
{1}1{/}

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

{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. {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.
{I}8_{/}Now, while 
Zechariah and those with 
him were fulfilling their 
office, {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; 
{I}11_{/}it was then that 
an angel of the Lord 
appeared to him, standing 
on the right side of the 
altar of incense. 
{I}12_{/}On seeing the 
angel, Zechariah was 
deeply troubled and fear 
took hold of him.
{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.
{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. {I}16_{/}Through 
him many of the people of 
Israel will turn to the 
Lord their God. 
{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."
{I}18_{/}Zechariah said 
to the angel, "How can I 
believe this? I am an old 
man and my wife is 
elderly, too." 
{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." 
{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.
{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."
THE ANNUNCIATION{/}

{I}26_{/}In the sixth 
month, the angel Gabriel 
was sent from God to a 
town of Galilee called 
Nazareth. He was sent 
{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." 
{I}29_{/}Mary was 
troubled at these words, 
wondering what this 
greeting could mean. 
{I}30_{/}But the angel 
said, "Do not fear, Mary, 
for God has looked kindly 
on you. {I}31_{/}You 
shall conceive and bear a 
son and you shall call 
him Jesus. {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."
{I}34_{/}Then Mary said 
to the angel, "How can 
this be if I am a 
virgin?" {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. 
{I}37_{/}With God nothing 
is impossible."
{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.
MARY VISITS ELIZABETH{/}

{I}39_{/}Mary then set 
out for a town in the 
Hills of Judah. 
{I}40_{/}She entered the 
house of Zechariah and 
greeted Elizabeth. 
{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!"
{I}46_{/}And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the 
greatness of the Lord,
{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.
{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."
{I}56_{/}Mary remained 
with Elizabeth about 
three months and then 
returned home.
BIRTH OF JOHN THE 
BAPTIST{/}

{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.
{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. 
{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. 
{I}63_{/}Zechariah asked 
for a writing tablet and 
wrote on it, "His name is 
John," and they were very 
surprised. 
{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.
{I}67_{/}Zechariah, 
filled with holy spirit, 
sang this canticle,
{I}68_{/}"Blessed be the 
Lord God of Israel,
for he has come and 
redeemed his people.
{I}69_{/}He has raised up 
for us a victorious 
Savior
in the house of David his 
servant,
{I}70_{/}as he promised 
through his prophets of 
old,
{I}71_{/}salvation from 
our enemies
and from the hand of our 
foes.
{I}72_{/}He has shown 
mercy to our fathers
and remembered his holy 
covenant,
{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.
{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.
{I}78_{/}This is the work 
of the mercy of our God,

who comes from on high as 
a rising sun
{I}79_{/}shining on those 
who live in darkness
and in the shadow of 
death,
and guiding our feet into 
the way of peace."
{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.
THE BIRTH OF JESUS{/}

{1}2{/}

{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; 
{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 
{I}5_{/}to be registered 
with Mary, his wife, who 
was with child. 
{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.
THE SHEPHERDS AND THE 
ANGELS{/}

{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."
{I}13_{/}Suddenly the 
angel was surrounded by 
many more heavenly 
spirits, praising God and 
saying, {I}14_{/}"Glory 
to God in the highest; 
peace on earth for God is 
blessing humankind."
{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." {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.
{I}19_{/}As for Mary, she 
treasured all these 
messages and continually 
pondered over them.
{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.
{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.
JESUS IS PRESENTED IN THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{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, 
{I}23_{/}as it is written 
in the law of the Lord: 
Every firstborn male 
shall be consecrated to 
God. {I}24_{/}And they 
offered a sacrifice as 
ordered in the law of the 
Lord: a pair of 
turtledoves or two young 
pigeons.
{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, 
{I}26_{/}and he had been 
assured by the Holy 
Spirit that he would not 
die before seeing the 
Messiah of the Lord. 
{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.
{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.
{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. 
{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, 
{I}35_{/}while a sword 
will pierce your own 
soul. Then the secret 
thoughts of many may be 
brought to light."
{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. 
{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.
{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. 
{I}40_{/}There the child 
grew in stature and 
strength and was filled 
with wisdom: the grace of 
God was upon him.
I MUST BE IN MY FATHER'S 
HOUSE{/}

{I}41_{/}Every year the 
parents of Jesus went to 
Jerusalem for the Feast 
of the Passover, as was 
customary. {I}42_{/}And 
when Jesus was twelve 
years old, he went up 
with them according to 
the custom for this 
feast. {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. {I}45_{/}As they 
did not find him, they 
went back to Jerusalem 
searching for him, 
{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.
{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.
{I}52_{/}And Jesus 
increased in wisdom and 
age, and in divine and 
human favor.
JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES 
THE WAY{/}

{1}3{/}

{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. {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.
{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. {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; 
{I}6_{/}and every mortal 
will see the salvation of 
God.
{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? 
{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?" 
{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?" {I}13_{/}John said 
to them, "Collect no more 
than your fixed rate." 
{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."
{I}15_{/}The people were 
wondering about John's 
identity, "Could he be 
the Messiah?" 
{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."
{I}18_{/}With these and 
many other words John 
announced the Good News 
to the people 
{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. 
{I}20_{/}Then Herod added 
another crime to all the 
rest he had committed: he 
put John in prison.
JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY 
JOHN{/}

{I}21_{/}Now, with all 
the people who came to be 
baptized, Jesus too was 
baptized. Then, while he 
was praying, the heavens 
opened: {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."
{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, {I}24_{/}Matthat, 
Levi, Melchi, Jannai, 
Joseph, 
{I}25_{/}Matthathias, 
Amos, Nahum, Esli, 
Naggai, {I}26_{/}Maath, 
Mattathias, Semein, 
Josech, Joda, 
{I}27_{/}Joanan, Rhesa, 
Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, 
Neri, {I}28_{/}Melchi, 
Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, 
{I}29_{/}Joshua, Eliezer, 
Jorim, Matthat, Levi, 
{I}30_{/}Simeon, Judah, 
Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, 
{I}31_{/}Melea, Menna, 
Mattatha, Nathan, David, 
{I}32_{/}Jesse, Obed, 
Boaz, Salmon, Nahson, 
{I}33_{/}Amminadab, 
Adnim, Arni, Hezron, 
Perez, Judah, 
{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, {I}38_{/}Enos, 
Seth, and Adam - who was 
from God.
JESUS TEMPTED IN THE 
WILDERNESS{/}

{1}4{/}

{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. {I}3_{/}The 
devil then said to him, 
"If you are son of God, 
tell this stone to turn 
into bread." {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. {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." 
{I}8_{/}But Jesus 
replied, "Scripture says: 
You shall worship the 
Lord your God and serve 
him alone."
{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, 
{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." {I}12_{/}But 
Jesus replied, "It is 
written: You shall not 
challenge the Lord your 
God." 
{I}13_{/}When the devil 
had exhausted every way 
of tempting Jesus he left 
him, to return another 
time.
JESUS PROCLAIMS HIS 
MISSION AT NAZARETH{/}

{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.
{I}16_{/}When Jesus came 
to Nazareth where he had 
been brought up, he 
entered the synagogue on 
the sabbath as he usually 
did. {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: {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."
{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."
{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?" 
{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."
{I}24_{/}Jesus added, "No 
prophet is honored in his 
own country. 
{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. 
{I}26_{/}Yet Elijah was 
not sent to any of them, 
but to a widow of 
Zarephath, in the country 
of Sidon. {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, {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.
WITH THE POWER OF THE 
SPIRIT{/}

{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.
{I}33_{/}In the synagogue 
there was a man possessed 
by an evil spirit who 
shouted in a loud voice, 
{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." 
{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!" 
{I}37_{/}And news about 
Jesus spread throughout 
the surrounding area.
{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.
{I}40_{/}At sunset, 
people suffering from 
many kinds of sickness 
were brought to Jesus. 
Laying his hands on each 
one, he healed them. 
{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.
{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. 
{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." {I}44_{/}So Jesus 
continued to preach in 
the synagogues of the 
Jewish country.
YOU WILL CATCH PEOPLE{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}One day, as Jesus 
stood by the Lake of 
Gennesaret, with a crowd 
gathered around him 
listening to the word of 
God, {I}2_{/}he caught 
sight of two boats left 
at the water's edge by 
the fishermen now washing 
their nets. {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.
{I}4_{/}When he had 
finished speaking he said 
to Simon, "Put out into 
deep water and lower your 
nets for a catch." 
{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.
{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 
{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.
CURE OF A LEPER{/}

{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."
{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. {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."
{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. 
{I}16_{/}As for Jesus, he 
would often withdraw to 
solitary places and pray.
THE PARALYTIC SAVED{/}

{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. 
{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, {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.
{I}20_{/}When Jesus saw 
their faith, he said to 
the man, "My friend, your 
sins are forgiven." 
{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?"
{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'? {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." {I}25_{/}At once 
the man stood before 
them. He took up the mat 
he had been lying on and 
went home praising God.
{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!"
CALL OF LEVI{/}

{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." 
{I}28_{/}So Levi, leaving 
everything, got up and 
followed Jesus.
{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. 
{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?" 
{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."
{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."
{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."
JESUS, LORD OF THE 
SABBATH{/}

{1}6{/}

{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. {I}2_{/}Some of the 
Pharisees asked them, 
"Why do you do what is 
forbidden on the 
sabbath?" {I}3_{/}Then 
Jesus spoke, "Have you 
never read what David did 
when he and his men were 
hungry?" {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." {I}5_{/}And Jesus 
added, "The Son of Man is 
Lord and rules over the 
sabbath."
{I}6_{/}On another 
sabbath Jesus entered the 
synagogue and began 
teaching. There was a man 
with a paralyzed right 
hand {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. 
{I}8_{/}But Jesus knew 
their thoughts and said 
to the man, "Get up and 
stand in the middle." 
{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?" 
{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. {I}11_{/}But they 
were furious and began to 
discuss with one another 
how they could deal with 
Jesus.
THE TWELVE{/}

{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: 
{I}14_{/}Simon, whom he 
named Peter, and his 
brother Andrew, James and 
John; Philip and 
Bartholomew; 
{I}15_{/}Matthew and 
Thomas; James son of 
Alpheus and Simon called 
the Zealot; 
{I}16_{/}Judas son of 
James, and Judas 
Iscariot, who would be 
the traitor.
BLESSINGS AND WOES{/}

{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.
{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.
{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. 
{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.
{I}26_{/}Alas for you 
when people speak well of 
you, for that is how the 
ancestors of these people 
treated the false 
prophets.
LOVE OF ENEMIES{/}

{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.
{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. 
{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.
{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."
{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.
{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. 
{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!"
THE FAITH OF A PAGAN{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}When Jesus had 
finished teaching in this 
way to the people, he 
went to Capernaum.
{I}2_{/}There was a 
captain whose servant was 
very sick and near to 
death, a man very dear to 
him. {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. 
{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."
{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. {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."
{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.
THE SON OF A WIDOW 
RESTORED TO LIFE{/}

{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. {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." 
{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." {I}15_{/}And 
the dead man got up and 
began to speak, and Jesus 
gave him to his mother. 
{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." 
{I}17_{/}This news spread 
out in the Jewish country 
and the surrounding 
places. 
JESUS ANSWERS THE 
MESSENGERS OF JOHN {/}

{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?" {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?"
{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. 
{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."
{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? {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. {I}26_{/}What 
did you go out to see? A 
prophet? Yes, I tell you, 
and more than a prophet. 
{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. {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.
{I}29_{/}All the people 
listening to him, even 
the tax collectors, had 
acknowledged the will of 
God in receiving the 
baptism of John, 
{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.'
{I}33_{/}Remember John: 
he didn't eat bread or 
drink wine, and you said: 
'He has an evil spirit.' 
{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."
JESUS, THE WOMAN AND THE 
PHARISEE{/}

{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. 
{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?" 
{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?"
{I}43_{/}Simon answered, 
"The one, I suppose, who 
was forgiven more." And 
Jesus said, "You are 
right." {I}44_{/}And 
turning toward the woman, 
he said to Simon, "Do you 
see this woman? 
{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."
{I}48_{/}Then Jesus said 
to the woman, "Your sins 
are forgiven." 
{I}49_{/}The others 
sitting with him at the 
table began to wonder, 
"Now this man claims to 
forgive sins!" 
{I}50_{/}But Jesus again 
spoke to the woman, "Your 
faith has saved you; go 
in peace."
THE WOMEN WHO FOLLOWED 
JESUS{/}

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Jesus walked 
through towns and 
countryside, preaching 
and giving the good news 
of the kingdom of God. 
The Twelve followed him, 
{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; 
{I}3_{/}Joanna, wife of 
Chuza, Herod's steward; 
Suzanna and others who 
provided for them out of 
their own funds.
THE PARABLE OF THE 
SOWER{/}

{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. 
{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. {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!"
{I}9_{/}The disciples 
asked him, "What does 
this story mean?" 
{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." 
{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."
JESUS' MOTHER AND 
BROTHERS {/}

{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." 
{I}21_{/}Then Jesus 
answered, "My mother and 
my brothers are those who 
hear the word of God and 
do it."
JESUS CALMS THE STORM{/}

{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." {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. {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.
{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!"
THE POSSESSED MAN AND THE 
PIGS {/}

{I}26_{/}The crossing 
ended at the country of 
the Gerasenes, on the 
shore facing Galilee. 
{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. 
{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"; 
{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, 
{I}30_{/}"What is your 
name?" the man said, "I 
am Legion," because many 
demons had entered into 
him. {I}31_{/}And they 
begged Jesus not to 
command them to go into 
the bottomless pit. 
{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. {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. 
{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. 
{I}36_{/}Then people who 
had seen it told them how 
the man had been healed, 
{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.
{I}38_{/}It was then that 
the man freed of the 
demons asked Jesus if he 
could stay with him. 
{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.
A WOMAN IS HEALED AND A 
CHILD RAISED TO LIFE {/}

{I}40_{/}When Jesus 
returned, the people 
welcomed him, for all had 
been waiting for him. 
{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 
{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. {I}44_{/}Now 
she came up behind Jesus 
and touched the fringe of 
his cloak, and her 
bleeding stopped at once. 
{I}45_{/}Then Jesus 
asked, "Who touched me?" 
Everyone denied it and 
Peter said, "Master, the 
crowd is pushing all 
around you." {I}46_{/}But 
Jesus said, "Someone 
touched me, for I felt 
power go out from me."
{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. 
{I}48_{/}And Jesus said 
to her, "Daughter, your 
faith has saved you. Go 
in peace."
{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." {I}50_{/}But 
Jesus heard the news and 
said to the official, "Do 
not fear, only believe."
{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. 
{I}52_{/}As all the 
people were weeping and 
wailing loudly, Jesus 
said to them, "Do not 
weep, she is not dead but 
asleep." {I}53_{/}And 
they laughed at him, 
knowing that she was 
dead. {I}54_{/}As for 
Jesus, he took the child 
by the hand and said to 
her, "Child, wake up!" 
{I}55_{/}And her spirit 
returned and she got up 
at once; then Jesus told 
them to give her 
something to eat. 
{I}56_{/}The parents were 
amazed, but Jesus ordered 
them not to let anyone 
know what had happened. 
JESUS SENDS THE TWELVE ON 
A MISSION{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}Then Jesus called 
his twelve disciples and 
gave them power and 
authority to drive out 
all evil spirits and to 
heal diseases. 
{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.
{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." {I}8_{/}Others 
believed that Elijah or 
one of the ancient 
prophets had come back to 
life. {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.
{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. {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.
MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES{/}

{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." 
{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?" 
{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. 
{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.
PETER'S PROFESSION OF 
FAITH{/}

{I}18_{/}One day when 
Jesus was praying alone, 
not far from his 
disciples, he asked them, 
"What do people say about 
me?" {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, 
{I}20_{/}"Who then do you 
say I am?" Peter 
answered, "The Messiah of 
God." {I}21_{/}Then Jesus 
spoke to them, giving 
them strict orders not to 
tell this to anyone.
{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."
{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? {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. 
{I}27_{/}Truly, I say to 
you, there are some here 
who will not experience 
death before they see the 
kingdom of God."
THE TRANSFIGURATION{/}

{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. 
{I}30_{/}Two men were 
talking with Jesus: Moses 
and Elijah. {I}31_{/}They 
had just appeared in 
heavenly glory and were 
telling him about his 
departure that had to 
take place in Jerusalem.
{I}32_{/}Peter and his 
companions had fallen 
asleep, but they awoke 
suddenly and saw Jesus' 
Glory and the two men 
standing with him. 
{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." {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.
THE EPILEPTIC DEMONIAC{/}

{I}37_{/}The next day, 
when they came down from 
the mountain, quite a 
group met Jesus. 
{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. 
{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."
{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." 
{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. {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, 
{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.
WHO IS THE GREATEST?{/}

{I}46_{/}One day the 
disciples were arguing 
about which of them was 
the most important. 
{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."
{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." {I}50_{/}But Jesus 
said, "Don't forbid him. 
He who is not against you 
is for you."
JESUS UNWELCOME IN A 
SAMARITAN VILLAGE{/}

{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. 
{I}53_{/}But the people 
would not receive him 
because he was on his way 
to Jerusalem. 
{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?" 
{I}55_{/}Jesus turned and 
rebuked them, 
{I}56_{/}and they went on 
to another village.
THE COST OF FOLLOWING 
JESUS{/}

{I}57_{/}As they went on 
their way, a man said to 
him, "I will follow you 
wherever you go." 
{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."
{I}59_{/}To another Jesus 
said, "Follow me." But he 
answered, "Let me go back 
now, for first I want to 
bury my father." 
{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." {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."
JESUS SENDS OUT THE 
SEVENTY{/}

{1}10{/}

{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.' {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.
{I}8_{/}When they welcome 
you in any town, eat what 
they offer you. 
{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: 
{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.' {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. 
{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."
JESUS GIVES THANKS TO THE 
FATHER {/}

{I}17_{/}The seventy-two 
disciples returned full 
of joy. They said, "Lord, 
even the demons obeyed us 
when we called on your 
name." {I}18_{/}Then 
Jesus replied, "I saw 
Satan fall like lightning 
from heaven. {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."
{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."
{I}23_{/}Then Jesus 
turned to his disciples 
and said to them 
privately, "Fortunate are 
you to see what you see, 
{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."
THE GOOD SAMARITAN{/}

{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?" 
{I}26_{/}Jesus replied, 
"What is written in the 
Scripture? How do you 
understand it?" 
{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." {I}28_{/}Jesus 
replied, "What a good 
answer! Do this and you 
shall live." {I}29_{/}The 
man wanted to keep up 
appearances, so he 
replied, "Who is my 
neighbor?"
{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.
{I}31_{/}It happened that 
a priest was going along 
that road and saw the 
man, but passed by on the 
other side. 
{I}32_{/}Likewise a 
Levite saw the man and 
passed by on the other 
side. {I}33_{/}But a 
Samaritan, too, was going 
that way, and when he 
came upon the man, he was 
moved with compassion. 
{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.'"
{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?" 
{I}37_{/}The teacher of 
the Law answered, "the 
one who had mercy on 
him." And Jesus said, "Go 
then and do the same."
MARTHA AND MARY{/}

{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. {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, {I}42_{/}whereas 
only one thing is needed. 
Mary has chosen the 
better part, and it will 
not be taken away from 
her."
LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY{/}

{1}11{/}

{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." {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."
{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.
{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? 
{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!"
JESUS AND BEELZEBUL{/}

{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.
{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.
{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? {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. 
{I}23_{/}Whoever is not 
with me is against me, 
and whoever does not 
gather with me, scatters.
{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."
{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!" 
{I}28_{/}Jesus replied, 
"Surely blessed are those 
who hear the word of God 
and keep it as well."
{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. {I}30_{/}As Jonah 
became a sign for the 
people of Nineveh, so 
will the Son of Man be a 
sign for this generation. 
{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."
WOE TO YOU, PHARISEES!{/}

{I}37_{/}As Jesus was 
speaking, a Pharisee 
asked him to have a meal 
with him. So he went and 
sat at table. 
{I}38_{/}The Pharisee 
then wondered why Jesus 
did not first wash his 
hands before dinner. 
{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.
{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. 
{I}43_{/}A curse is on 
you, Pharisees, for you 
love the best seats in 
the synagogues and to be 
greeted in the 
marketplace. {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."
{I}45_{/}Then a teacher 
of the Law spoke up and 
said, "Master, when you 
speak like this, you 
insult us, too." 
{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. {I}47_{/}A 
curse is on you, for you 
build memorials to the 
prophets your ancestors 
killed. {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!"
{I}49_{/}(The Wisdom of 
God also said,) "I will 
send prophets and 
apostles and this people 
will kill and persecute 
some of them. 
{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, 
{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.
{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."
{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.
OPEN AND FEARLESS 
SPEECH{/}

{1}12{/}

{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. 
{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.
{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. {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?
{I}8_{/}I tell you, 
whoever acknowledges me 
before people, the Son of 
Man will also acknowledge 
before the angels of God. 
{I}9_{/}But the one who 
denies me before others 
will be denied before the 
angels of God.
{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. 
{I}12_{/}For the Holy 
Spirit will teach you at 
that time what you have 
to say."
THE RICH FOOL{/}

{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?" {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."
{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.' {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." 
DO NOT WORRY!{/}

{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. 
{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?
{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. {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. 
{I}31_{/}Seek rather the 
Kingdom and these things 
will be given to you as 
well.
{I}32_{/}Do not be 
afraid, little flock, for 
it has pleased your 
Father to give you the 
kingdom. {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.
BE READY{/}

{I}35_{/}Be ready, 
dressed for service, and 
keep your lamps lit, 
{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. {I}40_{/}You also 
must be ready, for the 
Son of Man will come at 
an hour you do not 
expect."
{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. 
{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. 
{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." 
{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."
THE FIG TREE WITHOUT 
FRUIT{/}

{1}13{/}

{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. {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.
{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."
{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."
THE HEALING ON A SABBATH 
DAY{/}

{I}10_{/}Jesus was 
teaching in a synagogue 
on the sabbath 
{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. 
{I}12_{/}On seeing her, 
Jesus called her and 
said, "Woman, you are 
freed from your 
infirmity." {I}13_{/}Then 
he laid his hands upon 
her and immediately she 
was made straight and 
praised God.
{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."
{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. {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?"
{I}17_{/}When Jesus said 
this, all his opponents 
felt ashamed. But the 
people rejoiced at the 
many wonders that 
happened through him.
TWO PARABLES{/}

{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."
{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."
{I}22_{/}Jesus went 
through towns and 
villages teaching and 
making his way to 
Jerusalem. 
{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.'
{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. {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!"
{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." {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!' 
{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.
ALAS FOR YOU, 
JERUSALEM{/}

{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{/}

{I}1_{/}One sabbath Jesus 
had gone to eat a meal in 
the house of a leading 
Pharisee, and he was 
carefully watched. 
{I}2_{/}In front of him 
was a man suffering from 
dropsy; {I}3_{/}so Jesus 
asked the teachers of the 
Law and the Pharisees, 
"Is it lawful to heal on 
the sabbath or not?" 
{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.
THE FIRST PLACES{/}

{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."
{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."
A MAN ONCE GAVE A 
FEAST{/}

{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!"
{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."
THE COST OF FOLLOWING 
JESUS{/}

{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.'
{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!"
THE LOST SHEEP{/}

{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}Meanwhile tax 
collectors and sinners 
were seeking the company 
of Jesus, all of them 
eager to hear what he had 
to say. {I}2_{/}But the 
Pharisees and the scribes 
frowned at this, 
muttering. "This man 
welcomes sinners and eats 
with them." {I}3_{/}So 
Jesus told them this 
parable:
{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!' 
{I}10_{/}I tell you, in 
the same way there is 
rejoicing among the 
angels of God over one 
repentant sinner."
THE PRODIGAL SON{/}

{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.
{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! 
{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. {I}23_{/}Take the 
fattened calf and kill 
it. We shall celebrate 
and have a feast, 
{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. 
{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. {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. 
{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.'"
THE CRAFTY STEWARD{/}

{1}16{/}

{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?
{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."
{I}14_{/}The Pharisees, 
who loved money, heard 
all this and sneered at 
Jesus. {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.
{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.
THE RICH MAN AND 
LAZARUS{/}

{I}19_{/}Once there was a 
rich man who dressed in 
purple and fine linen and 
feasted every day. 
{I}20_{/}At his gate lay 
Lazarus, a poor man 
covered with sores, 
{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. {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. {I}23_{/}From 
hell where he was in 
torment, he looked up and 
saw Abraham afar  off, 
and with him Lazarus at 
rest.
{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.'
{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.'
{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.' 
{I}29_{/}Abraham replied: 
'They have Moses and the 
prophets. Let them listen 
to them.' {I}30_{/}But 
the rich man said: 'No, 
Father Abraham. But if 
someone from the dead 
goes to them, they will 
repent.'
{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{/}

{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. 
{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, {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.'"
THE TEN LEPERS{/}

{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. 
{I}13_{/}Keeping their 
distance, they called to 
him, "Jesus, Master, have 
pity on us!" 
{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. 
{I}15_{/}One of them, as 
soon as he saw he was 
cleansed, turned back 
praising God in a loud 
voice, and 
{I}16_{/}throwing himself 
on his face before Jesus, 
he gave him thanks. This 
man was a Samaritan.
{I}17_{/}Then Jesus said, 
"Were not all ten healed? 
Where are the other nine? 
{I}18_{/}Was no one found 
to return and give praise 
to God but this alien?" 
{I}19_{/}And Jesus said 
to him, "Stand up and go 
your way; your faith has 
saved you."
THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM 
OF GOD{/}

{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 {I}21_{/}and say 
of it: 'Look, here it is! 
There it is!' See, the 
kingdom of God is among 
you."
{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. {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.
{I}26_{/}As it was in the 
days of Noah, so will it 
be on the day the Son of 
Man comes. {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. {I}28_{/}Just 
as it was in the days of 
Lot: people ate and 
drank, they bought and 
sold, planted and built. 
{I}29_{/}But on the day 
Lot left Sodom, God made 
fire and sulfur rain down 
from heaven which 
destroyed them all. 
{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."
PRAY AND NEVER LOSE 
HEART{/}

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}Jesus told them a 
parable to show them that 
they should pray 
continually and not lose 
heart. {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.' {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."
{I}6_{/}And Jesus 
explained, "Listen to 
what the evil judge says. 
{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? 
{I}8_{/}I tell you, he 
will speedily do them 
justice. Yet, when the 
Son of Man comes, will he 
find faith on earth?"
THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX 
COLLECTOR{/}

{I}9_{/}Jesus told 
another parable to some 
persons fully convinced 
of their own 
righteousness, who looked 
down on others, 
{I}10_{/}"Two men went up 
to the Temple to pray; 
one was a Pharisee and 
the other a tax 
collector. {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. {I}12_{/}I 
fast twice a week and 
give the tenth of all my 
income to the Temple.'
{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.'
{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."
{I}15_{/}They even 
brought little children 
to Jesus to have him 
touch them; but then the 
disciples rebuked these 
people. {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. 
{I}17_{/}Truly, I tell 
you, whoever does not 
receive the kingdom of 
God like a child will not 
enter it."
JESUS AND THE RICH 
RULER{/}

{I}18_{/}A ruler asked 
Jesus, "Good master, what 
shall I do to inherit 
eternal life?" 
{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." 
{I}21_{/}And the man 
said, "I have kept all 
these commandments from 
my youth."
{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." {I}23_{/}When 
he heard these words, the 
man became sad for he was 
very rich. {I}24_{/}Jesus 
noticing this said, "How 
hard it is for people who 
have riches to enter the 
kingdom of God! 
{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?" 
{I}27_{/}And Jesus 
replied, "What is 
impossible for humans is 
possible for God."
{I}28_{/}Then Peter said, 
"We left everything we 
had and followed you." 
{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."
{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.
THE BLIND MAN OF 
JERICHO{/}

{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, 
{I}37_{/}and they told 
him that Jesus of 
Nazareth was going by. 
Then he cried out, 
{I}38_{/}"Jesus, Son of 
David, have mercy on me!" 
{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!"
{I}40_{/}Jesus stopped 
and ordered the blind man 
to be brought to him, and 
when he came near, he 
asked him, {I}41_{/}"What 
do you want me to do for 
you?" And the man said, 
"Lord, that I may see!" 
{I}42_{/}Jesus said, 
"Receive your sight, your 
faith has saved you." 
{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.
JESUS AND ZACCHEUS{/}

{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}When Jesus 
entered Jericho and was 
going through the city, 
{I}2_{/}a man named 
Zaccheus was there. He 
was a tax collector and a 
wealthy man. {I}3_{/}He 
wanted to see what Jesus 
was like, but he was a 
short man and could not 
see because of the crowd. 
{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. 
{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." 
{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." 
{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." 
{I}9_{/}Looking at him 
Jesus said, "Salvation 
has come to this house 
today, for he is also a 
true son of Abraham. 
{I}10_{/}The Son of Man 
has come to seek and to 
save the lost."
THE TEN POUNDS{/}

{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. 
{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.' {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.'
{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. 
{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.'"
JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM{/}

{I}28_{/}So Jesus spoke, 
and he went on ahead of 
them, on his way to 
Jerusalem. {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.'"
{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." {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.
{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, {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."
{I}39_{/}Some Pharisees 
in the crowd said to him, 
"Master, rebuke your 
disciples." {I}40_{/}But 
Jesus answered, "I tell 
you, if they were to 
remain silent, the stones 
would cry out."
{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. {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."
{I}45_{/}Then Jesus 
entered the Temple area 
and began to drive out 
the merchants. 
{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."
{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{/}

{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?"
{I}3_{/}Jesus said to 
them, "I also will ask 
you a question; tell me: 
{I}4_{/}Was John's 
preaching and baptism a 
work of God, or was it 
merely something human?" 
{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?' {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." {I}7_{/}So they 
answered Jesus, "We don't 
know," {I}8_{/}and Jesus 
said to them, "Neither 
will I tell you what 
right I have to act like 
this."
THE MURDEROUS TENANTS{/}

{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. {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!" {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?"
{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.
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. {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?" 
{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." {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.
RESURRECTION OF THE 
DEAD{/}

{I}27_{/}Then some 
Sadducees arrived. These 
people claim that there 
is no resurrection 
{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."
{I}34_{/}And Jesus 
replied, "Taking husband 
or wife is proper to 
people of this world, 
{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. 
{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.
{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. 
{I}38_{/}For he is God of 
the living and not of the 
dead, and for him all are 
alive." 
{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. 
{I}41_{/}Then Jesus said 
to them, "How can people 
say that the Messiah is 
the son of David? 
{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. 
{I}44_{/}David here calls 
him Lord; how then can he 
be his son?"
{I}45_{/}Jesus also said 
to his disciples before 
all the people, 
{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!"
THE WIDOW'S MITE{/}

{1}21{/}

{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."
SIGNS BEFORE THE 
DESTRUCTION OF 
JERUSALEM{/}

{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?"
{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."
{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. 
{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.
{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.
{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. 
{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. 
{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.
THE COMING OF THE SON OF 
MAN{/}

{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. 
{I}27_{/}And at this time 
they will see the Son of 
Man coming in a cloud 
with power and great 
glory.
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." {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. {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.
{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. {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."
{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. {I}38_{/}And 
early in the morning the 
people would come to the 
Temple to hear him.
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST 
JESUS{/}

{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}The feast of 
Unleavened Bread which is 
called the Passover, was 
now drawing near, 
{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, {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.
{I}7_{/}Then came the 
feast of the Unleavened 
Bread in which the 
Passover lamb had to be 
sacrificed. {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?" 
{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 {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."
{I}13_{/}Peter and John 
went off and having found 
everything just as Jesus 
had told them, they 
prepared the Passover 
meal.
THE SUPPER OF THE LORD{/}

{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; 
{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: 
{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." 
{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." 
{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. {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. 
LAST CONVERSATION WITH 
JESUS {/}

{I}24_{/}They also began 
to argue among themselves 
which of them should be 
considered the most 
important. {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. {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.
{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." {I}33_{/}Then 
Peter said, "Lord, with 
you I am ready to go even 
to prison and death." 
{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."
{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." 
{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."
GETHSEMANE{/}

{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."
{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, {I}48_{/}and 
Jesus said to him, "Did 
you need this kiss to 
betray the Son of Man?"
{I}49_{/}Those with Jesus 
seeing what would happen, 
said to him, "Master, 
shall we use the sword?" 
{I}50_{/}And one of them 
struck the High Priest's 
servant and cut off his 
right ear. {I}51_{/}But 
Jesus stopped him, "No 
more of this." He touched 
the man's ear and healed 
him. 
{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? 
{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."
THE TRIAL OF JESUS, 
PETER'S DENIAL {/}

{I}54_{/}Then they seized 
him and took him away, 
bringing him to the High 
Priest's house. Peter 
followed at a distance. 
{I}55_{/}A fire was 
kindled in the middle of 
the courtyard where 
people gathered, and 
Peter sat among them. 
{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." 
{I}58_{/}A little later 
someone who saw him said, 
"You are also one of 
them!" Peter replied, "My 
friend, I am not!" 
{I}59_{/}After about an 
hour another asserted, 
"Surely this man was with 
him, for he is a 
Galilean."
{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. 
{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." {I}62_{/}Peter 
went outside, weeping 
bitterly.
{I}63_{/}Meanwhile the 
guards were mocking and 
beating Jesus. 
{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.
{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: 
{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. 
{I}69_{/}Yet from now on 
the Son of Man will have 
his seat at the right 
hand of the Mighty God."
{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."
JESUS BEFORE PILATE{/}

{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}The whole council 
rose and brought Jesus to 
Pilate. {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."
{I}3_{/}Pilate asked 
Jesus, "Are you the King 
of the Jews?" Jesus 
replied, "You said so." 
{I}4_{/}Turning to the 
chief priests and the 
crowd, Pilate said, "I 
find no basis for a case 
against this man." 
{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." 
{I}6_{/}When Pilate heard 
this, he asked if the man 
was a Galilean. 
{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.
{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. 
{I}9_{/}He piled up 
question upon question, 
but got no reply from 
Jesus.
{I}10_{/}All the while 
the chief priests and the 
scribes remained standing 
there, vehemently 
pressing their 
accusations. 
{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. 
{I}12_{/}Pilate and Herod 
who were enemies before, 
became friends from that 
day.
{I}13_{/}Pilate then 
called together the chief 
priests and the elders 
before all the people, 
{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. 
{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." ({I}17_{/}On the 
Passover Pilate had to 
release a prisoner.)
{I}18_{/}Howling as one 
man, they protested: "No! 
Away with this man! 
Release Barabbas 
instead." {I}19_{/}This 
man had been thrown into 
prison for an uprising in 
the city and for murder.
{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!" {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." 
{I}23_{/}But they went on 
shouting and demanding 
that Jesus be crucified, 
and their shouts grew 
louder. {I}24_{/}So 
Pilate decided to pass 
the sentence they 
demanded. {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.
THE WAY OF CALVARY{/}

{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.
{I}27_{/}A large crowd of 
people followed him; 
among them were women 
beating their breast and 
wailing for him, 
{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?"
{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. ({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.
{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, 
{I}37_{/}they said, "So 
you are the king of the 
Jews? Free yourself!" 
{I}38_{/}For above him 
was an inscription which 
read, "This is the King 
of the Jews."
{I}39_{/}One of the 
criminals hanging with 
Jesus insulted him, "So 
you are the Messiah? Save 
yourself and us as well!" 
{I}40_{/}But the other 
rebuked him, saying, 
"Have you no fear of God, 
you who received the same 
sentence as he did? 
{I}41_{/}For us it is 
just: this is payment for 
what we have done. But 
this man has done nothing 
wrong." {I}42_{/}And he 
said, "Jesus, remember me 
when you come into your 
kingdom." {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. {I}46_{/}Then 
Jesus gave a loud cry, 
"Father, into your hands 
I commend my spirit." And 
saying that, he gave up 
his spirit.
{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. 
{I}49_{/}Only those who 
knew Jesus stood at a 
distance, especially the 
women who had followed 
him from Galilee; they 
witnessed all this.
{I}50_{/}Then intervened 
a member of the Jewish 
supreme council, a good 
and righteous man named 
Joseph {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. 
{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. {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.
THE LORD HAS RISEN{/}

{1}24{/}

{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. {I}2_{/}Seeing 
the stone rolled away 
from the opening of the 
tomb, {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. 
{I}5_{/}In fright the 
women bowed to the 
ground. But the men said, 
"Why look for the living 
among the dead? 
{I}6_{/}(You won't find 
him here. He is risen.) 
{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." {I}8_{/}And they 
recalled Jesus' words.
{I}9_{/}Returning from 
the tomb, they informed 
the Eleven and their 
companions. 
{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. {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.
THE ROAD TO EMMAUS{/}

{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. 
{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. 
{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." {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. {I}20_{/}But the 
chief priests and our 
rulers sentenced him to 
death. They handed him 
over to be crucified. 
{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."
{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?" {I}27_{/}Then 
starting with Moses and 
going through the 
prophets, he explained to 
them everything in the 
Scriptures concerning 
himself.
{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?"
{I}33_{/}They immediately 
set out and returned to 
Jerusalem. There they 
found the Eleven and 
their companions gathered 
together. {I}34_{/}They 
were greeted by these 
words: "Yes, it is true, 
the Lord is risen! He has 
appeared to Simon!" 
{I}35_{/}Then the two 
told what had happened on 
the road and how Jesus 
made himself known when 
he broke bread with them.

JESUS APPEARS TO THE 
APOSTLES {/}

{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.
LAST INSTRUCTIONS{/}

{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, 
{I}46_{/}"You see what 
was written: the Messiah 
had to suffer and on the 
third day rise from the 
dead. {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."
{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). 
{I}52_{/}They returned to 
Jerusalem full of joy and 
{I}53_{/}were continually 
in the Temple praising 
God.

