Part 1226

14:26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Hate not, etc.... The law of Christ does not allow us to hate even our enemies, much less our parents: but the meaning of the text is, that we must be in that disposition of soul, as to be willing to renounce, and part with every thing, how near or dear soever it may be to us, that would keep us from following Christ.

14:27. And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

14:28. For which of you, having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:

14:29. Lest, after he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him,

14:30. Saying: This man began to build and was not able to finish.

14:31. Or, what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him?

14:32. Or else, while the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace.

14:33. So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth cannot be my disciple.

14:34. Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

14:35. It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill: but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke Chapter 15

The parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son.

15:1. Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.

15:2. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.

15:3. And he spoke to them this parable, saying:

15:4. What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost, until he find it?

15:5. And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing?

15:6. And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?

15:7. I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.

15:8. Or what woman having ten groats, if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently until she find it?

15:9. And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost.

15:10. So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.

Before the angels.... By this it is plain that the spirits in heaven have a concern for us below, and a joy at our repentance and consequently a knowledge of it.

15:11. And he said: A certain man had two sons.

15:12. And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.

15:13. And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.

15:14. And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country: and he began to be in want.