Part 99

Abraham's bosom. . .The place of rest, where the souls of the saints resided, till Christ had opened heaven by his death.

16:23. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom:

16:24. And he cried and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.

16:25. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.

16:26. And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot, nor from thence come hither.

16:27. And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren,

16:28. That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments.

16:29. And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.

16:30. But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.

16:31. And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.

Luke Chapter 17

Lessons of avoiding scandal and of the efficacy of faith. The ten lepers. The manner of the coming of Christ.

17:1. And he said to his disciples: It is impossible that scandals should not come. But woe to him through whom they come!

17:2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.

17:3. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him.

17:4. And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying: I repent: forgive him.

17:5. And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.

17:6. And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree: Be thou rooted up and be thou transplanted into the sea. And it would obey you.

17:7. But which of you, having a servant ploughing or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go. Sit down to meat.

17:8. And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper and gird thyself and serve me, whilst I eat and drink; and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink?

17:9. Doth he thank that servant for doing the things which he commanded him?

17:10. I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.

Unprofitable servants. . .Because our service is of no profit to our master; and he justly claims it as our bounden duty. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us; for he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which, in consequence of his promise, entitles them to an eternal reward.

17:11. And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

17:12. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off.

17:13. And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

17:14. Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean.

17:15. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.