And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, let him go, and forgave him the debt. But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow-servants that owed him a hundred pence, and laying hold of him, he throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest. And his fellow-servant, falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. Now his fellowservants seeing what was done, were very much grieved: and they came, and told their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him, and said to him: Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me. Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow - servant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers, until he should pay all the debt. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

In this parable the king represents Almighty God; the debt of ten thousand talents, which is equal to about two million pounds sterling, the multitude and enormity of our sins against God: while the hundred pence represents the sins of our neighbour against us, which in comparison with our offences against God are nothing. And as the cruel servant was cast into prison till he should pay his immense debt, which, indeed, he could never pay, so is the unforgiving soul cast into the eternal torments of hell.

CHAP. XXIV. Jesus goes to Jerusalem to the Feast of Tabernacles. The mission of the Seventy-two.

OUR blessed Lord now finally left Galilee, and went to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. At this festival, which was kept in the month of October, the people left their ordinary houses, and dwelt for eight days in booths or tents, or-as they are also calledtabernacles, to commemorate the time when they had dwelt in tents in the wilderness.

Passing through Samaria, in one village the inhabitants refused to receive Him, because He was journeying towards Jerusalem, the Samaritans being ever at enmity with the Jews. And the disciples James and John were roused to anger, and asked to be allowed to call down fire from heaven upon the guilty place. But Jesus forbade them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

After this, Jesus chose out seventy-two of His disciples, and gave them a commission to preach the Gospel, sending them out two and two, in perfect poverty, depending upon the gifts of those to whom they preached for their support.

And as He journeyed on towards Jerusalem, at the entrance of a certain town there met Him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off: and they lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them, He said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests; for thus it was ordered in the law of Moses in the case of persons who were healed of the leprosy. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God, And he fell on his face before His feet, giving thanks: and this man was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said: Were there not ten made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one found to return, and give glory to God, but this stranger. And He said to him: Arise, go thy way for thy faith hath made thee whole.

When He reached Jerusalem, there was a great excitement among the people respecting Him. Many wondered, and believed Him to come from God; others treated Him as a deceiver, and charged Him with breaking the Sabbath, because He healed the sick on the Sabbath-day. On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, when it was the custom to fetch water from the pool of Siloam with great rejoicings to pour upon altar, He stood and cried aloud to the people, If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He that

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believeth in Me, as the Scripture saith, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. And this He spoke of the Holy Spirit, who would be given in all its fulness to His disciples after He Himself should be risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven. The chief priests and Pharisees also sought to seize Him, abhorring His teaching, and jealous of His authority with the people: but His hour was not yet come. And when the feast was ended, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

CHAP. XXV. The Woman taken in adultery. The Jews seek to stone Jesus.

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AND early in the morning, He came again into the temple and all the people came to Him, and sitting He taught them. And the Scribes and Pharisees bring to Him a woman taken in adultery; and they set her in the midst, and said to Him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest Thou? And this they said, tempting Him, that they might accuse Him. But Jesus, stooping down, wrote with His finger on the ground. And when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. But they, hearing this, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest: and Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. Then Jesus lifting up Himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee? And she said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more. For He knew that this woman, though a great sinner, was now penitent, and that her accusers had sought only to bring Him into difficulties, by leading Him to say that she ought to be put to death, while the Romans never suffered the Jews to put any to death by their own authority.

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And as He went on condemning the unbelieving Jews for their hypocrisy, in calling themselves Abraham's children, while they did the deeds of the devil, they were the more enraged. And He said to them: If a man keep My word, he shall not see death for ever. The Jews, therefore, said: Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets and Thou sayest: If any man keep My word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead. Whom dost Thou make Thyself? Jesus answered: If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing: it is My Father that glorifieth Me, of whom you say that He is your God. And you have not known Him: but I know Him: and if I should say that I know Him not, I should be like to you, a liar. But I know Him, and keep His word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see My day he saw it, and was glad. The Jews then said to Him: Thou art not yet fifty years old; and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus saith to them, Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. He called Himself by the incommunicable title, I am, which belongs to the Eternal God alone, because He was Himself co-eternal and co-equal with the Father. But the heart of the Jews was hardened, and they charged Him with blasphemy, and would have stoned Him, but He miraculously passed through the midst of them, and departed from the temple.

CHAP. XXVI. The Parable of the good Samaritan. Martha and Mary. Jesus teaches His disciples to pray. The Seventy

two return.

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AFTER this a certain lawyer thought to confound Jesus, by asking questions which He could not answer. said to Him, Master, what must I do to possess eternal life? But He said to him: What is written in the law? how readest thou? He answering said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy

mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And He said to him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But the lawyer, wishing to excuse his own disobedience to the law which he already knew, professed that he did not know who were to be called his neighbours. And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him, went away, leaving him half dead. And it happened that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, he passed by. In like manner, also, a Levite, when he was near the place, and saw him, passed by. But a certain Samaritan, being on his journey, came near him: and seeing him, was moved with compassion; and going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above, I at my return will repay thee. Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbour to him that fell among the robbers? But he said: He that shewed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do thou in like manner.

Jesus now visited Bethania, a village near Jerusalem, and here dwelt two women, Martha and Mary, with their brother Lazarus. With these He stayed awhile, Mary seating herself at Jesus' feet, and listening to his instruction, while Martha busied herself about preparing the supper, on which she was so much occupied, that she cared little for the spiritual food which her sister sought for. At length she came to Jesus, and said, Lord, hast Thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? speak to her, therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her. Not that Martha's conduct was in itself wrong, but that