The Church is taught to commit the revenge of her persecutions to God, and to pray incessantly, for he no doubt (though in the persecution of Antichrist few will so think) will at length come. (9) We must also pray with humility, because we know not with the Pharisee if we be just, but we know with the Publican that we be sinners. (15) He will have children to be brought to him, and all to be as children. (18) What is to be done to get life everlasting. (22) What also, to get perfection; (28) and what reward they shall have that leave all, yea or any part, for his sake. (31) He foretelleth of his Passion most particularly, (33) and entering into Jericho, cures one blind man.
AND he spoke also a parable to them that it behoveth [a] always to pray, and not to be weary, 2saying: There was a certain judge in a certain city, which feared not God, and of man made no account. 3And there was a certain widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Revenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not of a long time. But afterward he said within himself, Although I fear not God, nor make account of man, 5yet because this widow is importune upon me, I will revenge her, lest at the last she come and defame me. 6And our Lord said: Hear what the judge of iniquity sayeth. 7And will not God revenge his elect that cry to him day and night; and will he have patience in them? 8I say to you that he will quickly revenge them. But yet the Son of man coming, • shall he find trow you, faith in the earth?
9And he said also to certain that trusted in themselves as just, and despised others, this parable: 10Two men went up into the Temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. 11The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself, God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, advouterers, as also this Publican. 12 [b] I fast twice in a week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the Publican standing afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes toward Heaven; but he [c] knocked his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I say to you, this man went down into his house justified more than he: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
15And they brought unto him infants also, that he might touch them. Which thing when the Disciples saw, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus calling them together, said: Suffer children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for the Kingdom of Heaven is for such. 17Amen I say to you, Whosoever receiveth not the Kingdom of God [d] as a child, shall not enter into it.
18 * And a certain Prince asked him, saying: Good Master, by doing what, shall I possess everlasting life? 19And Jesus said to him: Why doest thou call me good? None is good but only God. 20Thou knowest [e] the commandments: Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit advoutry, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and mother. 21Who said: All these things have I kept from my youth. 22Which Jesus hearing, said to him: Yet one thing thou lackest, [f] Sell all that ever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven, and come, follow me. 23He hearing these things, was struck sad: because he was very rich. 24And Jesus seeing him struck sad, said: How hardly shall they that have money enter into the Kingdom of God? 25For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. 26And they that heard, said: And who can be saved? 27He said to them: The things that are impossible with men, are possible with God. 28And Peter said: Lo, we have left all things, and have followed thee. 29Who said to them: Amen I say to you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or [g] wife, or children for the Kingdom of God, 30and shall not receive much more in this time, and in the world to come [h] life everlasting.
31 * And Jesus took the Twelve, and said to them: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be consumate which were written by the Prophets of the Son of man. 32For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and scourged, and spit upon, 33and after they have scourged him, they will kill him, and the third day he shall rise again. 34And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them, and they understood not the things that were said.
35And it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way, begging. 36And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this should be. 37And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passed by. 38And he cried saying: Jesus son of David, have mercy upon me. 39And they that went before, rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But he cried much more: Son of David have mercy upon me. 40And Jesus standing commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him, 41saying: What wilt thou that I do to thee? But he said: Lord, that I may see. 42And Jesus said to him: Do thou see; thy faith hath made thee whole. 43And forthwith he saw, and followed him, magnifying God. And all the people as they saw it, gave praise to God.
Footnotes
- ↑ We should pray always by faith, hope and charity and by working the things that be acceptable to God: though special times of vocal prayers in the Canonical hours be assigned for the stirring up of us to God through external signs of devotion.
- ↑ To take pride of fasting, tithing, or any good work, is nought, though the works themselves be very good.
- ↑ So do the Priests and people at the holy Altar knock their breasts, and say with the humble Publican, Deus propitius. Aug. Ps. 31. conc. 3.
- ↑ In matters of faith and religion we must be as humble and obedient to the Catholic Church as young children to their parents.
- ↑ Not faith only but also keeping the commandments purchase life everlasting. See annot. Mat. 19, 16.
- ↑ This is not a commandment or precept, but counsel: which the religious do follow. See annot Mat. 19.
- ↑ The Apostles among other things left their wives also, as St. Jerom noteth out of this place Lib. 1. adv. Jovin.
- ↑ Life everlasting the reward for leaving or losing willingly our goods for Christ’s sake.
ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVIII.
↑ 8. Shall he find faith.) The Luciferians and Donatists used this place to excuse their fall from the Church, as our Adversaries now do, saying that it was decayed in faith, when they forsook it. To whom we answer as St. Jerom and St. Augustin answered them, that Christ saith not that there should be no faith left in earth: but by this manner of speech insinuateth, that at the later day in the great persecution of Antichrist faith should be more rare, and the faithful among so many wicked not so notorious: specially that perfect faith containing devotion, trust, and affection toward God, which our Master so praised in certain upon whom he wrought miracles, and by force whereof mountains might be moved, which is rare even when the Church flourisheth most.
Margin Notes
- 9–14 The Ghospel upon the 10. Sunday after Pentecost.
- 35–43. The Ghospel upon the Sunday of Quinquagesme.
- annot. 8. Hier. cont. Lucif. ch. 6. Aug. de unit. Ec. c. 15, and de verb. Do Ser. 36.
Margin References
- 15. Mat. 19, 13. Mar. 10, 13.
- 18. Mat. 19, 16. Mar. 10, 17.
- 31. Mat. 20, 17. Mar. 10, 32.
