and continually pondered over them.
{R}_{I}20_{/}The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to God 
for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.
[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}On the eighth day the circumcision of the baby had to be 
performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him 
before he was conceived.

{N}JESUS IS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}22_{/}When the day came for the purification according to the 
law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem to present him 
to the Lord, [=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}as it is written in the law of the Lord: 
Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. {R}_{I}24_{/}And they 
offered a sacrifice as ordered in the law of the Lord: a pair of 
turtledoves or two young pigeons.
{R}_{I}25_{/}There lived in Jerusalem at this time a very upright and 
devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked 
forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel, 
[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would 
not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. {R}_{I}27_{/}So he was led 
into the Temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought 
the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law.
{R}_{I}28_{/}Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying,
{I}29_{/}"Now, O Lord, you can dismiss
your servant in peace,
for you have fulfilled your word
[=]_{I}30_{/}and my eyes have seen your salvation,
{I}31_{/}which you display for all the people to see.
[=]_{R}_{I}32_{/}Here is the light you will reveal to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."
{I}33_{/}His father and mother wondered at what was said about the 
child. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his 
mother, "See him; he will be for the rise or fall of the 
multitudes of Israel. He shall stand as a sign of contradiction, 
[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}while a sword will pierce your own soul. Then the secret 
thoughts of many may be brought to light."
[=]_{R}_{I}36_{/}There was also a prophetess named Anna, daughter of 
Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father's home, 
she had been seven years with her husband, and since then she had 
been continually about the Temple, serving God as a widow night 
and day in fasting and prayer. [=]_{I}37_{/}She was now eighty-four. 
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}Coming up at that time, she gave praise to God and spoke 
of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of 
Jerusalem.
[*]_{R}_{I}39_{/}When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by 
the law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in 
Galilee. [=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}There the child grew in stature and strength 
and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.

{N}I MUST BE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem 
for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary. {R}_{I}42_{/}And when 
Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them according to the 
custom for this feast. {R}_{I}43_{/}After the festival was over, they 
returned, but the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem and his parents 
did not know it.
{I}44_{/}They thought he was in the company and after walking the 
whole day they looked for him among their relatives and friends. 
{R}_{I}45_{/}As they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem 
searching for him, {R}_{I}46_{/}and on the third day they found him in 
the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and 
asking questions. [=]_{I}47_{/}And all the people were amazed at his 
understanding and his answers.
{I}48_{/}His parents were very surprised when they saw him and his 
mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your 
father and I were very worried while searching for you." 
[*]_{I}49_{/}Then he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Do 
you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" {I}50_{/}But they 
did not understand this answer.
{R}_{I}51_{/}Jesus went down with them, returning to Nazareth, and he 
continued to be subject to them. As for his mother, she kept all 
these things in her heart.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}52_{/}And Jesus increased in wisdom and age, and in divine 
and human favor.

{N}JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY{/}

{1}3{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor 
Tiberius; Pontius Pilatus was governor of Judea; Herod ruled over 
Galilee, his brother Philip ruled over the country of Iturea and 
Trachonitis, and Lysanias over Abilene. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Annas and 
Caiaphas were the High Priests at that time when the word of God 
came to John, the son of Zechariah in the desert.
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}3_{/}John proclaimed a baptism for repentant people to obtain 
forgiveness of sins and he went through the whole country 
bordering the Jordan River. [*]_{R}_{I}4_{/}It was just as is written in 
the book of the prophet Isaiah: listen to this voice crying out in 
the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. 
[=]_{I}5_{/}The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills 
made low. Everything crooked will be made straight and the rough 
paths smooth; [=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}and every mortal will see the salvation of 
God.
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}7_{/}John said to the crowds who came out to be baptized 
by him, "You brood of vipers! How will you escape when divine 
punishment comes? [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}Produce now the fruits of a true change 
of heart, and do not deceive yourselves by saying: 'Abraham is our 
ancestor!.' For I tell you, God can make children of Abraham from 
these stones. [=]_{I}9_{/}The axe is already laid to the root of the 
tree and every tree that fails to produce good fruit will be cut 
down and thrown into the fire."
[=]_[*]_{I}10_{/}The people asked him, "What are we to do?" {R}_{I}11_{/}And 
John answered, "If you have two coats, give one to the person who 
has none; and if you have food, do the same." 
[=]_{I}12_{/}Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked him, 
"Master, what must we do?" {R}_{I}13_{/}John said to them, "Collect no 
more than your fixed rate." {R}_{I}14_{/}People serving as soldiers asked 
John, "What about us? What are we to do?" And he answered, "Don't 
take anything by force or threaten the people by denouncing them 
falsely. Be content with your pay."
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}The people were wondering about John's identity, 
"Could he be the Messiah?" [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}16_{/}Then John answered them, 
"I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much 
more: he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I 
am not worthy to untie his sandal. [=]_{I}17_{/}He comes with a 
winnowing fan to clear his threshing floor and gather the grain 
into his barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never 
goes out."
{R}_{I}18_{/}With these and many other words John announced the Good News 
to the people [=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}until Herod had him put in prison. For 
John reproached Herod for living with Herodias, his brother's 
wife, and for his evil deeds. {R}_{I}20_{/}Then Herod added another crime 
to all the rest he had committed: he put John in prison.

{N}JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Now, with all the people who came to be baptized, 
Jesus too was baptized. Then, while he was praying, the heavens 
opened: [=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily 
form of a dove and a voice from heaven was heard, "You are my Son, 
this day I have begotten you."
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}23_{/}When Jesus made his appearance, he had reached 
the age of thirty years. He was known as the son of Joseph, whose 
father and forefathers were: 
Heli, {R}_{I}24_{/}Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, Joseph, 
{I}25_{/}Matthathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, {I}26_{/}Maath, 
Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda, [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Joanan, Rhesa, 
Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, {I}28_{/}Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, 
Er, {R}_{I}29_{/}Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi, {R}_{I}30_{/}Simeon, 
Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, {R}_{I}31_{/}Melea, Menna, Mattatha, 
Nathan, David, [=]_{I}32_{/}Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahson, 
{R}_{I}33_{/}Amminadab, Adnim, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, {R}_{I}34_{/}Jacob, 
Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, [=]_{I}35_{/}Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, 
Shelah, [=]_{I}36_{/}Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, 
[=]_{I}37_{/}Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Malaleel, Cainan, {R}_{I}38_{/}Enos, 
Seth, and Adam - who was from God.

{N}JESUS TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS{/}

{1}4{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Jesus was now full of Holy Spirit. As he returned 
from the Jordan, the Spirit led him into the desert {I}2_{/}where he 
was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything 
during that time, and in the end he was hungry. [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}The devil 
then said to him, "If you are son of God, tell this stone to turn 
into bread." [=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}But Jesus answered, "Scripture says: People 
cannot live on bread alone."
[=]_[*]_{I}5_{/}Then the devil took him up to a high place and showed 
him in a flash all the nations of the world. {R}_{I}6_{/}And he said to 
Jesus, "I can give you power over all the nations and their wealth 
will be yours, for power and wealth have been delivered to me and 
I give them to whom I wish. {I}7_{/}All this will be yours provided 
you worship me." [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}But Jesus replied, "Scripture says: You 
shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone."
{R}_{I}9_{/}Then the devil took him up to Jerusalem and set him on the 
highest wall of the Temple; and he said, "If you are son of God, 
throw yourself down from here, [=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}for it is written: God 
will order his angels to take care of you [=]_{I}11_{/}and again: They 
will hold you in their hands, lest you hurt your foot on the 
stones." [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}But Jesus replied, "It is written: You shall 
not challenge the Lord your God." 
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}When the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus 
he left him, to return another time.

{N}JESUS PROCLAIMS HIS MISSION AT NAZARETH{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Jesus acted with the power of the Spirit, and on his 
return to Galilee the news about him spread throughout all that 
territory. [=]_{I}15_{/}He began teaching in the synagogues of the 
Jews and everyone praised him.
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}16_{/}When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been 
brought up, he entered the synagogue on the sabbath as he usually 
did. {R}_{I}17_{/}He stood up to read and they handed him the book of the 
prophet Isaiah.
Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is 
written: [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}18_{/}"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has 
anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to 
captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed 
[=]_{I}19_{/}and announce the Lord's year of mercy."
{R}_{I}20_{/}Jesus then rolled up the scroll, gave it to the attendant 
and sat down, while the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on 
him. [*]_{I}21_{/}Then he said to them, "Today these prophetic words 
come true even as you listen."
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}All agreed with him and were lost in wonder, while he 
kept on speaking of the grace of God. Nevertheless they asked, 
"Who is this but Joseph's son?" [=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}So he said, "Doubtless 
you will quote me the saying: Doctor, heal yourself! Do here in 
your town what they say you did in Capernaum."
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}24_{/}Jesus added, "No prophet is honored in his own 
country. [=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in 
Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for 
three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole 
land. [=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a 
widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}There were 
also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and 
no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian."
{I}28_{/}On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. 
{I}29_{/}They rose up and brought him out of the town, [=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}to 
the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to 
throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and 
went his way.

{N}WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and 
began teaching the people at the sabbath meetings. {I}32_{/}They were 
astonished at the way he taught them, for his word was spoken with 
authority.
{R}_{I}33_{/}In the synagogue there was a man possessed by an evil spirit 
who shouted in a loud voice, {R}_{I}34_{/}"What do you want with us, 
Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I recognize you: 
you are the Holy One of God." [=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}Then Jesus said to him 
sharply, "Be silent and leave this man!" The evil spirit then 
threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without 
doing him harm. 
{I}36_{/}Amazement seized all these people and they said to one 
another, "What does this mean? He commands the evil spirits with 
authority and power. He orders, and you see how they come out!" 
{R}_{I}37_{/}And news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding area.
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the house of Simon. 
His mother-in-law was suffering from high fever and they asked him 
to do something for her. {I}39_{/}Bending over her, he rebuked the 
fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and waited on them.
[=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}At sunset, people suffering from many kinds of sickness 
were brought to Jesus. Laying his hands on each one, he healed 
them. [=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}Demons were driven out, howling as they departed 
from their victims, "You are the Son of God!" He rebuked them and 
would not allow them to speak, for they knew he was the Messiah.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}Jesus left at daybreak and looked for a solitary 
place. People went out in search of him and, finding him, they 
tried to dissuade him from leaving. [=]_{R}_{I}43_{/}But he said, "I have 
to go to other towns to announce the good news of the kingdom of 
God. That is what I was sent to do." [=]_{R}_{I}44_{/}So Jesus continued 
to preach in the synagogues of the Jewish country.

{N}YOU WILL CATCH PEOPLE{/}

{1}5{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}One day, as Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 
with a crowd gathered around him listening to the word of God, 
{R}_{I}2_{/}he caught sight of two boats left at the water's edge by the 
fishermen now washing their nets. {R}_{I}3_{/}He got into one of the 
boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a 
little from the shore. There he sat and continued to teach the 
crowd.
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, "Put out 
into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." {R}_{I}5_{/}Simon 
replied, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But 
if you say so, I will lower the nets." {I}6_{/}This they did and 
caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 
{I}7_{/}They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and 
help them. They came and filled both boats almost to the point of 
sinking.
{R}_{I}8_{/}Upon seeing this, Simon Peter fell at Jesus' knees, saying, 
"Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" [=]_{I}9_{/}For he and his 
companions were amazed at the catch they had made [=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}and so 
were Simon's partners, James and John, Zebedee's sons.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. You will catch people from 
now on." [=]_{I}11_{/}So they brought their boats to land and followed 
him, leaving everything.

{N}CURE OF A LEPER{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}One day in another town, a man came to Jesus covered 
with leprosy. On seeing him he bowed down to the ground, and said, 
"Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean."
{R}_{I}13_{/}Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched the man and said, 
"Yes, I want it. Be clean." In an instant the leprosy left him. 
[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Then Jesus instructed him, "Tell this to no one. But go 
and show yourself to the priest. Make an offering for your 
healing, as Moses prescribed; that should be a proof to the 
people."
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}15_{/}But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and large 
crowds came to him to listen and be healed of their sickness. 
[=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}As for Jesus, he would often withdraw to solitary places 
and pray.

{N}THE PARALYTIC SAVED{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}One day Jesus was teaching and many Pharisees and 
teachers of the Law had come from every part of Galilee and Judea 
and even from Jerusalem. They were sitting there while the power 
of the Lord was at work to heal the sick. {R}_{I}18_{/}Then some men 
brought a paralyzed man who lay on his mat. They tried to enter 
the house to place him before Jesus, [*]_{R}_{I}19_{/}but they couldn't 
find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and, 
removing the tiles, they lowered him on his mat into the middle of 
the crowd, in front of Jesus.
{R}_{I}20_{/}When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "My friend, 
your sins are forgiven." {R}_{I}21_{/}At once the teachers of the Law and 
the Pharisees began to wonder, "This man insults God! Who can 
forgive sins but only God?"
{R}_{I}22_{/}But Jesus knew their thoughts and asked them, "Why are you 
reacting like this? {I}23_{/}Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are 
forgiven,' or: 'Get up and walk'? {R}_{I}24_{/}Now you shall know that 
the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." And Jesus 
said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 
{R}_{I}25_{/}At once the man stood before them. He took up the mat he had 
been lying on and went home praising God.
[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}Amazement seized the people and they praised God. They 
were filled with a holy fear and said, "What wonderful things we 
have seen today!"

{N}CALL OF LEVI{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}After this Jesus went out, and as he noticed a tax 
collector named Levi sitting in the tax-office, he said to him, 
"Follow me." {R}_{I}28_{/}So Levi, leaving everything, got up and 
followed Jesus.
[=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}Levi gave a great feast for Jesus, and many tax 
collectors came to his house and took their place at table with 
the other people. [=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}Then the Pharisees and their fellow 
teachers complained to Jesus' disciples, "How is it that you eat 
and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?" [=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}But 
Jesus spoke up, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick 
people do. [=]_{I}32_{/}I have come to call to repentance; I call 
sinners, not the righteous."
[=]_{R}_{I}33_{/}Some people asked him, "The disciples of John fast often 
and say long prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. 
Why is it that your disciples eat and drink?" Then Jesus said to 
them, [=]_{I}34_{/}"You can't make wedding guests fast while the 
bridegroom is with them. [=]_{I}35_{/}But later the bridegroom will be 
taken from them and they will fast in those days."
[*]_{R}_{I}36_{/}Jesus also told them this parable, "No one tears a piece 
from a new coat to put it on an old one; otherwise the new will be 
torn and the piece taken from the new will not match the old. 
{I}37_{/}No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new 
wine will burst the skins and be spilled, and the skins will be 
destroyed as well. {I}38_{/}But new wine must be put into fresh skins. 
[=]_{I}39_{/}Yet no one who has tasted old wine is eager to get new 
wine, but says: The old is good."

{N}JESUS, LORD OF THE SABBATH{/}

{1}6{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}One sabbath Jesus was going through the corn fields and 
his disciples began to pick heads of grain crushing them in their 
hands for food. [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Some of the Pharisees asked them, "Why do 
you do what is forbidden on the sabbath?" [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}Then Jesus 
spoke, "Have you never read what David did when he and his men 
were hungry?" [=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}He entered the house of God, took and ate 
the bread of the offering and even gave some to his men, though 
only priests are allowed to eat that bread." {R}_{I}5_{/}And Jesus added, 
"The Son of Man is Lord and rules over the sabbath."
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}On another sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began 
teaching. There was a man with a paralyzed right hand {R}_{I}7_{/}and the 
teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched him: Would Jesus 
heal the man on the sabbath? If he did, they could accuse him. 
{R}_{I}8_{/}But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man, "Get up 
and stand in the middle." [=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}Then he spoke to them, "I want 
to ask you: what is allowed by the Law on the sabbath, to do good 
or to do harm, to save life or destroy it?" [=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}And Jesus 
looked around at them all.
Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it 
out and his hand was restored, becoming as whole as the other. 
{R}_{I}11_{/}But they were furious and began to discuss with one another 
how they could deal with Jesus.

{N}THE TWELVE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}At this time Jesus went out into the hills to pray, 
spending the whole night in prayer with God. [=]_{I}13_{/}When day 
came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them whom 
he called apostles: [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Simon, whom he named Peter, and 
his brother Andrew, James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 
{R}_{I}15_{/}Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alpheus and Simon called 
the Zealot; {R}_{I}16_{/}Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who 
would be the traitor.

{N}BLESSINGS AND WOES{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Coming down the hill with them, Jesus stood on a 
level place. Many of his disciples were there and a large crowd of 
people who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem and from 
the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon. [=]_{I}18_{/}They gathered to 
hear him and be healed of their diseases; likewise people troubled 
by evil spirits were healed. [=]_{I}19_{/}All the crowd tried to touch 
him because of the power which went out from him and healed them 
all.
[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}Then lifting up his eyes to his disciples, Jesus said,
"Fortunate are you who are poor, the kingdom of God is yours."
[=]_{I}21{/}Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be 
filled.
Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject 
you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the 
Son of Man. {R}_{I}23_{/}Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a 
great reward is kept for you in heaven. Remember that is how the 
ancestors of this people treated the prophets.
[=]_{I}24_{/}But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been 
comforted now.
[=]_{I}25_{/}Alas for you who are full, for you will go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
{R}_{I}26_{/}Alas for you when people speak well of you, for that is how 
the ancestors of these people treated the false prophets.

{N}LOVE OF ENEMIES{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}27_{/}But I say to you who hear me: Love your enemies, do 
good to those who hate you. {I}28_{/}Bless those who curse you and 
pray for those who treat you badly. [=]_{I}29_{/}To the one who 
strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; from the one who 
takes your coat, do not keep back your shirt. [=]_{I}30_{/}Give to the 
one who asks and if anyone has taken something from you, do not 
demand it back.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}31_{/}Do to others as you would have others do to you. 
[=]_{I}32_{/}If you love only those who love you, what kind of 
graciousness is yours? Even sinners love those who love them. 
{I}33_{/}If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of 
graciousness is yours? Even sinners do the same. {R}_{I}34_{/}If you lend 
only when you expect to receive, what kind of graciousness is 
yours? For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive 
something in return.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}But love your enemies and do good to them, and lend 
when there is nothing to expect in return. Then will your reward 
be great and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High. For 
he is kind towards the ungrateful and the wicked. [=]_{I}36_{/}Be 
merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
[=]_{I}37_{/}Don't be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do 
not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be 
forgiven; [=]_{I}38_{/}give and it will be given to you, and you will 
receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running 
over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive 
back."
[=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}And Jesus offered this example, "Can a blind person lead 
another blind person? Surely both will fall into a ditch. 
[=]_{I}40_{/}A disciple is not above the master; but when fully 
trained, he will be like the master. [=]_{I}41_{/}So why do you pay 
attention to the speck in your brother's eye while you have a log 
in your eye and are not conscious of it? {I}42_{/}How can you say to 
your neighbor: 'Friend, let me take this speck out of your eye,' 
when you can't remove the log in your own? You hypocrite! First 
remove the log from your own eye and then you will see clearly 
enough to remove the speck from your neighbor's eye.
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{I}43_{/}No healthy tree bears bad fruit,  no poor tree 
bears good fruit. {I}44_{/}And each tree is known by the fruit it 
bears: you don't gather figs from thorns, or grapes from brambles. 
{I}45_{/}Similarly the good person draws good things from the good 
stored in the heart, and an     evil person draws evil things from 
the evil stored in the heart. For the mouth speaks from the 
fullness of the heart.
[=]_[*]_{I}46_{/}Why do you call me: 'Lord! Lord!' and not do what I 
say? [=]_{I}47_{/}I will show you what the one who comes to me and 
listens to my words and acts accordingly, is like. {I}48_{/}That one 
is like the builder who dug deep and laid the foundations of his 
house on rock. The river overflowed and the stream dashed against 
the house, but could not carry it off because the house had been 
well built. 
{R}_{I}49_{/}But the one who listens and does not act, is like a man who 
built his house on the ground without a foundation. The flood 
burst against it, and the house fell at once: and what a terrible 
disaster that was!"

{N}THE FAITH OF A PAGAN{/}

{1}7{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}When Jesus had finished teaching in this way to the 
people, he went to Capernaum.
[*]_{R}_{I}2_{/}There was a captain whose servant was very sick and near 
to death, a man very dear to him. [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}So when he heard about 
Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to persuade him to come and 
save his servant's life. {R}_{I}4_{/}The elders came to Jesus and begged 
him earnestly, saying, {I}5_{/}"He deserves this of you, for he loves 
our people and even built a synagogue for us."
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when 
the captain sent friends to give this message, "Sir, do not 
trouble yourself for I am not worthy to welcome you under my roof. 
{R}_{I}7_{/}You see I didn't approach you myself. Just give the order and 
my servant will be healed. {I}8_{/}For I myself, a junior officer, 
give orders to my soldiers and I say to this one: 'Go,' and he 
goes; and to the other: 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant: 
'Do this,' and he does it."
{R}_{I}9_{/}On hearing these words, Jesus was filled with admiration. He 
turned and said to the people with him, "I say to you, not even in 
Israel have I found such great faith." [=]_{I}10_{/}The people sent by 
the captain went back to his house; there they found that the 
servant was well.

{N}THE SON OF A WIDOW RESTORED TO LIFE{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}11_{/}A little later Jesus went to a town called Naim and many 
of his disciples went with him - a great number of people. 
[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}As he reached the gate of the town, a dead man was being 
carried out. He was the only son of his mother and she was a 
widow; there followed a large crowd of townspeople.
[*]_{I}13_{/}On seeing her, the Lord had pity on her and said, "Don't 
cry." {R}_{I}14_{/}Then he came up and touched the stretcher and the men 
who carried it stopped. Jesus then said, "Young man, awake, I tell 
you." [=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}And the dead man got up and began to speak, and 
Jesus gave him to his mother. [=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}A holy fear came over them 
all and they praised God saying, "A great prophet has appeared 
among us; God has visited his people." {R}_{I}17_{/}This news spread out 
in the Jewish country and the surrounding places. 

{N}JESUS ANSWERS THE MESSENGERS OF JOHN {/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}The disciples of John gave him all this news. So he 
called two of them and {I}19_{/}sent them to the Lord with this 
message, "Are you the one we are expecting, or should we wait for 
another?" {R}_{I}20_{/}These men came to Jesus and said, "John the 
Baptist sent us to ask you: Are you the one we are to expect, or 
should we wait for another?"
[*]_{R}_{I}21_{/}At that time Jesus healed many people of their 
sicknesses or diseases; he freed them from evil spirits and he 
gave sight to the blind. [=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Then he answered the 
messengers, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: 
the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the 
deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor are given 
good news. Now, listen: [=]_{I}23_{/}Fortunate are those who encounter 
me, but not for their downfall."
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began 
speaking to the people about John. And he said, "What did you want 
to see when you went to the desert? A tall reed blowing in the 
wind? [=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}What was there to see? A man dressed in fine 
clothes? But people who wear fine clothes and enjoy delicate food 
are found in palaces. {R}_{I}26_{/}What did you go out to see? A prophet? 
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}For John is 
the one foretold in Scripture in these words: I am sending my 
messenger ahead of you to prepare your ways. {R}_{I}28_{/}No one may be 
found greater than John among those born of women but, I tell you, 
the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.
[=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}All the people listening to him, even the tax 
collectors, had acknowledged the will of God in receiving the 
baptism of John, [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}30_{/}whereas the Pharisees and the 
teachers of the Law, in not letting themselves be baptized by him, 
ignored the will of God.
{I}31_{/}What comparison can I use for this people? What are they 
like? {I}32_{/}They are like children sitting in the marketplace, 
about whom their companions complain: 'We piped you a tune and you 
wouldn't dance; we sang funeral songs and you wouldn't cry.'
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}33_{/}Remember John: he didn't eat bread or drink wine, 
and you said: 'He has an evil spirit.' {R}_{I}34_{/}Next came the Son of 
Man, eating and drinking, and you say: 'Look, a glutton for food 
and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' [*]_{I}35_{/}But 
the children of Wisdom always recognize her work."

{N}JESUS, THE WOMAN AND THE PHARISEE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}36_{/}One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to share his meal, 
so he went to the Pharisee's home and as usual reclined on the 
sofa to eat. {I}37_{/}And it happened that a woman of this town, who 
was known as a sinner, heard that he was in the Pharisee's house. 
She brought a precious jar of perfume [=]_{I}38_{/}and stood behind 
him at his feet, weeping. She wet his feet with tears, she dried 
them with her hair and kissed his feet and poured the perfume on 
them. 
[=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}The Pharisee who had invited Jesus was watching and 
thought, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of 

person is touching him; isn't this woman a sinner?" 
{R}_{I}40_{/}Then Jesus spoke to the Pharisee and said, "Simon, I have 
something to ask you." He answered, "Speak, master." And Jesus 
said, {I}41_{/}"Two people were in debt to the same creditor. One owed 
him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. {I}42_{/}As they 
were unable to pay him back, he graciously canceled the debts of 
both. Now, which of them will love him more?"
{R}_{I}43_{/}Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, who was forgiven more." 
And Jesus said, "You are right." [=]_{R}_{I}44_{/}And turning toward the 
woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? {R}_{I}45_{/}You gave me 
no water for my feet when I entered your house, but she has washed 
my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn't 
welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet 
since she came in. {I}46_{/}You provided no oil for my head, but she 
has poured perfume on my feet. [=]_{I}47_{/}This is why, I tell you, 

her sins, her many sins, are forgiven, because of her great love. 
But the one who is forgiven little, has little love."
{R}_{I}48_{/}Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." 
{R}_{I}49_{/}The others sitting with him at the table began to wonder, 
"Now this man claims to forgive sins!" [=]_{R}_{I}50_{/}But Jesus again 
spoke to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

{N}THE WOMEN WHO FOLLOWED JESUS{/}

{1}8{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Jesus walked through towns and countryside, preaching 
and giving the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve 
followed him, [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}and also some women who had been healed of 
evil spirits and diseases: Mary called Magdalene, who had been 
freed of seven demons; [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}3_{/}Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's 
steward; Suzanna and others who provided for them out of their own 
funds.

{N}THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}As a great crowd gathered and people came to him from 
every town, Jesus began teaching them through stories, or 
parables, {I}5_{/}"The sower went out to sow the seed. And as he 
sowed, some of the grain fell along the way, was trodden on and 
the birds of the sky ate it up. {R}_{I}6_{/}Some fell on rocky ground, 
and no sooner had it come up than it withered, because it had no 
water. {I}7_{/}Some fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with the 
seed and choked it. [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}But some fell on good soil and grew, 
producing fruit - a hundred times as much." And Jesus cried out, 
"Listen then, if you have ears to hear!"
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}9_{/}The disciples asked him, "What does this story mean?" 
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}And Jesus answered, "You have been granted to know the 
mystery of the kingdom of God. But to others it is given in the 
form of stories, or parables, so that seeing they may not perceive 
and hearing they may not understand." 
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Now, this is the point of the parable:
The seed is the word of God. [*]_{I}12_{/}Those along the wayside are 
people who hear it, but immediately the devil comes and takes the 
word from their minds, for he doesn't want them to believe and be 
saved. {I}13_{/}Those on the rocky ground are people who receive the 
word with joy, but they have no root; they believe for a while and 
give way in time of trial. [=]_{I}14_{/}Among the thorns are people 
who hear the word but as they go their way, are choked by worries, 
riches, and the pleasures of life; they bring no fruit to 
maturity. [=]_{I}15_{/}The good soil, instead, are people who receive 
the word and keep it in a gentle and generous mind, and 
persevering patiently, they bear fruit.
[=]_[*]_{I}16_{/}No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl 
or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lampstand so that 
people coming in may see the light. [=]_{I}17_{/}In the same way, 
there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept 
secret that shall not be known clearly. [=]_{I}18_{/}Now, take care 
how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but 
from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be 
taken away from them."

{N}JESUS' MOTHER AND BROTHERS {/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}19_{/}Then his mother and his relatives came to him, but 
they could not get to him because of the crowd. {I}20_{/}Someone told 
him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish 
to meet you." [=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Then Jesus answered, "My mother and my 
brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

{N}JESUS CALMS THE STORM{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and 
said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." 
{R}_{I}23_{/}So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. Suddenly 
a storm came down on the lake and the boat began to fill with 
water, and they were in danger. {R}_{I}24_{/}The disciples then went to 
Jesus to wake him, saying, "Master! Master! We are sinking!" Jesus 
woke up. He rebuked the wind and the rolling waves; the storm 
subsided, and all was quiet.
{R}_{I}25_{/}Then Jesus said to them, "Where is your faith?" They had 
been afraid; now they were astonished and said to one another, 
"Who can this be? See, he commands even the wind and the sea and 
they obey him!"

{N}THE POSSESSED MAN AND THE PIGS {/}

[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}The crossing ended at the country of the Gerasenes, on 
the shore facing Galilee. {R}_{I}27_{/}As Jesus stepped ashore, a man 
from the town approached him. This man was possessed by demons and 
for a long time was without clothes. He would not live in a house 
but stayed among the tombstones. {R}_{I}28_{/}When he came nearer to 
Jesus, he yelled and threw himself on the ground before him, and 
then shouted, "What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most 
High God? I beg you, do not torment me"; [=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}for Jesus had 
ordered the evil spirit to leave the man.
This spirit had seized him many times, when he had been bound with 
ropes and chains and kept under control. He would then suddenly 
break the chains and be driven by the evil spirit into wild 
places.
When Jesus asked him, {R}_{I}30_{/}"What is your name?" the man said, "I 
am Legion," because many demons had entered into him. {R}_{I}31_{/}And 
they begged Jesus not to command them to go into the bottomless 
pit. {R}_{I}32_{/}Nearby a great herd of pigs was feeding, so the demons 
asked to be allowed to enter the pigs, and Jesus let them go. 
{R}_{I}33_{/}The demons then left the man and entered the pigs, and the 
herd rushed down into the lake and was drowned.
{I}34_{/}When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and 
reported it in the town and countryside. {R}_{I}35_{/}Then people went 
out to see what had happened and came to Jesus. There they saw the 
man from whom the demons had been driven out. He was clothed and 
in his right mind, and was sitting at the feet of Jesus. They were 
afraid. {R}_{I}36_{/}Then people who had seen it told them how the man 
had been healed, {R}_{I}37_{/}and all this crowd from the Gerasene 
country asked Jesus to depart from them, for a great fear took 
hold of them. So Jesus got into the boat to return.
{R}_{I}38_{/}It was then that the man freed of the demons asked Jesus if 
he could stay with him. {R}_{I}39_{/}But Jesus sent him on his way, "Go 
back to your family and tell them how much God has done for you." 
So the man went away, proclaiming through the whole town how much 
Jesus had done for him.

{N}A WOMAN IS HEALED AND A CHILD RAISED TO LIFE {/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}When Jesus returned, the people welcomed him, for 
all had been waiting for him. {R}_{I}41_{/}At that time a man named 
Jairus, an official of the synagogue, threw himself at Jesus' feet 
and begged him to come to his house {R}_{I}42_{/}because his only 
daughter, about twelve years old, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowd pressed from every side. 
[*]_{I}43_{/}There was a woman who had suffered from a bleeding for 
twelve years. This woman had spent everything she had on doctors, 
but none of them had been able to cure her. [=]_{R}_{I}44_{/}Now she came 
up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his cloak, and her 
bleeding stopped at once. {R}_{I}45_{/}Then Jesus asked, "Who touched 
me?" Everyone denied it and Peter said, "Master, the crowd is 
pushing all around you." {R}_{I}46_{/}But Jesus said, "Someone touched 
me, for I felt power go out from me."
{R}_{I}47_{/}The woman knew she had been discovered. She came trembling 
and knelt before Jesus. Then she openly confessed why she had 
touched him and how she had been instantly cured. {R}_{I}48_{/}And Jesus 
said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
{R}_{I}49_{/}While Jesus was still speaking, a messenger arrived from the 
official's home to tell him, "Your daughter has just died; don't 
trouble the master any further." {R}_{I}50_{/}But Jesus heard the news 
and said to the official, "Do not fear, only believe."
{R}_{I}51_{/}When he entered the house, Jesus allowed no one to follow 
him except Peter, James and John, with the father and mother of 
the child. [=]_{R}_{I}52_{/}As all the people were weeping and wailing 
loudly, Jesus said to them, "Do not weep, she is not dead but 
asleep." {R}_{I}53_{/}And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 
{R}_{I}54_{/}As for Jesus, he took the child by the hand and said to her, 
"Child, wake up!" [=]_{R}_{I}55_{/}And her spirit returned and she got up 
at once; then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 
{R}_{I}56_{/}The parents were amazed, but Jesus ordered them not to let 
anyone know what had happened. 

{N}JESUS SENDS THE TWELVE ON A MISSION{/}

{1}9{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Then Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them 
power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal 
diseases. [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God 
and to heal the sick. {I}3_{/}He instructed them, "Don't take anything 
for the journey, neither walking stick, nor bag, nor bread, nor 
silver coins; and don't even take a spare tunic. [=]_{I}4_{/}Whatever 
house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. 
[=]_{I}5_{/}And wherever they don't welcome you, leave the town and 
shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against 
them."
{I}6_{/}So they set out and went through the villages, proclaiming the 
good news and healing people everywhere.
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}7_{/}King Herod heard of all this and did not know what to 
think, for people said, "This is John, raised from the dead." 
{R}_{I}8_{/}Others believed that Elijah or one of the ancient prophets 
had come back to life. [=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}As for Herod, he said, "I had John 
beheaded; who is this man about whom I hear such wonders?" And he 
was anxious to see him.

[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}10_{/}On their return the apostles told Jesus everything 
they had done. Then he took them aside to a lonely place, and they 
went away to a town called Bethsaida to be by themselves. 
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}But the crowd heard of this and caught up with him. So 
he welcomed them and began speaking about the kingdom of God, 
curing those who needed healing.

{N}MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES{/}

[\u0095]_{I}12_{/}The day was drawing to a close and the Twelve drew near 
to tell him, "Send the crowd away and let them go into the 
villages and farms around, to find lodging and food, for we are 
here in a lonely place." {R}_{I}13_{/}But Jesus replied, "You yourselves 
give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five 
loaves and two fish; do you want us to go and buy food enough for 
all this crowd?" {R}_{I}14_{/}For there were about five thousand men. 
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Make people sit down in groups 
of fifties."
{I}15_{/}So they made all of them settle down. [=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}Jesus then 
took the five loaves and two fish, and raising his eyes to heaven, 
pronounced a blessing over them; he broke them and gave them to 
the disciples to distribute to the crowd. [=]_{I}17_{/}They ate and 
everyone had enough; and when they gathered up what was left, 
twelve baskets were filled with broken pieces.

{N}PETER'S PROFESSION OF FAITH{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}One day when Jesus was praying alone, not far from 
his disciples, he asked them, "What do people say about me?" 
[=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}And they answered, "Some say that you are John the 
Baptist; others say that you are Elijah, and still others that you 
are one of the former prophets risen from the dead." Again Jesus 
asked them, {R}_{I}20_{/}"Who then do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The 
Messiah of God." [=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them 
strict orders not to tell this to anyone.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}And he added, "The Son of Man must suffer many 
things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and 
teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he 
will be raised to life."
[=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}Jesus also said to all the people, "If you wish be a 
follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, 
and follow me. [=]_{I}24_{/}For if you choose to save your life, you 
will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save 
it. {I}25_{/}What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you 
destroy or damage yourself? [=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}If someone feels ashamed of 
me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he 
comes in his Glory and in the Glory of his Father with his holy 
angels. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Truly, I say to you, there are some here who 
will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God."

{N}THE TRANSFIGURATION{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}About eight days after Jesus had said all this, he 
took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. 
[=]_{I}29{/}And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was 
changed and his clothing became dazzling white. {R}_{I}30_{/}Two men were 
talking with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. {R}_{I}31_{/}They had just appeared 
in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that 
had to take place in Jerusalem.
{R}_{I}32_{/}Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke 
suddenly and saw Jesus' Glory and the two men standing with him. 
{R}_{I}33_{/}As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to him, 
"Master, how good it is for us to be here for we can make three 
tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." For Peter 
didn't know what to say. [=]_{I}34_{/}And no sooner had he spoken than 
a cloud appeared and covered them; and the disciples were afraid 
as they entered the cloud. [=]_{I}35_{/}Then these words came from the 
cloud, "This is my Son, my Chosen one, listen to him." {R}_{I}36_{/}And 
after the voice had spoken, Jesus was there alone.
The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one 
of anything they had seen.

{N}THE EPILEPTIC DEMONIAC{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}37_{/}The next day, when they came down from the mountain, 
quite a group met Jesus. {R}_{I}38_{/}A man among them called out, 
"Master, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. When the evil 
spirit seizes him, he suddenly screams. {R}_{I}39_{/}The spirit throws 
him into a fit and he foams at the mouth; it scarcely ever leaves 
him after wearing him out. {I}40_{/}I begged your disciples to drive 
it out, but they could not."
[=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}Jesus answered, "You faithless people! How wrong you 
are! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your 
son here." {R}_{I}42_{/}And while the boy was being brought, the demon 
knocked him to the ground and threw him into a fit. But Jesus 
spoke sharply to the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back 
to his father. [=]_{R}_{I}43_{/}And all who saw it were astonished at 
God's wonderful work.
While all were amazed at everything Jesus did, he said to his 
disciples, {R}_{I}44_{/}"Listen and remember what I tell you now: The Son 
of Man will be delivered into human hands." [=]_{I}45_{/}But the 
disciples didn't understand this saying; something prevented them 
from grasping what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him about 
it.

{N}WHO IS THE GREATEST?{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}46_{/}One day the disciples were arguing about which of 
them was the most important. {R}_{I}47_{/}But Jesus knew their thoughts, 
so he took a little child and stood him by his side. [=]_{I}48_{/}Then 
he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name 
welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent 
me. And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you 
all, is the one who is the greatest."
[=]_{R}_{I}49_{/}Then John spoke up, "Master, we saw someone who drove 
out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him 
because he doesn't follow you with us." [=]_{R}_{I}50_{/}But Jesus said, 
"Don't forbid him. He who is not against you is for you."

{N}JESUS UNWELCOME IN A SAMARITAN VILLAGE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}51_{/}As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up 
to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. [=]_{I}52_{/}He had 
sent ahead of him some messengers who entered a Samaritan village 
to prepare a lodging for him. {R}_{I}53_{/}But the people would not 
receive him because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 
[=]_{R}_{I}54_{/}Seeing this, James and John, his disciples said, "Lord, 
do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to 
ashes?" {R}_{I}55_{/}Jesus turned and rebuked them, [*]_{I}56_{/}and they 
went on to another village.

{N}THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}57_{/}As they went on their way, a man said to him, "I 
will follow you wherever you go." {R}_{I}58_{/}Jesus said to him, "Foxes 
have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has 
nowhere to lay his head."
{R}_{I}59_{/}To another Jesus said, "Follow me." But he answered, "Let me 
go back now, for first I want to bury my father." {R}_{I}60_{/}And Jesus 
said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them 
and proclaim the kingdom of God."
{I}61_{/}Another said to him, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let 
me say goodbye to my family." [=]_{R}_{I}62_{/}And Jesus said to him, 
"Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit 
for the kingdom of God."

{N}JESUS SENDS OUT THE SEVENTY{/}

{1}10{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}After this the Lord appointed seventy-two other 
disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and 
place, where he himself was to go. [=]_{I}2_{/}And he said to them, 
"The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the 
Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. 
[=]_{I}3_{/}Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 
[=]_{I}4_{/}Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop 
at the homes of those you know.
[=]_{I}5_{/}Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: 'Peace 
to this house.' {R}_{I}6_{/}If a friend of peace lives there, the peace 
shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return 
to you. [=]_{I}7_{/}Stay in that house eating and drinking at their 
table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house 
to house.
[\u0095]_{I}8_{/}When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer 
you. [=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}Heal the sick who are there and say to them: 'The 
kingdom of God has drawn near to you.' 
[=]_{I}10_{/}But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the 
marketplace and proclaim: {R}_{I}11_{/}'Even the dust of your town that 
clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know and 
be sure that the kingdom of God had come to you.' {R}_{I}12_{/}I tell you 
that on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for this 
town.
[=]_{I}13{/}Alas for you Chorazin! Alas for you Bethsaida! So many 
miracles have been worked in you! If the same miracles had been 
performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would already be sitting in 
ashes and wearing the sackcloth of repentance. {I}14_{/}Surely for 
Tyre and Sidon it will be better than for you on the Judgment Day. 
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}And what of you, city of Capernaum? Will you be lifted 
up to heaven? You will be thrown down to the place of the dead.
[=]_{I}16_{/}Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects 
you rejects me; and he who rejects me, rejects the one who sent 
me."

{N}JESUS GIVES THANKS TO THE FATHER {/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{I}17_{/}The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. 
They said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your 
name." [=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}Then Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like 
lightning from heaven. {R}_{I}19_{/}You see, I have given you authority 
to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power 
of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you. 
[=]_{I}20_{/}Nevertheless, don't rejoice because the evil spirits 
submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in 
heaven."
[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}At that time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy 
Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 
for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and 
made them known to the little ones. [=]_{I}22_{/}Yes, Father, such has 
been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my 
Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one 
knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to 
reveal him."
[=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them 
privately, "Fortunate are you to see what you see, [=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}for I 
tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what 
you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear 
it."

{N}THE GOOD SAMARITAN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}Then a teacher of the Law came and began putting 
Jesus to the test. And he said, "Master, what shall I do to 
receive eternal life?" {R}_{I}26_{/}Jesus replied, "What is written in 
the Scripture? How do you understand it?" [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}27_{/}The man 
answered, "It is written: You shall love the Lord your God with 
all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and 
with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself." 
{R}_{I}28_{/}Jesus replied, "What a good answer! Do this and you shall 
live." [*]_{R}_{I}29_{/}The man wanted to keep up appearances, so he 
replied, "Who is my neighbor?"
[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}Jesus then said, "There was a man going down from 
Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They 
stripped him, beat him and went off leaving him half dead.
{R}_{I}31_{/}It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw 
the man, but passed by on the other side. {R}_{I}32_{/}Likewise a Levite 
saw the man and passed by on the other side. [*]_{R}_{I}33_{/}But a 
Samaritan, too, was going that way, and when he came upon the man, 
he was moved with compassion. [=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}He went over to him and 
treated his wounds with oil and wine and wrapped them with 
bandages. Then he put him on his own mount and brought him to an 
inn where he took care of him. 
{I}35_{/}The next day he had to set off, but he gave two silver coins 
to the innkeeper and told him: 'Take care of him and whatever you 
spend on him, I will repay when I come back.'"
{R}_{I}36_{/}Jesus then asked, "Which of these three, do you think, made 
himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 
{R}_{I}37_{/}The teacher of the Law answered, "the one who had mercy on 
him." And Jesus said, "Go then and do the same."

{N}MARTHA AND MARY{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he 
entered a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her 
house. {R}_{I}39_{/}She had a sister named Mary who sat down at the 
Lord's feet to listen to his words. {I}40_{/}Martha, meanwhile, was 
busy with all the serving and finally she said, "Lord, don't you 
care that my sister has left me to do all the serving?"
[*]_{I}41_{/}But the Lord answered, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are 
troubled about many things, [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}42_{/}whereas only one thing 
is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be 
taken away from her."

{N}LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY{/}

{1}11{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}One day Jesus was praying in a certain place and when 
he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us 
to pray, just as John taught his disciples." [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}And Jesus 
said to them, "When you pray, say this:
Father, hallowed be your name,
may your kingdom come,
[=]_{I}3_{/}give us each day the kind of bread we need,
[=]_{I}4_{/}and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who do us 
wrong,
and do not bring us to the test."
[\u0095]_[*]_{R}_{I}5_{/}Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend 
and goes to his house in the middle of the night and says: 
'Friend, lend me three loaves, {I}6_{/}for a friend of mine who is 
traveling has just arrived and I have nothing to offer him.' 
{I}7_{/}Maybe your friend will answer from inside: 'Don't bother me 
now; the door is locked and my children and I are in bed, so I 
can't get up and give you anything.' [=]_{I}8_{/}But I tell you, even 
though he will not get up and attend to you because you are a 
friend, yet he will get up because you are a bother to him, and he 
will give you all you need.
[=]_[*]_{I}9_{/}And so I say to you, 'Ask and it will be given to you; 
seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. 
[=]_{I}10_{/}For the one who asks receives, and the one who searches 
finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
{R}_{I}11_{/}If your child asks for a fish, will you give a snake 
instead? [*]_{I}12_{/}And if your child asks for an egg, will you give 
a scorpion? [=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Even you evil people know how to give good 
gifts to your children, how much more then will the Father in 
heaven give holy spirit to those who ask him!"

{N}JESUS AND BEELZEBUL{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}14_{/}One day Jesus was driving out a dumb demon. When 
the demon had been driven out, the mute person could speak, and 
the people were amazed. {I}15_{/}Yet some of them said, "He drives out 
demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons." 
[=]_{I}16_{/}So others wanted to put him to the test by asking him for 
a heavenly sign.
{R}_{I}17_{/}But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every 
nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. 
{I}18_{/}If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How 
can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? 
{I}19_{/}If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your fellow 
members drive out demons? They themselves will give you the 
answer.
[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of God; 
would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? 
{R}_{I}21_{/}As long as the strong and armed man guards his house, his 
goods are safe. {I}22_{/}But when a stronger one attacks and overcomes 
him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on and 
disposes of his spoils. 
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}23_{/}Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever 
does not gather with me, scatters.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}When the evil spirit goes out of a person, it 
wanders through dry lands looking for a resting place. And finding 
none, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' 
{I}25_{/}When it comes, it finds the house swept and everything in 
order. {I}26_{/}Then it goes to fetch seven other spirits even worse 
than itself. They move in and settle there, so that the last state 
of that person is worse than the first."
[\u0095]_[*]_{R}_{I}27_{/}As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd 
and said to him, "Blessed is the one who bore you and nursed you!" 
[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}Jesus replied, "Surely blessed are those who hear the 
word of God and keep it as well."
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}29_{/}As the crowd increased, Jesus began to speak in 
this way, "People of the present time are evil people. They ask 
for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of 
Jonah. [=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, 

so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. 
[=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with 
the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the 
ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here there is 
greater than Solomon. [=]_{I}32_{/}The people of Nineveh will rise up 
on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, 
for Jonah's preaching made them turn from their sins, and here 
there is greater than Jonah.
[=]_[*]_{I}33_{/}You do not light a lamp to hide it; rather you put it 
on a lampstand so that people coming in may see the light. 
{I}34_{/}Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye sees clearly, 
your whole person benefits from the light; but if your eyesight is 
poor, your whole person is without light. {I}35_{/}So be careful lest 
the light inside you become darkness. [=]_{I}36_{/}If your whole 
person receives the light, having no part that is dark, you will 
become light, as when a lamp shines on you."

{N}WOE TO YOU, PHARISEES!{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}37_{/}As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have 
a meal with him. So he went and sat at table. [=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}The 
Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands 
before dinner. [=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}But the Lord said to him, "So then, you 
Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but 
inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil. {I}40_{/}Fools! He 
who made the outside, also made the inside. [*]_{I}41_{/}But according 
to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean.
[=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}A curse is on you, Pharisees; for the Temple you give a 
tenth of all, including mint and rue and the other herbs, but you 
neglect justice and the love of God. This ought to be practiced, 
without neglecting the other. {R}_{I}43_{/}A curse is on you, Pharisees, 
for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in 
the marketplace. [*]_{R}_{I}44_{/}A curse is on you for you are like 
tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen; people don't 
notice them and make themselves unclean by stepping on them."
[*]_{R}_{I}45_{/}Then a teacher of the Law spoke up and said, "Master, 
when you speak like this, you insult us, too." {R}_{I}46_{/}And Jesus 
answered, "A curse is on you also, teachers of the Law. For you 
prepare unbearable burdens and load them on the people, while you 
yourselves don't move a finger to help them. [=]_{R}_{I}47_{/}A curse is 
on you, for you build memorials to the prophets your ancestors 
killed. [*]_{R}_{I}48_{/}So you approve and agree with what your 
ancestors did. Is it not so? They got rid of the prophets, and now 
you can build!"
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}49_{/}(The Wisdom of God also said,) "I will send prophets 
and apostles and this people will kill and persecute some of them. 
[*]_{R}_{I}50_{/}But the present generation will have to answer for the 
blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation 
of the world, [=]_{R}_{I}51_{/}from the blood of Abel to the blood of 
Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary. 
Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will have to answer for 
them all.
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}52_{/}A curse is on you, teachers of the Law, for you have 
taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and 
you prevented others from entering."
{R}_{I}53_{/}As Jesus left that place, the teachers of the Law and the 
Pharisees began to harass him, {I}54_{/}asking him endless questions, 
setting traps to catch him in something he might say.

{N}OPEN AND FEARLESS SPEECH{/}

{1}12{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Meanwhile, such a numerous crowd had gathered that 
they crushed one another. Then Jesus spoke to his disciples in 
this way,
"Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. 
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden 
that will not be made known. {I}3_{/}Whatever you have said in the 
darkness will be heard in daylight, and what you have whispered in 
hidden places, will be proclaimed from the housetops.
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who put to 
death the body and after that can do no more. [=]_{I}5_{/}But I will 
tell you whom to fear: Fear the One who after killing you is able 
to throw you into hell. This one you must fear. {R}_{I}6_{/}Don't you get 
five sparrows for two pennies? Yet not one of them has been 
forgotten by God. [=]_{I}7_{/}Even the hairs of your head have been 
numbered. So do not fear: are you not worth more than a flock of 
sparrows?
[=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before people, the 
Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 
[=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}But the one who denies me before others will be denied 
before the angels of God.
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}There will be pardon for the one who criticizes the Son 
of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the 
Holy Spirit.
[=]_{I}11_{/}When you are brought before the synagogues, governors and 
rulers, don't worry about how you will defend youself or what to 
say. [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time 
what you have to say."

{N}THE RICH FOOL{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, "Master, tell 
my brother to share with me the family inheritance." {I}14_{/}He 
replied, "My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your 
attorney?" [=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}Then Jesus said to the people, "Be on your 
guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though you have many 
possessions, it is not that which gives you life."
[*]_{R}_{I}16_{/}And Jesus continued with this story, "There was a rich 
man and his land had produced a good harvest. {I}17_{/}He thought: 
'What shall I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest.' 
{I}18_{/}So this is what he planned: 'I will pull down my barns and 
build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth. 
[=]_{I}19_{/}Then I may say to myself: My friend, you have a lot of 
good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy 
yourself.' {R}_{I}20_{/}But God said to him: 'You fool! This very night 
your life will be taken from you; tell me who shall get all you 
have put aside?' [*]_{I}21{/}This is the lot of the one who stores up 
riches instead of amassing for God." 

{N}DO NOT WORRY!{/}

[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you not to 
worry about your life: What are we to eat? Or about your body: 
What are we to wear? {I}23_{/}For life is more than food and the body 
more than clothing. {R}_{I}24_{/}Look at the crows: they neither sow nor 
reap; they have no storehouses and no barns; yet God feeds them. 
How much more important are you than birds! [*]_{I}25_{/}Which of you 
for all your worrying can add a moment to your span of life? 
{I}26_{/}And if you are not able to control such a small thing, why do 
you worry about the rest?
{R}_{I}27_{/}Look at the wild flowers: they do not spin or weave; but I 
tell you, even Solomon with all his wealth was not clothed as one 
of these. {R}_{I}28_{/}If God so clothes the grass in the fields, which 
is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more 
will he clothe you, people of little faith.
{I}29_{/}Do not set your heart on what you are to eat and drink; stop 
worrying. {I}30_{/}Let all the nations of the world run after these 
things; your Father knows that you need them. {R}_{I}31_{/}Seek rather 
the Kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.
[\u0095]_[*]_{R}_{I}32_{/}Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased 
your Father to give you the kingdom. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}33_{/}Sell what you 
have and give alms. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, 
and make safe investments with God, where no thief comes and no 
moth destroys. [=]_{I}34_{/}For where your investments are, there will 
your heart be also.

{N}BE READY{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{I}35_{/}Be ready, dressed for service, and keep your 
lamps lit, {R}_{I}36_{/}like people waiting for their master to return 
from the wedding. As soon as he comes and knocks, they will open 
to him. [*]_{I}37_{/}Happy are those servants whom the master finds 
wide awake when he comes. [=]_{I}38_{/}Truly, I tell you, he will put 
on an apron and have them sit at table and he will wait on them. 
Happy are those servants if he finds them awake when he comes at 
midnight or daybreak!
{I}39_{/}Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known 
at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house 
be broken into. [=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}You also must be ready, for the Son of 
Man will come at an hour you do not expect."
{R}_{I}41_{/}Peter said, "Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or 
for everyone?" [=]_{I}42_{/}And the Lord replied, "Imagine, then, the 
wise and faithful steward whom the master sets over his other 
servants to give them food rations at the proper time. 
{I}43_{/}Fortunate is this servant if his master on coming home finds 
him doing his work. {I}44_{/}Truly, I say to you, the master will put 
him in charge of all his property.
[*]_{I}45_{/}But it may be that the steward thinks: 'My Lord delays in 
coming,' and he begins to abuse the menservants and the servant 
girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. {I}46_{/}Then the master 
will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he 
doesn't know. He will discharge his servant and number him among 
the unreliable.
[=]_{I}47_{/}The servant who knew his master's will, but did not 
prepare to do what his master wanted, will be punished with sound 
blows; {I}48_{/}but the one who did what deserved a punishment  
without knowing it shall receive fewer blows. Much will be 
required of the one who has been given much, and more will be 
asked of the one entrusted with more. 
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}49_{/}I have come to bring fire upon the earth and how I 
wish it were already kindled; [=]_{I}50_{/}but I have a baptism to 
undergo and what anguish I feel until it is over!
[=]_{I}51_{/}Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? 
No, I tell you, but rather division. {I}52_{/}From now on, in one 
house five will be divided; three against two, and two against 
three. [=]_{R}_{I}53_{/}They will be divided, father against son and son 
against father; mother against daughter and daughter against 
mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-
in-law against her mother-in-law." 
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}54_{/}Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud 
rising in the west, you say at once: 'A shower is coming.' And so 
it happens. {I}55{/}And when the wind blows from the south, you say: 
'It will be hot'; and so it is. [=]_[*]_{I}56_{/}You superficial 
people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky, but you 
don't understand the present times. [=]_{I}57_{/}And why do you not 
judge for yourselves what is fit? [=]_{I}58_{/}When you go with your 
accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way, lest 
you he drag before the judge and the judge deliver you to the 
jailer, and the jailer throw you in prison. {I}59_{/}I tell you, you 
will not get out until you have paid the very last penny."

{N}THE FIG TREE WITHOUT FRUIT{/}

{1}13{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}One day some persons told Jesus what had occurred in 
the Temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled 
with the blood of their sacrifices. [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Jesus replied, "Do 
you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the 
other Galileans because they suffered this? {I}3_{/}I tell you: no. 
But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.
{R}_{I}4_{/}And those eighteen persons in Siloah who were crushed when 
the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the 
others in Jerusalem? {I}5_{/}I tell you: no. But unless you change 
your ways, you will all perish as they did."
{R}_{I}6_{/}And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree 
growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it, but 
found none. {I}7_{/}Then he said to the gardener: 'Look here, for 
three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I 
have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' 
{I}8_{/}The gardener replied: 'Leave it one more year, so that I may 
dig around it and add some fertilizer; {I}9_{/}and perhaps it will 
bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn't, you can cut it down."

{N}THE HEALING ON A SABBATH DAY{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}11_{/}and a crippled woman was there. An evil spirit had 
kept her bent for eighteen years so that she could not straighten 
up at all. {R}_{I}12_{/}On seeing her, Jesus called her and said, "Woman, 
you are freed from your infirmity." {R}_{I}13_{/}Then he laid his hands 
upon her and immediately she was made straight and praised God.
{R}_{I}14_{/}But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus 
had performed this healing on the sabbath day and he said to the 
people, "There are six days in which to work; come on those days 
to be healed and not on the sabbath."
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}But the Lord replied, "You hypocrites! Everyone of you 
unties his ox or his donkey on the sabbath and leads it out of the 
barn to give it water. [=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}And here you have a daughter of 
Abraham whom Satan had bound for eighteen years. Should she not be 
freed from her bonds on the sabbath?"
{R}_{I}17_{/}When Jesus said this, all his opponents felt ashamed. But 
the people rejoiced at the many wonders that happened through him.

{N}TWO PARABLES{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}Jesus continued speaking, "What is the kingdom of 
God like? What shall I compare it to? [=]_[*]_{I}19_{/}Imagine a 
person who has taken a mustard seed and planted it in the garden. 
The seed has grown and become like a small tree, so that the birds 
of the air shelter in its branches."
[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}And Jesus said again, "What is the kingdom of God like? 
{I}21_{/}Imagine a woman who has taken yeast and hidden it in three 
measures of flour until it is all leavened."
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Jesus went through towns and villages teaching 
and making his way to Jerusalem. [=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}Someone asked him, 
"Lord, is it true that few people will be saved?"
And Jesus answered, {I}24_{/}"Do your best to enter by the narrow 
door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be 
able. [*]_{I}25_{/}When once the master of the house has got up and 
locked the door, you will stand outside; then you will knock at 
the door calling: 'Lord, open to us.' But he will say to you: 'I 
do not know where you come from.'
[=]_{I}26_{/}Then you will say: We ate and drank with you and you 
taught in our streets! {I}27_{/}But he will reply: 'I don't know where 
you come from. Away from me all you workers of evil.'
[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}You will weep and grind your teeth when you see Abraham 
and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you 
yourselves left outside. [=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}Others will sit at table in the 
kingdom of God, people coming from east and west, from north and 
south. [=]_{I}30_{/}Some who are among the last will be the first, and 
others who were first will be last!"
[*]_{R}_{I}31_{/}At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and gave him 
this warning, "Leave this place and go on your way, for Herod 
wants to kill you." {R}_{I}32_{/}Jesus said to them, "Go and give that 
fox my answer: 'I drive out demons and heal today and tomorrow, 
and on the third day I finish my course!' [=]_{R}_{I}33_{/}Nevertheless, 
I must go on my way today and tomorrow and for a little longer, 
for it would not be fitting for a prophet to be killed outside 
Jerusalem.

{N}ALAS FOR YOU, JERUSALEM{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}34_{/}O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you slay the prophets 
and stone your apostles! How often have I tried to bring together 
your children, as a bird gathers her young under her wings, but 
you refused! [=]_{I}35_{/}From now on you will be left with your 
temple and you will no longer see me until the time when you will 
say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

{1}14{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}One sabbath Jesus had gone to eat a meal in the house of 
a leading Pharisee, and he was carefully watched. [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}In 
front of him was a man suffering from dropsy; [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}so Jesus 
asked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to 
heal on the sabbath or not?" {R}_{I}4_{/}But no one answered. Jesus then 
took the man, healed him and sent him away. {I}5_{/}And he addressed 
them, "If your lamb or your ox falls into a well on a sabbath day, 
who among you doesn't hurry to pull it out?" {I}6_{/}And they could 
not answer.

{N}THE FIRST PLACES{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}7_{/}Jesus then told a parable to the guests, for he 
had noticed how they tried to take the places of honor. And he 
said, [=]_{I}8_{/}"When you are invited to a wedding party, do not 
choose the best seat. It may happen that someone more important 
than you has been invited, {I}9_{/}and your host, who invited both of 
you, will come and say to you: 'Please give this person your 
place.' What shame is yours when you take the lowest seat!
{I}10_{/}Whenever you are invited, go rather to the lowest seat, so 
that your host may come and say to you: 'Friend, you must come up 
higher.' And this will be a great honor for you in the presence of 
all the other guests. [=]_{I}11_{/}For whoever makes himself out to be 
great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be 
raised."
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Jesus also addressed the man who had invited him and 
said, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, don't invite your 
friends, or your brothers and relatives and wealthy neighbors. For 
surely they will also invite you in return and you will be repaid. 
{I}13_{/}When you give a feast, invite instead the poor, the crippled, 
the lame and the blind. [=]_{I}14_{/}Fortunate are you then, because 
they can't repay you; you will be repaid at the Resurrection of 
the upright."

{N}A MAN ONCE GAVE A FEAST{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}15_{/}Upon hearing these words, one of those at the 
table said to Jesus, "Happy are those who eat at the banquet in 
the kingdom of God!"
[=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}Jesus replied, "A man once gave a feast and invited many 
guests. {I}17_{/}When it was time for the feast he sent his servant to 
tell those he had invited to come, for everything was ready. 
{I}18_{/}But all alike began to make excuses. The first said: 'Please 
excuse me. I must go and see the piece of land I have just 
bought.' {I}19_{/}Another said: 'I am sorry, but I am on my way to try 
out the five yoke of oxen I have just bought.' {I}20_{/}Still another 
said, 'How can I come when I have just married?'
[=]_[*]_{I}21_{/}The servant returned alone and reported this to his 
master. Upon hearing the account, the master of the house flew 
into a rage and ordered his servant: 'Go out quickly into the 
streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the 
crippled, the blind and the lame.' 
{I}22_{/}The servant reported after a while: 'Sir, your orders have 
been carried out, but there is still room.' {I}23_{/}The master said: 
'Go out to the highways and country lanes and force people to come 
in, to make sure my house is full. [=]_{I}24_{/}I tell you, none of 
those invited will have a morsel of my feast."

{N}THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}25_{/}One day, when large crowds were walking along 
with Jesus, he turned and said to them, [=]_{I}26_{/}"If you come to 
me, without being ready to give up your love for your father and 
mother, your spouse and children, your brothers and sisters, and 
indeed yourself, you cannot be my disciple. [=]_{I}27_{/}Whoever does 
not follow me carrying his own cross cannot be my disciple.
[*]_{I}28_{/}Do you build a house without first sitting down to count 
the cost to see whether you have enough to complete it? 
{I}29_{/}Otherwise, if you have laid the foundation and are not able 
to finish it, everyone will make fun of you: {I}30_{/}'This fellow 
began to build and was not able to finish.'
{R}_{I}31_{/}And when a king wages war against another king, does he go 
to fight without first sitting down to consider whether his ten 
thousand can stand against the twenty thousand of his opponent? 
{I}32_{/}And if not, while the other is still a long way off he sends 
messengers for peace talks. [=]_{I}33_{/}In the same way, none of you 
may become my disciple if he doesn't give up everything he has.
[=]_[*]_{I}34_{/}However good the salt may be, if it has lost its 
taste, you cannot make it salty again. {I}35_{/}It is fit for neither 
soil nor manure. Let them throw it away. Listen then, if you have 
ears!"

{N}THE LOST SHEEP{/}

{1}15{/}

[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Meanwhile tax collectors and sinners were seeking the 
company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say. 
{R}_{I}2_{/}But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering. 
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}So Jesus 
told them this parable:
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{I}4_{/}"Who among you, having a hundred sheep and losing 
one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and 
seek out the lost one till he finds it? {I}5_{/}And finding it, will 
he not joyfully carry it home on his shoulders? {I}6_{/}Then he will 
call his friends and neighbors together and say: 'Celebrate with 
me for I have found my lost sheep.' [=]_{I}7_{/}I tell you, just so, 
there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner 
than over ninety-nine upright who do not need to repent.
{I}8_{/}What woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one, will 
not light a lamp and sweep the house in a thorough search till she 
finds the lost coin? {I}9_{/}And finding it, she will call her friends 
and neighbors and say: 'Celebrate with me for I have found the 
silver coin I lost!' {R}_{I}10_{/}I tell you, in the same way there is 
rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner."

{N}THE PRODIGAL SON{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Jesus continued, "There was a man with two sons. 
{I}12_{/}The younger said to his father: 'Give me my share of the 
estate.' So the father divided his property between them.
{I}13_{/}Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings 
and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth 
in loose living. {I}14_{/}Having spent everything, he was hard pressed 
when a severe famine broke out in that land. {I}15_{/}So he hired 
himself out to a well-to-do citizen of that place and was sent to 
work on a pig farm. {I}16_{/}So famished was he that he longed to fill 
his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but no one 
offered him anything.
{R}_{I}17_{/}Finally coming to his senses, he said: 'How many of my 
father's hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving 
to death! [=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}I will get up and go back to my father and say 
to him: Father, I have sinned against God and before you. {I}19_{/}I 
no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of 
your hired servants.' With that thought in mind he set off for his 
father's house.
[=]_{I}20_{/}He was still a long way off when his father caught sight 
of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran 
out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. 
{I}21{/}The son said: 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before 
you. I no longer deserve to be called your son...'
[=]_{I}22_{/}But the father turned to his servants: 'Quick! Bring out 
the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and 
sandals on his feet. {R}_{I}23_{/}Take the fattened calf and kill it. We 
shall celebrate and have a feast, [=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}for this son of mine 
was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.' And 
the celebration began.
{I}25_{/}Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As 
he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music 
and dancing. {I}26_{/}He called one of the servants and asked what it 
was all about. {R}_{I}27_{/}The servant answered: 'Your brother has come 
home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he 
has ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf.'
{I}28_{/}The elder son became angry and refused to go in. His father 
came out and pleaded with him. {I}29_{/}The indignant son said: 'Look, 
I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your 
orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate 
with my friends. {R}_{I}30_{/}Then when this son of yours returns after 
squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened 
calf for him.'
{I}31_{/}The father said: 'My son, you are always with me, and 
everything I have is yours. {R}_{I}32_{/}But this brother of yours was 
dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for 
that we had to rejoice and be glad.'"

{N}THE CRAFTY STEWARD{/}

{1}16{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}At another time Jesus told his disciples, "There was a 
rich man whose steward was reported to him for fraudulent service. 
{I}2_{/}He summoned the steward and asked him: 'What is this I hear 
about you? I want you to render an account of your service for it 
is about to be terminated.'
{I}3_{/}The steward thought to himself: 'What am I to do now? My 
master will surely dismiss me. I am not strong enough to do hard 
work, and I am ashamed to beg. {I}4_{/}I know what I will do: I must 
make sure that when I am dismissed, there will be some people to 
welcome me into their house.'
{I}5_{/}So he called his master's debtors one by one. He asked the 
first who came: 'How much do you owe my master?' {I}6_{/}The reply 
was: 'A hundred jars of oil.' The steward said: 'Here is your 
bill. Sit down quickly and write there fifty.' {I}7_{/}To the second 
he put the same question: 'How much do you owe?' The answer was: 
'A thousand bushels of wheat.' Then he said: 'Take your bill and 
write eight hundred.'
[*]_{I}8_{/}The master commended the dishonest steward for his 
astuteness. For the people of this world are more astute in 
dealing with their own kind than are the people of light. 
[=]_{I}9_{/}And so I tell you: use filthy money to make friends for 
yourselves, so that when it fails, these people may welcome you 
into the eternal homes.
[=]_{I}10_{/}Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be 
trusted in great ones; whoever is dishonest in slight matters will 
also be dishonest in greater ones. [=]_{I}11_{/}So if you have not 
been trustworthy in handling filthy money, who could entrust you 
with true wealth? {I}12_{/}And if you have not been trustworthy with 
things which are not really yours, who will give you the wealth 
which is your own?
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not 
like the one and is fond of the other, or he regards one highly 
and the other with contempt. You cannot give yourself both to God 
and to Money."
[*]_{R}_{I}14_{/}The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and 
sneered at Jesus. [=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}He said to them, "You do your best to 
be considered righteous by people. But God knows the heart, and 
what rises high among humans is loathed by God.
[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}16_{/}The time of the Law and the Prophets has ended 
with John. Then comes the proclamation of the kingdom of God and 
this is the time for everyone to conquer it.
[=]_{I}17_{/}It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a 
single letter of Scripture not to be fulfilled.
[=]_[*]_{I}18_{/}Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another 
commits adultery; and whoever marries a woman divorced by her 
husband also commits adultery.

{N}THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}19_{/}Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple 
and fine linen and feasted every day. {R}_{I}20_{/}At his gate lay 
Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, [=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}who longed to 
eat just the scraps falling from the rich man's table. Even dogs 
used to come and lick his sores. {R}_{I}22_{/}It happened that the poor 
man died and angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. 
The rich man also died and was buried. {R}_{I}23_{/}From hell where he 
was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham afar  off, and with 
him Lazarus at rest.
[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}He called out: 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send 
Lazarus with the tip of his finger dipped in water to cool my 
tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire.'
{R}_{I}25_{/}Abraham replied: 'My son, remember that in your lifetime you 
were well-off while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is 
in comfort and you are in agony. {I}26_{/}But that is not all. Between 
your place and ours a great chasm has been fixed, so that no one 
can cross over from here to you or from your side to us.'
{R}_{I}27_{/}The rich man implored once more: 'Then I beg you, Father 
Abraham, to send Lazarus to my father's house {I}28_{/}where my five 
brothers live. Let him warn them so that they may not end up in 
this place of torment.' {R}_{I}29_{/}Abraham replied: 'They have Moses 
and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' {R}_{I}30_{/}But the rich man 
said: 'No, Father Abraham. But if someone from the dead goes to 
them, they will repent.'
{R}_{I}31_{/}Abraham said: 'If they will not listen to Moses and the 
prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from 
the grave.'"

{1}17{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Jesus said to his disciples, "Scandals will 
necessarily come and cause people to fall; but woe to the one who 
has brought it about. {R}_{I}2_{/}It would be better for that one to be 
thrown into the sea with a millstone around the neck. Truly this 
would be better for that person than to cause one of these little 
ones to fall.
{I}3_{/}Be careful. If your brother offends you, rebuke him and if he 
is sorry, forgive him. [=]_{I}4_{/}And if he offends you seven times 
in a day but says to you seven times: 'I'm sorry,' forgive him."
[=]_[*]_{I}5_{/}The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 
And the Lord said, [=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}"If you have faith even the size of a 
mustard seed, you may say to this tree: 'Be uprooted and plant 
yourself in the sea,' and it will obey you.
[=]_{I}7_{/}Who among you would say to your servant coming in from the 
fields after plowing or tending sheep: 'Come at once and sit down 
at table'? {I}8_{/}No, you tell him: 'Prepare my dinner. Put on your 
apron and wait on me while I eat and drink; you can eat and drink 
afterwards.' {I}9_{/}Do you thank this servant for doing what you 
commanded? [=]_[*]_{I}10_{/}So for you. When you have done all that 
you have been told to do, you must say: 'We are no more than 
servants; we have only done our duty.'"

{N}THE TEN LEPERS{/}

[\u0095]_[*]_{R}_{I}11_{/}On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along the 
border between Samaria and Galilee, and {I}12_{/}as he entered a 
village, ten lepers came to meet him. {R}_{I}13_{/}Keeping their 
distance, they called to him, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 
[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Then Jesus said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the 
priests." Now, as they went their way, they found they were cured. 
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}One of them, as soon as he saw he was cleansed, turned 
back praising God in a loud voice, and {R}_{I}16_{/}throwing himself on 
his face before Jesus, he gave him thanks. This man was a 
Samaritan.
{R}_{I}17_{/}Then Jesus said, "Were not all ten healed? Where are the 
other nine? {R}_{I}18_{/}Was no one found to return and give praise to 
God but this alien?" [=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}And Jesus said to him, "Stand up 
and go your way; your faith has saved you."

{N}THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God 
was to come. He answered, "The kingdom of God is not like 
something you can observe [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}21_{/}and say of it: 'Look, here 
it is! There it is!' See, the kingdom of God is among you."
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}And Jesus said to his disciples, "The time is at hand 
when you will long to see one of the glorious days of the Son of 
Man, but you will not see it. [=]_{I}23_{/}Then people will tell you: 
'Look there! Look here!' Do not go, do not follow them. {R}_{I}24_{/}As 
lightning flashes from one end of the sky to the other, so will it 
be with the Son of Man. [=]_[*]_{I}25_{/}But first he must suffer many 
things and be rejected by this people.
[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be on the day 
the Son of Man comes. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Then people ate and drank; they 
took husbands and wives. But on the day Noah entered the ark, the 
flood came and destroyed them all. {R}_{I}28_{/}Just as it was in the 
days of Lot: people ate and drank, they bought and sold, planted 
and built. {R}_{I}29_{/}But on the day Lot left Sodom, God made fire and 
sulfur rain down from heaven which destroyed them all. {R}_{I}30_{/}So 
will it be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
[=]_{I}31_{/}On that day, if you are on the rooftop, don't go down 
into the house to get your belongings, and if you happen to be in 
the fields, do not turn back. [=]_{I}32_{/}Remember Lot's wife. 
[=]_[*]_{I}33_{/}Whoever tries to save his life will lose himself, but 
whoever gives his life will be born again.
[=]_{I}34_{/}I tell you, though two men are sharing the same bed, it 
may be that one will be taken and the other left. {I}35_{/}Though two 
women are grinding corn together, one may be taken and the other 
left."
[=]_{I}37_{/}Then they asked Jesus, "Where will this take place, 
Lord?" And he answered, "Where the body is, there too will the 
vultures gather."

{N}PRAY AND NEVER LOSE HEART{/}

{1}18{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Jesus told them a parable to show them that they 
should pray continually and not lose heart. {R}_{I}2_{/}He said, "In a 
certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor people. 
{I}3_{/}In the same town was a widow who kept coming to him, saying: 
'Defend my rights against my opponent.' {R}_{I}4_{/}For a time he 
refused, but finally he thought: 'Even though I neither fear God 
nor care about people, {I}5_{/}this widow bothers me so much I will 
see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing 
me out."
{R}_{I}6_{/}And Jesus explained, "Listen to what the evil judge says. 
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}Will God not do justice for his chosen ones who cry to 
him day and night even if he delays in answering them? [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}I 
tell you, he will speedily do them justice. Yet, when the Son of 
Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

{N}THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}Jesus told another parable to some persons fully 
convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others, 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}10_{/}"Two men went up to the Temple to pray; one was a 
Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {R}_{I}11_{/}The Pharisee stood 
by himself and said: 'I thank you, God, that I am not like other 
people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax 
collector. [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}I fast twice a week and give the tenth of all 
my income to the Temple.'
{R}_{I}13_{/}In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would 
not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying: 'O 
God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'
[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}I tell you, when this man went down to his house, he had 
been set right with God, but not the other. For whoever makes 
himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles 
himself will be raised."
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}They even brought little children to Jesus to have him 
touch them; but then the disciples rebuked these people. {R}_{I}16_{/}So 
Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the children come 
to me and don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such 
as these. [=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive 
the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."

{N}JESUS AND THE RICH RULER{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}A ruler asked Jesus, "Good master, what shall I do to 
inherit eternal life?" [=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}Jesus said to him, "Why do you 
call me good? No one is good but God alone. [=]_{I}20_{/}You know the 
commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, 
do not accuse falsely, honor your father and your mother." 
{R}_{I}21_{/}And the man said, "I have kept all these commandments from 
my youth."
[*]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Then Jesus answered, "There is still one thing you lack. 
Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will 
have riches in Heaven. And then come and follow me." {R}_{I}23_{/}When he 
heard these words, the man became sad for he was very rich. 
{R}_{I}24_{/}Jesus noticing this said, "How hard it is for people who 
have riches to enter the kingdom of God! {R}_{I}25_{/}It is easier for a 
camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person 
to enter the kingdom of God." {I}26_{/}The bystanders said, "Who then 
can be saved?" [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}And Jesus replied, "What is impossible 
for humans is possible for God."
[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}Then Peter said, "We left everything we had and followed 
you." [=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}Jesus replied, "Truly, I tell you, whoever has 
left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children for the 
sake of the kingdom of God, {I}30_{/}will receive much more in this 
present time and eternal life in the world to come."
[=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}Jesus then took the Twelve aside and told them, "Now, we 
are going up to Jerusalem and everything the Prophets have written 
about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. {I}32_{/}He will be delivered 
up to the foreign power. People will mock him, insult him and spit 
on him. {I}33_{/}After they have scourged him, they will kill him, but 
he will be raised on the third day." {I}34_{/}The apostles could make 
nothing of this; the meaning of these words remained a mystery to 
them and they did not understand what he said.

{N}THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}When Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting 
by the road, begging. {I}36_{/}As he heard the crowd passing by, he 
inquired what it was, {R}_{I}37_{/}and they told him that Jesus of 
Nazareth was going by. Then he cried out, {R}_{I}38_{/}"Jesus, Son of 
David, have mercy on me!" {R}_{I}39_{/}The people in front scolded him, 
"Be quiet!" but he cried out all the more, "Jesus, Son of David, 
have mercy on me!"
{R}_{I}40_{/}Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to 
him, and when he came near, he asked him, {R}_{I}41_{/}"What do you want 
me to do for you?" And the man said, "Lord, that I may see!" 
[=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}Jesus said, "Receive your sight, your faith has saved 
you." {R}_{I}43_{/}At once the blind man was able to see, and he followed 
Jesus, giving praise to God. And all the people who were there 
also praised God.

{N}JESUS AND ZACCHEUS{/}

{1}19{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}When Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the 
city, {R}_{I}2_{/}a man named Zaccheus was there. He was a tax collector 
and a wealthy man. {R}_{I}3_{/}He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but 
he was a short man and could not see because of the crowd. {R}_{I}4_{/}So 
he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would 
be able to see Jesus who had to pass that way. {R}_{I}5_{/}When Jesus 
came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, come 
down quickly for I must stay at your house today." {R}_{I}6_{/}So 
Zaccheus hurried down and received him joyfully.
[=]_[*]_{I}7_{/}All the people who saw it began to grumble and said, 
"He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest." {R}_{I}8_{/}But 
Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, "The half of my goods, Lord, I give to 
the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four 
times as much." [=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}Looking at him Jesus said, "Salvation has 
come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham. 
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

{N}THE TEN POUNDS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Jesus was now near Jerusalem and the people with 
him thought that God's reign was about to appear. So as they were 
listening to him, Jesus went on to tell them a parable. 
[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}He said, "A man of noble birth went to a distant place 
to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he 
would return. {I}13_{/}Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants 
and gave them ten pounds. He said: 'Put this money to work until I 
get back.' [=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}But his compatriots who disliked him sent a 
delegation after him with this message: 'We do not want this man 
to be our king.'
{R}_{I}15_{/}He returned, however, appointed as king. At once he sent for 
the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what 
profit each had made. {I}16_{/}The first came in and reported: 'Sir, 
your pound has earned ten more.'
[=]_{I}17_{/}The master replied: 'Well done, my good servant. Since 
you have proved yourself capable in a small matter, I can trust 
you to take charge of ten cities.' {I}18_{/}The second reported: 'Sir, 
your pound earned five more pounds.' {I}19_{/}The master replied: 
'Right, take charge of five cities.'
{I}20_{/}The third came in and said: 'Sir, here is your money which I 
hid for safekeeping. {I}21_{/}I was afraid of you for you are an 
exacting person; you take up what you did not lay down and reap 
what you did not sow.'
{I}22_{/}The master replied: 'You worthless servant, I will judge you 
by your own words. So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up 
what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow! {I}23_{/}Why, 
then, did you not put my money on loan so that when I got back I 
could have collected it with interest?'
{I}24_{/}Then the master said to those standing by: 'Take from him 
that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.' {I}25_{/}They 
objected: 'But, sir, he already has ten!'
[=]_{I}26_{/}'I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but 
from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken 
away. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, 
bring them in and execute them right here in my presence.'"

{N}JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}So Jesus spoke, and he went on ahead of them, on his way 
to Jerusalem. {R}_{I}29_{/}When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, 
close to Mount Olivet, he sent two of the disciples with these 
instructions, {I}30_{/}"Go to the village opposite and as you enter it 
you will find a colt tied up that no one has yet ridden: untie it 
and bring it here. {I}31_{/}And if anyone says to you: 'Why are you 
untying this colt?' You shall give this answer: 'The Master needs 
it.'"
{R}_{I}32_{/}So the two disciples went and found things just as Jesus had 
said. {I}33_{/}As they were untying the colt, the owner said to them, 
"Why are you untying the colt?" {I}34_{/}And they answered, "The 
Master needs it." {R}_{I}35_{/}So they brought it to Jesus and throwing 
their cloaks on the colt, they mounted Jesus on it. {I}36_{/}And as he 
went down, people spread their cloaks on the road.
[=]_{R}_{I}37_{/}When Jesus came near Jerusalem, at the place where the 
road slopes down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of 
his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice 
for all the miracles they had seen, [=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}and they cried out, 
"Blessed is he who comes as king in the name of the Lord. Peace in 
heaven and Glory in the highest heavens."
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}39_{/}Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Master, 
rebuke your disciples." [=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}But Jesus answered, "I tell you, 
if they were to remain silent, the stones would cry out."
[=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}When Jesus had come in sight of the city, he wept over 
it {I}42_{/}and said, "If only today you knew the ways of peace! But 
now your eyes are held from seeing. {I}43_{/}Yet days will come upon 
you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and shut 
you in and press on you from every side. {R}_{I}44_{/}And they will dash 
you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a 
stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and the 
visitation of your God."
[=]_{R}_{I}45_{/}Then Jesus entered the Temple area and began to drive 
out the merchants. [=]_{R}_{I}46_{/}And he said to them, "God says in the 
Scriptures: My house shall be a house of prayer: but you have 
turned it into a den of robbers."
[=]_{R}_{I}47_{/}Jesus was teaching every day in the Temple. The chief 
priests and teachers of the Law wanted to kill him and the elders 
of the Jews as well, [=]_{I}48_{/}but they were unable to do anything, 
for all the people were listening to him and hanging on his words.

{1}20{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}One day when Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple 
and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers 
of the Law came with the elders of the Jews, {I}2_{/}and said to him, 
"Tell us, what right have you to act like this? Who gives you 
authority to do all this?"
{R}_{I}3_{/}Jesus said to them, "I also will ask you a question; tell me: 
{R}_{I}4_{/}Was John's preaching and baptism a work of God, or was it 
merely something human?" {R}_{I}5_{/}And they argued among themselves, 
"If we answer that it was a work of God, he will say: 'Why then 
did you not believe him?' [=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}But if we answer that it was 
merely something human, all the people will stone us, for they all 
regard John as a prophet." {R}_{I}7_{/}So they answered Jesus, "We don't 
know," {R}_{I}8_{/}and Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you what 
right I have to act like this."

{N}THE MURDEROUS TENANTS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}9_{/}Jesus went on to tell the people this parable, "A 
man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants before going 
abroad for a long time.
{I}10_{/}In due time he sent a servant to the tenants to get some 
fruit from the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him 
back empty-handed. {R}_{I}11_{/}Again the man sent another servant; they 
beat him as well and treated him shamefully and finally sent him 
away empty-handed. {I}12_{/}The owner then sent a third, but this one 
was wounded and thrown out.
[=]_[*]_{I}13_{/}The owner then thought: 'What shall I do? I will send 
my beloved son; surely they will respect him.' {I}14_{/}The tenants, 
however, as soon as they had seen him, said to one another: 'This 
is the one who will inherit the vineyard; let us kill him and the 
property will be ours.' [=]_{I}15_{/}So they threw him out of the 

vineyard and killed him. {I}16_{/}Now, what will the owner of the 
vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and 
give the vineyard to others."
On hearing this, some of the rulers said, "May it not be so!" 
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Then Jesus looked directly at them and said, "What does 
this text of the Scriptures mean: The stone which the builders 
rejected has become the keystone. [=]_{I}18_{/}Everyone who falls on 
that stone will be broken to pieces and anyone the stone falls on 
will be crushed?"
[=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}The teachers of the Law and the chief priests would have 
liked to arrest him right there, for they realized that Jesus 
meant this parable for them, but they were afraid of the crowd. 
[=]_[*]_{I}20_{/}So they left, looking for another opportunity.

{N}PAYING TAXES TO CAESAR{/}

They sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him 
in his words and deliver him to the authority and power of the 
Roman governor. [=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}They asked him, "Master, we know that 
you are true in your words and your teaching, and your answers do 
not vary according to who is listening to you, for you truly teach 
the way of God. Tell us: {I}22_{/}are we allowed to pay taxes to 
Caesar or not?" 
{R}_{I}23_{/}But Jesus saw through their cunning and said, {I}24_{/}"Show me 
a silver coin. Whose head is this and whose name?" They answered, 
"Caesar's." [=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}And Jesus said to them "Return to Caesar the 
things that are Caesar's and to God what is God's."
{I}26_{/}So they were unable to trap him in what he said in public: 
they were surprised at his answer and kept silent.

{N}RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Then some Sadducees arrived. These people claim that 
there is no resurrection [=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}and they asked Jesus this 
question, "Master, in the Scripture Moses told us: 'If anyone dies 
leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife, 
and the child to be born will be regarded as the child of the 
deceased man.' {I}29_{/}Now, there were seven brothers; the first 
married a wife, but he died without children; {I}30_{/}and the second 
{I}31_{/}and the third took the wife; in fact all seven died leaving 
no children. {I}32_{/}Last of all the woman died. {I}33_{/}On the day of 
the resurrection, to which of them will the woman be wife? For the 
seven had her as wife."
{R}_{I}34_{/}And Jesus replied, "Taking husband or wife is proper to 
people of this world, {R}_{I}35_{/}but for those who are considered 
worthy of the world to come and of resurrection from the dead, 
there is no more marriage. {R}_{I}36_{/}Besides, they cannot die for they 
are like the angels. They too are sons and daughters of God 
because they are born of the resurrection.

[=]_{R}_{I}37_{/}Yes, the dead will be raised, and even Moses implied it 
in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the 
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}For he is God of the living and not of the dead, and for 
him all are alive." 
[=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}Some teachers of the Law then agreed with Jesus, 
"Master, you have spoken well." [=]_{I}40_{/}They didn't dare to ask 
him anything else. [=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}Then Jesus said to them, "How can 
people say that the Messiah is the son of David? [=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}For 
David says in the book of Psalms: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at 
my right {I}43_{/}until I put your enemies under your feet. 
{R}_{I}44_{/}David here calls him Lord; how then can he be his son?"
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}45_{/}Jesus also said to his disciples before all the people, 
{R}_{I}46_{/}"Beware of these teachers of the Law who like to be seen in 
long robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to take 
the reserved seats in the synagogues and places of honor at 
feasts. {I}47_{/}They even devour the property of widows while making 
a show of long prayers. They will receive a very severe sentence!"

{N}THE WIDOW'S MITE{/}

{1}21{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts 
into the treasure box; {I}2_{/}he also saw a poor widow dropping in 
two small coins. {I}3_{/}And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor 
widow put in more than all of them. {I}4_{/}For all gave an offering 
from their plenty, but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had 
to live on."

{N}SIGNS BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}While some people were talking about the Temple, 
remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, 
Jesus said to them, [=]_{I}6_{/}"The days will come when there shall 
not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all 
will be torn down." {I}7_{/}And they asked him, "Master, when will 
this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take 
place?"
[=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}Jesus then said, "Take care not to be deceived, for many 
will come claiming my title and saying: 'I am he, the Messiah; the 
time is at hand.' Do not follow them. {I}9_{/}When you hear of wars 
and troubled times, don't be frightened; for all this must happen 
first, even though the end is not so soon."
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}And Jesus said, "Nations will fight each other and 
kingdom will oppose kingdom. {I}11_{/}There will be great earthquakes, 
famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs 
from heaven will be seen. [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Before all this happens, 
people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be 
delivered to the Jewish courts and put in prison, and for my sake 
you will be brought before kings and governors. {I}13_{/}This will be 
your opportunity to bear witness. 
{I}14_{/}So keep this in mind: do not worry in advance about what to 
answer, [=]_{I}15_{/}for I will give you words and wisdom that none of 
your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
{R}_{I}16_{/}You will be betrayed even by parents, and brothers, by 
relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 
[=]_{I}17_{/}But even though you are hated by all for my name's sake, 
[=]_{I}18_{/}not a hair of your head will perish. {I}19_{/}Through 
perseverance you will possess your own selves.
[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you 
must know that the time has come when it will be reduced to a 
wasteland. {R}_{I}21_{/}Then, if you are in Judea, flee to the mountains; 
if you are in the city, leave it; and let those who are in the 
fields not return to the city.
{I}22_{/}For these will be the days of its punishment and all that was 
announced in the Scripture will be fulfilled. {I}23_{/}How hard will 
it be for pregnant women and for mothers with babies at the 
breast! For a great calamity will come upon the land, and divine 
justice upon this people. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}24_{/}They will be put to death 
by the sword or taken as slaves to other nations; and Jerusalem 
will be trampled upon by the pagans until the time of the pagans 
is fulfilled.

{N}THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and 
on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the 
roaring of the sea and its waves. {I}26_{/}People will faint with fear 
at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the 
forces of the universe will be shaken. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}And at this time 
they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and 
great glory.

{N}THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES{/}

[=]_{I}28_{/}Now, when you see the first events, stand erect and lift 
up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near." {R}_{I}29_{/}And 
Jesus added this comparison, "Look at the fig tree and all the 
trees. {I}30_{/}As soon as their buds sprout, you know that summer is 
already near. {R}_{I}31_{/}In the same way, as soon as you see these 
things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 
[=]_{I}32_{/}Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away, 
until all this has happened: [=]_{I}33_{/}heaven and earth will pass 
away, but my words will not pass away.
[\u0095]_{I}34_{/}Be on your guard; let not your hearts be weighed down 
with a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares, lest that 
day catch you suddenly as a trap. {I}35_{/}For it will come upon all 
the inhabitants of the whole earth. [=]_{R}_{I}36_{/}But watch at all 
times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is bound 
to happen and to stand before the Son of Man."
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}37_{/}In the daytime Jesus used to teach in the Temple; 
then he would leave the city and pass the night on the mount of 
Olives. [=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}And early in the morning the people would come 
to the Temple to hear him.

{N}THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST JESUS{/}

{1}22{/}

[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}The feast of Unleavened Bread which is called the 

Passover, was now drawing near, [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}and the chief priests and 
the teachers of the Law wanted to kill Jesus. They were looking 
for a way to do this because they were afraid of the people. 
[=]_{I}3_{/}Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, one of the 
Twelve, [=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}and he went off to discuss with the chief priests 
and the officers of the guard how to deliver Jesus to them. 
{I}5_{/}They were delighted and agreed to give him money; {I}6_{/}so he 
accepted, and from that time he waited for an opportunity to 
betray him without the people knowing.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}Then came the feast of the Unleavened Bread in which 
the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. {R}_{I}8_{/}So Jesus sent Peter 
and John saying, "Go and get everything ready for us to eat the 
Passover meal." {I}9_{/}They asked him, "Where do you want us to 
prepare it?" [*]_{R}_{I}10_{/}And he said, "When you enter the city, a 
man will come to you carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the 
house he enters {R}_{I}11_{/}and say to the owner: 'The master asks: 
where is the room where I may take the Passover meal with my 
disciples?' {I}12_{/}He will show you a large, furnished room 
upstairs, and there you will prepare for us."
{R}_{I}13_{/}Peter and John went off and having found everything just as 
Jesus had told them, they prepared the Passover meal.

{N}THE SUPPER OF THE LORD{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table 
and the apostles with him. [=]_{I}15_{/}And he said to them, "I was 
eager to eat this passover with you before I suffer; {R}_{I}16_{/}for, I 
tell you, I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the 
kingdom of God."
{I}17_{/}Then they passed him a cup and when he had given thanks he 
said, "Take this and share it among yourselves: {R}_{I}18_{/}for I tell 
you that from now on I will not drink of the grape of the vine 
until the kingdom of God comes." [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}19_{/}Jesus also took 
bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them 
saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in 
remembrance of me." [=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}And he did the same with the cup 
after eating, "This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood 
which is poured out for you.
[=]_{I}21_{/}Yet the hand of the traitor is with me on the table. 
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Know that the Son of Man is going the way marked out for 
him. But alas for that one who betrays him!" {I}23_{/}They began to 
ask one another which of them could do such a thing. 

{N}LAST CONVERSATION WITH JESUS {/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}24_{/}They also began to argue among themselves which of 
them should be considered the most important. {R}_{I}25_{/}And Jesus 
said, "The kings of the pagan nations rule over them as lords, and 
the most hard-hearted rulers claim the title, 'Gracious Lord.' 
[=]_{I}26_{/}But not so with you; let the greatest among you become as 
the youngest, and the leader as the servant. [=]_{I}27_{/}For who is 
the greatest, he who sits at the table or he who serves? He who is 
seated, isn't it? Yet I am among you as the one who serves.
[=]_{I}28_{/}You are the ones who have been with me and stood by me 
through my troubles; {I}29_{/}because of this, just as the kingship 
has been given to me by my Father, so I give it to you. 
[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and 
you will sit on thrones and govern the twelve tribes of Israel.
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}31_{/}Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded to sift you like 
grain, [=]_{I}32_{/}but I have prayed for you that your faith may not 
fail. And when you have recovered you shall strengthen your 
brothers." [=]_{R}_{I}33_{/}Then Peter said, "Lord, with you I am ready 
to go even to prison and death." {R}_{I}34_{/}But Jesus replied, "I tell 
you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day before you have denied 
three times that you know me."
[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}Jesus also said to them, "When I sent you without purse 
or bag or sandals, were you short of anything?" They answered, 
"No." {R}_{I}36_{/}And Jesus said to them, "But now, the one who has a 
purse must take it, and a bag as well. And if anyone is without a 
sword, let him sell his cloak to buy one. [=]_{I}37_{/}For Scriptures 
says: He was numbered among criminals. These words had to be 
fulfilled in me, and now everything written about me is taking 
place.
[*]_{I}38_{/}Then they said, "See, Lord, here are two swords," but he 
answered, "That is enough."

{N}GETHSEMANE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}After this Jesus left to go as usual to Mount Olivet 
and the disciples followed him. [=]_{I}40_{/}When he came to the 
place, he told them, "Pray that you may not be put to the test."
[*]_{I}41_{/}Then he went a little further, about a stone's throw, and 
kneeling down he prayed, {I}42_{/}"Father, if it is your will, remove 
this cup from me; still not my will but yours be done." 
[=]_{I}43_{/}And an angel from heaven appeared to give him strength.
{I}44_{/}As he was in agony, he prayed even more earnestly and great 
drops of blood formed like sweat and fell to the ground. {I}45_{/}When 
he rose from prayer, he went to his disciples but found them worn 
out with grief, and asleep. {I}46_{/}And he said to them, "Why do you 
sleep? Get up and pray, so that you may not be put to the test."
[=]_{R}_{I}47_{/}Jesus was still speaking when a group appeared and the 
man named Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He drew near 
to Jesus to kiss him, {R}_{I}48_{/}and Jesus said to him, "Did you need 
this kiss to betray the Son of Man?"
[*]_{R}_{I}49_{/}Those with Jesus seeing what would happen, said to him, 
"Master, shall we use the sword?" {R}_{I}50_{/}And one of them struck the 
High Priest's servant and cut off his right ear. {R}_{I}51_{/}But Jesus 
stopped him, "No more of this." He touched the man's ear and 
healed him. 
[*]_{R}_{I}52_{/}Then Jesus spoke to those coming against him, the chief 
priests, officers of the Temple and elders and he said to them, 
"Did you really set out against a robber? Do you need swords and 
clubs to arrest me? [=]_{R}_{I}53_{/}Day after day I was among you 
teaching in the Temple and you did not arrest me. But this is the 
hour of the power of darkness; this is your hour."

{N}THE TRIAL OF JESUS, PETER'S DENIAL {/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}54_{/}Then they seized him and took him away, bringing him 
to the High Priest's house. Peter followed at a distance. 
{R}_{I}55_{/}A fire was kindled in the middle of the courtyard where 
people gathered, and Peter sat among them. {R}_{I}56_{/}A maidservant 
noticed him. Looking at him intently in the light of the fire, she 
exclaimed, "This man also was with him!" {I}57_{/}But he denied it, 
saying, "Woman, I do not know him." 
{R}_{I}58_{/}A little later someone who saw him said, "You are also one 
of them!" Peter replied, "My friend, I am not!" {R}_{I}59_{/}After about 
an hour another asserted, "Surely this man was with him, for he is 
a Galilean."
{R}_{I}60_{/}Again Peter denied, "My friend, I don't know what you are 
talking about." He had not finished saying this when a cock 
crowed. {R}_{I}61_{/}The Lord turned around and looked at Peter and he 
remembered the word that the Lord had spoken, "Before the cock 
crows today you will have denied me three times." {R}_{I}62_{/}Peter went 
outside, weeping bitterly.
{R}_{I}63_{/}Meanwhile the guards were mocking and beating Jesus. 
{R}_{I}64_{/}They blindfolded him, struck him and then asked, "Who hit 
you? Tell us, prophet." {I}65_{/}And they hurled many other insulting 
words at him.
[=]_{R}_{I}66_{/}At daybreak, the council of the elders of the people, 
among whom were the chief priests and the scribes, assembled 
again. Then they had Jesus brought before them, and they began 
questioning him: {R}_{I}67_{/}"Tell us, are you the Christ?" Jesus 
replied, "You will not believe if I tell you, [=]_{I}68_{/}and neither 
will you answer if I ask you. [=]_{R}_{I}69_{/}Yet from now on the Son of 
Man will have his seat at the right hand of the Mighty God."
[=]_{R}_{I}70_{/}In chorus they asked, "So you are the Son of God?" And 
Jesus said to them, "You are right, I am."
{I}71_{/}Then they said, "What need have we of witnesses? We have 
heard it from his own lips."

{N}JESUS BEFORE PILATE{/}

{1}23{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}The whole council rose and brought Jesus to Pilate. 
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}They gave their accusation: "We found this man subverting 
our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming to 
be Christ the king."
{R}_{I}3_{/}Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus 
replied, "You said so." {R}_{I}4_{/}Turning to the chief priests and the 
crowd, Pilate said, "I find no basis for a case against this man." 
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}But they insisted, "All the country of the Jews is being 
stirred up with his teaching. He began in Galilee and now he has 
come all the way here." 
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a 
Galilean. {R}_{I}7_{/}Finding the accused to come under Herod's 
jurisdiction, Pilate sent Jesus over to Herod who happened to be 
in Jerusalem at that time.
[=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}Herod was delighted to have Jesus before him now; for a 
long time he had wanted to see him because of the reports about 
him, and he was hoping to see Jesus work some miracle. {R}_{I}9_{/}He 
piled up question upon question, but got no reply from Jesus.
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}All the while the chief priests and the scribes remained 
standing there, vehemently pressing their accusations. 
[*]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Finally, Herod ridiculed him and with his guards mocked 
him. And when he had put a rich cloak on him, he sent him back to 
Pilate. {R}_{I}12_{/}Pilate and Herod who were enemies before, became 
friends from that day.
{R}_{I}13_{/}Pilate then called together the chief priests and the elders 
before all the people, {R}_{I}14_{/}and said to them, "You have brought 
this man before me and accused him of subversion. In your presence 
I have examined him and found no basis for your charges. {R}_{I}15_{/}And 
neither has Herod, for he sent him back to me. It is quite clear 
that this man has done nothing that deserves a death sentence. 
{I}16_{/}I will therefore have him scourged and then release him." 
([=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}On the Passover Pilate had to release a prisoner.)
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}18_{/}Howling as one man, they protested: "No! Away with this 
man! Release Barabbas instead." {R}_{I}19_{/}This man had been thrown 
into prison for an uprising in the city and for murder.
{R}_{I}20_{/}Since Pilate wanted to release Jesus, he appealed to the 
crowd once more, {I}21_{/}but they shouted back, "To the cross with 
him! To the cross!" {R}_{I}22_{/}A third time Pilate said to them, "Why, 
what evil has he done? Since no crime deserving death has been 
proved, I shall have him scourged and let him go." 
{R}_{I}23_{/}But they went on shouting and demanding that Jesus be 
crucified, and their shouts grew louder. {R}_{I}24_{/}So Pilate decided 
to pass the sentence they demanded. {R}_{I}25_{/}He released the man they 
asked for, the one who was in prison for rebellion and murder, and 
he delivered Jesus in accordance with their wishes.

{N}THE WAY OF CALVARY{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}When they led Jesus away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, 
who was coming in from the fields, and laid the cross on him, to 
carry it behind Jesus.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}27_{/}A large crowd of people followed him; among them were 
women beating their breast and wailing for him, {R}_{I}28_{/}but Jesus 

turned to them and said, "Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, 
weep rather for yourselves and for your children. {I}29_{/}For the 
days are coming when people will say: 'Happy are the women without 
child! Happy are those who have not given birth or nursed a child! 
[=]_{I}30_{/}And they will say to the mountains: Fall on us! And to 
the hills: Cover us!" [=]_{I}31_{/}For if this is the lot of the green 
wood, what will happen to the dry?"
{R}_{I}32_{/}Along with Jesus, two criminals also were led out to be 
executed. [=]_{I}33_{/}There at the place called The Skull he was 
crucified together with the criminals - one on his right and 
another on his left. ([=]_[*]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Jesus said, "Father, forgive 
them for they do not know what they do.") And the guards cast lots 
to divide his clothes among themselves.
[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}The people stood by watching. As for the rulers, they 
jeered at him, saying to one another, "Let the man who saved 
others now save himself, for he is the Messiah, the chosen one of 
God!" 
{I}36_{/}The soldiers also mocked him and when they drew near to offer 
him bitter wine, {R}_{I}37_{/}they said, "So you are the king of the 
Jews? Free yourself!" {R}_{I}38_{/}For above him was an inscription which 
read, "This is the King of the Jews."
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}39_{/}One of the criminals hanging with Jesus insulted him, 
"So you are the Messiah? Save yourself and us as well!" {R}_{I}40_{/}But 
the other rebuked him, saying, "Have you no fear of God, you who 
received the same sentence as he did? {R}_{I}41_{/}For us it is just: 
this is payment for what we have done. But this man has done 
nothing wrong." {R}_{I}42_{/}And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you 
come into your kingdom." {R}_{I}43_{/}Jesus replied, "Truly, you will be 
with me today in paradise."
[=]_{I}44_{/}It was now about noon. {I}45_{/}The sun was hidden and 
darkness came over the whole land until mid-afternoon; and at that 
time the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two. [=]_{R}_{I}46_{/}Then 
Jesus gave a loud cry, "Father, into your hands I commend my 
spirit." And saying that, he gave up his spirit.
{R}_{I}47_{/}The captain on seeing what had happened, acknowledged the 
hand of God. He said, "Surely this was an upright man." {I}48_{/}And 
all the people who had gathered to watch the spectacle, as soon as 
they saw what had happened went home beating their breasts. 
{R}_{I}49_{/}Only those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, especially 
the women who had followed him from Galilee; they witnessed all 
this.
[=]_{R}_{I}50_{/}Then intervened a member of the Jewish supreme council, 
a good and righteous man named Joseph {R}_{I}51_{/}from the Judean town 
of Arimathea. He had not agreed with the decision and action of 

his fellow members, for he lived uprightly in the hope of seeing 
the kingdom of God. {R}_{I}52_{/}He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' 
body. {I}53_{/}He then took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth and 
laid it in a yet unused tomb cut out of a rock.
{I}54_{/}It was Preparation Day and the star which marks the beginning 
of the sabbath was shining. {R}_{I}55_{/}So the women who had come with 
Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph to see the tomb and how his 
body was being placed. {I}56_{/}And returning home, they prepared 
perfumes and ointments.

{N}THE LORD HAS RISEN{/}

{1}24{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}1_{/}On the sabbath the women rested according to the 
commandment, but the first day of the week, at dawn, they went to 
the tomb with the perfumes and ointments they had prepared. 
{R}_{I}2_{/}Seeing the stone rolled away from the opening of the tomb, 
{R}_{I}3_{/}they entered and were puzzled to find that the body of the 
Lord Jesus was not there. 
{I}4_{/}Two men in dazzling garments appeared beside them. {R}_{I}5_{/}In 
fright the women bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why look 
for the living among the dead? {R}_{I}6_{/}(You won't find him here. He 
is risen.) {R}_{I}7_{/}Remember what he told you in Galilee, that the Son 
of Man had to be given into the hands of sinners, be crucified, 
and rise on the third day." {R}_{I}8_{/}And they recalled Jesus' words.
[=]_{I}9_{/}Returning from the tomb, they informed the Eleven and 
their companions. [=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}Among the women who brought the news 
were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. 
{I}11_{/}But however much they insisted, those who heard did not 
believe the seemingly nonsensical story. {R}_{I}12_{/}Then Peter got up 
and ran to the tomb. All he saw there on bending down were the 
linen cloths. He went home wondering.

{N}THE ROAD TO EMMAUS{/}

[\u0095]_[*]_{R}_{I}13_{/}That same day, two of them were going to Emmaus, a 
village seven miles from Jerusalem, {I}14_{/}and they talked about 
what had happened. {R}_{I}15_{/}While they were talking and wondering, 
Jesus came up and walked with them, {I}16_{/}but their eyes were held 
and they did not recognize him.
[=]_{I}17_{/}He asked, "What is this you are talking about?" The two 
stood still, looking sad. {R}_{I}18_{/}Then one named Cleophas answered, 
"Why, it seems you are the only traveller in Jerusalem who doesn't 
know what has happened there these past few days." {R}_{I}19_{/}And he 
asked, "What is it?" 
They replied, "It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, 
you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. 
{R}_{I}20_{/}But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. 
They handed him over to be crucified. {R}_{I}21_{/}We had hoped that he 
would redeem Israel. 
It is now the third day since all this took place. {I}22_{/}It is true 
that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to 
the tomb at dawn, {I}23{/} they did not find his body; they came to 
tell us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that 
Jesus was alive. {I}24_{/}Some friends of our group went to the tomb 
and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not 
see him."
[=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}He said to them, "How dull you are, how slow of 
understanding! You fail to believe the message of the prophets. 
{I}26_{/}Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this and 
then enter his glory?" [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Then starting with Moses and 
going through the prophets, he explained to them everything in the 
Scriptures concerning himself.
{R}_{I}28_{/}As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus 
made as if to go farther. {I}29_{/}But they prevailed upon him, "Stay 
with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over." So 
he went in to stay with them. {I}30_{/}When they were at table, he 
took the bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave each a piece. 
{I}31_{/}Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he 
vanished out of their sight. {I}32_{/}And they said to each other, 
"Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when he was 
talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?"
{R}_{I}33_{/}They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There 
they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. 
[=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}They were greeted by these words: "Yes, it is true, the 
Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!" {R}_{I}35_{/}Then the two told 
what had happened on the road and how Jesus made himself known 
when he broke bread with them.

{N}JESUS APPEARS TO THE APOSTLES {/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}36_{/}As they went on talking about this, Jesus himself stood 
in their midst. (And he said to them, "Peace to you.") {I}37_{/}In 
their panic and fright they thought they were seeing a ghost, 
{I}38_{/}but he said to them, "Why are you upset and why do such ideas 
cross your mind? {I}39_{/}Look at my hands and feet and see that it is 
I myself. Touch me and see for yourselves that a ghost has no 
flesh and bones as I have." {I}40_{/}(As he said this, he showed his 
hands and feet.)
{I}41_{/}In their joy they didn't dare believe and were still 
astonished. So he said to them, "Have you anything to eat?" 
[=]_{I}42_{/}and they gave him a piece of broiled fish. {I}43_{/}He took 
it and ate it before them.

{N}LAST INSTRUCTIONS{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}44_{/}Then Jesus said to them, "Remember the words I spoke to 
you when I was still with you: Everything written about me in the 
Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled." 
[*]_{I}45_{/}Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 
And he went on, {R}_{I}46_{/}"You see what was written: the Messiah had 
to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead. [*]_{R}_{I}47_{/}Then 
repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all 
the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. {I}48_{/}Now you shall be 
witnesses to this. [=]_{I}49_{/}And this is why I will send you what 
my Father promised. So remain in the city until you are invested 
with power from above."
[=]_{R}_{I}50_{/}Jesus led them almost as far as Bethany; then he lifted 
up his hands and blessed them. {I}51_{/}And as he blessed them, he 
withdrew (and was taken to heaven. They worshiped him). {R}_{I}52_{/}They 
returned to Jerusalem full of joy and {R}_{I}53_{/}were continually in 
the Temple praising God.

