THE TRANSFIGURATION UPON THE HOLY MOUNT.

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altered, and He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light, and glistering, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And, behold, there appeared unto them two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and they were talking with Jesus, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And when the voice was past, Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And they kept it close, and

told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

And

And it came to pass, that on the next day, as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that He must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist. When they were come down from the hill, much people met Him.

And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the Scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld Him, were greatly amazed, and running to Him, saluted Him. And He asked the Scribes, What question ye

with them?

A DUMB SPIRIT CAST OUT BY JESUS.

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; I beseech Thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him : and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I brought him to Thy disciples, that they should cast him out; and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? Bring thy son hither. And they brought him unto Him: and when he saw Him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And He asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him but if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And the child was cured from that very hour, and delivered again to his father.

And when He was come into the house, then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

A DISPUTE AS TO WHO SHOULD BE THE GREATEST.

16. Jesus pays Tribute Money.

ST MATT. 17. 22-27; ST MARK 9. 30-50; ST LUKE 9. 43-50: ST JOHN 7.1. The Holy Mount to Capernaum.

After these things Jesus departed thence, and passed through Galilee and He would not that any man should know it, for He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, He said unto His disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears for the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men and they shall kill Him, and after that He is killed, He shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not : and they feared to ask Him of that saying, and they were exceeding Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

sorry.

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when He was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto Him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up: and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money that take, and give unto them for Me and thee.

And being in the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way ? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And He took a

child, and set him in the midst of them and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me. For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

And John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, and he followed not us: and we forbad him,

DISCIPLES OF JESUS MUST BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN.

because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in Me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Have salt in.

17.-Jesus discourses of Humility and Forgiveness.

ST MATTHEW 18.
Capernaum.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged. about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh ! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast

PARABLES OF THE LOST SHEEP AND THE KING'S RECKONING.

them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that

which was lost.

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times

seven.

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment. to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the