CONTENTS

SECOND VOLUME

BOOK II

(CONTINUED FROM VOLUME I)

FORMATIVE PERIOD IN GALILEE

SECTION II

JESUS CHRIST AS TEACHER OF HIS CHURCH

CHAPTER I

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT — THE CHARTER OF THE NEW LAW

The Church, Once Organised, Must Be Instructed — The Mount of the Beatitudes — The Auditory — The Sermon Treats of the Three Great Questions: Happiness, Justice, and Wisdom — Who Are the Happy, and Who the Unhappy — The Disciples Must Make Justice Shine Before the Eyes of Men — The Foundations of Justice — The Perfection of Justice — Of the Former Times and of the Present — Additions and Explanations — Modest , Sincerity, Discretion — Lessons of Practical Wisdom, Charily, Prudence, Energy — Works Must Follow Faith that the Edifice May Be Solid — Impressions of His Hearers. (St. Matthew v, 1 ; vii, 29; and parallel passages in St. Luke vi, 20-49.) 3

CHAPTER II

THE LAW OF MERCY AND THE SINFUL WOMAN IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE PHARISEE

Magdala and Its Evil Reputation — Where Simon's Hospitality Fails — The Sinner in the Midst of the Banquet — The Heroism of Her Repentance — Unfavourable Attitude of the Pharisee — Jesus' Question — The Lesson Addressed to Simon — First Grace Begets Love and Love Calls Forth Pardon — Peace of Soul and the New Life Created by the Words of Jesus. (St. Luke vii, 36 - 50.) 31

CHAPTER III

CONTROVERSY WITH THE PHARISEES

The Pharisees Precede Jesus to Capharnaum to Calumniate Him — He Is in League with Beelzebub — His Crushing Replies — The Defeat of the Strong Man — His Terrible Revenge — The Sin against the Holy Ghost — Enthusiasm of the Multitude — Asking for a Sign from Heaven — The Sign of Jonas — In the Judgment, the Queen of Saba and the Ninevites Will Confound the Children of Israel — The Eye of the Soul — Faith Creates Kinship with Jesus. (St. Mark iii, 19 - 35; St. Matthew xii, 22 - 50; St. Luke xi, 17 - 36.) 41

CHAPTER IV

THE PARABLES ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE

Why Jesus Begins to Speak in Parables — The Nature of the Parable — The Seed - Sowing and Varieties of Soil — The Master's Detailed Explanation — A Complementary Parable in St. Mark — The Grain of Mustard - Seed — The Leaven — The Cockle Among the Wheat — Jesus' Explanation — The Treasure — The Precious Stone — The Net and the Definitive Separation of the Good from the Wicked — The True Teacher, for the Sake of His Hearers, Varies His Manner of Teaching. (St. Matthew xiii, 1 - 53; St. Mark iv, 1 - 34; St. Luke viii, 4 - 18, and xiii, 18 - 21.) 62

CHAPTER V

THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE

A New Apostolic Journey into Galilee — The Women Who Follow Jesus — Their Devotion — The Master Determines to Introduce the Twelve to the Works of the Apostolate — The Wise Instructions He Gives Them — To Do Good to the Man of God Will Be the Same as to Do It to God Himself — The Apostles Depart Two by Two, and Work Wonders. (St. Luke viii, 1 - 3, and ix, 1 - 6; St. Matthew x, 1 - 15, 40 - 42; St. Mark vi, 7 - 13.) 73

SECTION III

JESTIS DISCIPLINES HIS CHURCH

CHAPTER I

HEROD ORDERS JOHN THE BAPTIST TO BE PUT TO DEATH

Popular Opinion Regarding Jesus — Herod's Terror — How Two Women, Herodias, the Adulteress, and Salome, the Dancer, Induced Him to Sentence the Precursor to Death — The Baptist's Head on a Charger — Herod Would See Jesus — Danger of Sedition — The Withdrawal to Philip's Territory. (St. Mark vi, 14 - 16 and 21 - 29; St. Matthew xiv, 1 and 6 - 12; St. Luke ix, 7 - 9.) 82

CHAPTER II

JESUS MULTIPLIES BREAD AND WALKS UPON THE WATER

His Motives for Escaping from the Enthusiastic Multitudes — Journey to the Desert of Bethsaida — The Multitudes Preceded Jesus — How Shall Five Thousand Men Be Nourished with Five Loaves of Bread and Two Small Fishes? — Creative Power of the Divine Benediction — The Passover in the Desert — The People Show Their Political Intentions — Jesus Has the Apostles Embark in Order to Withdraw Them from the Influence of the Multitude — He Comes to Them Walking on the Water — Peter Is Associated with Him in the Miracle — They Approach Genesareth. (St. Luke ix, 19 - 17; St. Mark vi, 39 - 56; St. Matthew xiv, 13 - 36; St. John vi, 1 - 21.) 88

CHAPTER III

DISCOURSE ON THE BREAD OF LIFE

The Partisans of a Political Messiah R oin Jesus at Capharnaum — Jesus Rejects Their Earthly Views — How He Understands His Royalty — He Is the Bread of Life for Those Whom the Father Brings to Him — He Desires that Man Shall Receive Not Only His Doctrine, but Also His Flesh and His Blood; Which Are to Be Offered for the Life of the World — The Meaning of the Offering — Perfect Communion — Dissension Among the Adherents of Jesus — Peter's Response — Hypocritical Silence of Judas. (St. John vi, 22 - 71.) 100

CHAPTER IV

THE PHARISEES AGAIN ASSUME THE OFFENSIVE

Renewed Enthusiasm — The Ears of Corn Gathered and Eaten on the Sabbath — Jesus' Twofold Response — The Sabbath Is for Man, Not Man for the Sabbath — Eating with Unwashed Hands — A Counter-Question in Reply — Jesus' Sublime Morality: Only That Which Comes from the Heart Defiles a Man — The Anger of the Pharisees — Jesus' Appreciation — His Explanations to the Disciples — The Man with the Withered Hand — Jesus Questions His Adversaries — They Refuse to Answer — Their Resolution to Join with the Herodians and to Put Jesus to Death. (St. Luke vi, 1 - 11; St. Mark ii, 183 - 28; vii, 1 - 23; iii, 1 - 6; St. Matthew xii, 1 - 8; xv, 1 - 20; xii, 9 - 14.) 114

CHAPTER V

JESUS RETIRES TO THE BORDERS OF PHŒNICIA AND WITHIN THE REGION OF THE DECAPOLIS

Reasons for This Retreat — The Woman of Canaan — Her Admirable Faith — Her Daughter Is Cured — If Jesus Saw Tyre and Sidon, What Must His Impressions Have Been? — The Road to the Decapolis — The Cure of the Deaf-Mute — Great Concourse of People Demanding Miracles — Universal Enthusiasm — Second Multiplication of the Loaves — Jesus Leaves This Country. (St. Matthew xv, 21 - 38; St. Mark vii, 24 - 37; viii, 1 - 9.) 128

CHAPTER VI

AS HE APPROACHES CAPHARNAUM, JESUS FINDS THAT THE DANGER STILL EXISTS

The Pharisees Have Allied Themselves with Herod's Partisans — On Landing Jesus Sees Them Approaching — They Again Demand a Sign — Why? — Jesus Replies, Unmasks Their Hypocrisy, and Immediately Departs — His Thoughts with Regard to His Disciples — The Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod — Their Great Mistake — They Understand at Last (St. Matthew xv, 39; xvi, 1 - 12; St. Mark viii, 10 - 21.) 138

CHAPTER VII

ON THE WAY TO CÆSAREA-PHILIPPI

The Blind Man of Bethsaida — Retreat Toward Caesarea — The Important Question: "Who Do Men Say that I Am?" — The Opinions of the People — Peter's Striking Confession — Tu Es Christus — Simon's Merit — Tu Es Petrus — The Indefectible Church Shall Have a Head — Jesus Foretells His Own Death — Hie Scandal Because of the Messiah's Humiliation — Hard Lesson Given to Peter — Beautiful Teaching Given the Multitude Concerning the Christian Spirit. (St. Matthew xvi, 13 - 28; St. Mark viii, 22 - 38, and ix, 1; St. Luke ix, 18 - 27.) 144

CHAPTER VIII

THE TRANSFIGURATION

Why Jesus Permitted Himself to Be Seen in a State of Glory — His Retreat to the Mountain for Purposes of Prayer — The Phenomenon of the Transfiguration — What It Must Have Been in the Man - God — Jesus Radiant Between Moses and Elias — Their Heavenly Conference — The Emotion of the Three Apostles — The Great Testimony of the Father — Question Concerning Elias — At the Foot of the Mountain the Disciples Are Worried and the Scribes Triumph — The Lunatic — Jesus' Indignation — The Father's Touching Prayer — The Power of Faith — The Demoniac Is Healed — Jesus' Triumph. (St. Luke ix, 28 - 43; St. Mark ix, 2 - 29; St. Matthew xvii, 1 - 21.) 160

CHAPTER IX

LAST VISIT TO CAPHARNAUM

Jesus Again Speaks of His Death — The Tax - Gatherers of Capharnaum — Ought the Master to Pay the Tribute? — Theoretical and Practical Solutions of the Question — He Pays for Peter — Jealous and Dispute Concerning the Primacy — Jesus' Explanation — Admirable Theory as Regards the Primacy — The Man Whom the Disciples Forbid to Cast Out Demons — Scandal — The Crime and Misfortune of Those Who Seek to Destroy the Church by Scandalising Her Children — The Shepherd's Love for His Sheep. (St. Matthew xvii, xviii, 1 - 14; St. Mark ix, 30 - 50; St. Luke ix, 43 - 50; xvii, 1 - 2; XV, 3 - 7.) 174

CHAPTER X

DISCOURSE ON THE FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES

Jesus' Reasons for Speaking of Fraternal Correction — Prudence and Caution in Charity — The Denunciation to the Church — Excommunication — How Often Must One Forgive? — The Master's Admirable Response — The Parable of the Debtor. (St. Matthew xviii, 15 - 35.) 188

CHAPTER XI

THE SUMMONS TO MANIFEST HIMSELF IN JERUSALEM

The Worldly Arguments of Jesus' Brothers — The Motives That Inspire Them — The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem — Summons to Appear in His True Light — The Views of Divine Wisdom — Jesus' Hour — The Ministry in Galilee Is Ended. (St. John vii, 1 - 10.) 199

BOOK III

PERIOD OF COMBAT IN JUDEA

SECTION I

FIRST CONFLICT ON THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

CHAPTER I

THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF JESUS DURING THE FESTIVAL

The Various Opinions of the Multitude with Regard to Jesus, Whom They Would Like to See — His Sudden Appearance in the Temple — He Presents His Apology for His Teaching and His Conduct — Categorical Declarations Regarding His Origin — The Higher Authorities Cause Him to Be Watched — The Solemn Warning and Threat Which He Addressed to His Enemies. (St. John vii, 11 - 36.) 205

CHAPTER II

THE SOLEMN DECLARATION ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL

The Day That Came After the Seventh — The Solemn Libation — The Various Meanings of This Ceremony — Its Prophetic Signification — Jesus' Solemn Declaration: He Is the True Source of Living Water — The Impressions of the Multitude as They Heard Him — They Dare Not Lay Hands on Him — The Conference of the Sanhedrim After the Return of the Emissaries — Nicodemus' Plea. (St. John vii, 37 - 52.) 216

CHAPTER III

THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY

The Pharisees Ask that Jesus Act as Judge in the Case of a Woman Taken in Adultery — The Two-fold Danger Which They Seek to Create — Jesus Remains Silent and Writes Upon the Ground — What He Wrote — The Words He Addresses to the Accusers Transfer the Question from Juridical to Moral Grounds — He Sustains the Law, but Suppresses the Accusers — The Sinner Is Forgiven. (St. John vii, 53 - viii, 11.) 226

CHAPTER IV

JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

The Illuminations of the Feast of Tabernacles and Their Symbolism — The True Light of Mankind Is Jesus — Objection Raised by This Solemn Assertion — Reply: Though Jesus Should Alone Give Testimony of Himself, They Must Believe Him; but the Father Gives Testimony with Him — "Where Is Thy Father?" — He Must Be Sought in the Son — This Took Place in the Court of the Treasury and Within Hearing of the Sanhedrim. (St. John viii, 12 - 20.) 235

CHAPTER V

THEY WHO BELIEVE ALONE ARE FREE AND DIE NOT

Jesus Will Abandon Those Who Refuse to Accept Him — To Be Saved One Must Believe that Jesus Is He — Who Is He? — Sublime Definition — The Jews Shall Not Comprehend It Until Later — Those Who Believe Alone Are Free — Although They Call Themselves the Children of Abraham, the Jews Are Slaves of Sin and Spiritual Sons of the Demons — The Fury of Those Who Hear Him — Immortality Promised to the Faithful — Abraham Is Less than Jesus — Violent Ending of the Discussion. (St. John viii, 21 - 59.) 242

CHAPTER VI

THE MAN BORN BLIND

The Disciples' Question Concerning Physical Evil in the Case of One Born Blind — Jesus' Response — Conditions Under Which He Gives the Blind Man the Sense of Sight — Siloe and Its Mystical Signification — General Excitement Produced by the Miracle — The Inquisition and What Came of It — The Triumphant Attitude of the Man Who Was Cured — Results of the Miracle: for the Blind Man, Faith; for Others, Obstinacy in Their Blindness. (St. John ix, 1 - 41.) 256

CHAPTER VII

THE CHRIST AND HIS FLOCK

Jesus Employs a Double Allegory: He Is the Door of the Fold and at the Same Time the Good Shepherd of the Flock — The Door Is for True Shepherds Who Come There to Call the Sheep — The Sheep Follow Them — Whosoever Enters by Any Other Way Is a Robber, and the Flock Heeds Him Not — The Good Shepherd Is Distinguished from the Mercenary by His Devotion to His Flock — The Two Flocks Which the Great Shepherd Is to Unite. (St. John x, 1 - 21.) 270

CHAPTER VIII

JESUS RETURNS INTO GALILEE

Why It Is Probable that Jesus, After the Feast of Tabernacles, Returned at Once Into Galilee — His Task There, and What Necessitated His Absence from Jerusalem — Different Impressions at Capharnaum 281

SECTION II

JESUS WITH HIS LITTLE CHURCH LEAVES GALILEE IN VIEW OF THE FINAL STRUGGLE

CHAPTER I

SOLEMN DEPARTURE FROM CAPHARNAUM

Resolute Attitude of Jesus as He Advances to the Struggle — Sad Farewell to the Faithless Cities of Galilee — A Town in Samaria Refuses Him Hospitality — Indignation of the Sons of Thunder — The Spirit of the dispel — Three Candidates for the Apostolate — The One Must Pause for Thought — Another Must Advance Without Delay — Having Once Begun, No One Must Look Back. (St. Luke ix, 51 - 62; St. Matthew viii, 19 - 22; xi, 20 - 24.) 286

CHAPTER II

THE MISSION OF THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES

The Time Is Short, the Labourers Must Be Multiplied — The Great Apostolic Campaign of the Seventy Disciples — The Instructions Which They Receive, Some Identical with Those Given to the Apostles, Others for Them Alone — Success of This Mission — The Disciples Return Triumphant — The Words of Jesus — Expressions of Joy and Love for the Father. (St. Luke x, 1 - 24; St. Matthew xi, 25 - 30.) 295

CHAPTER III

A SCRIBE ASKS: "WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?"

A Scribe Comes and Asks What One Must Do to Be Saved — Love God and Thy Neighbour — "Who Is My Neighbour?" — The Beautiful Parable of the Samaritan — In Misfortune We Desire to Have Every One as a Neighbour — Therefore the Afflicted Must Be Our Neighbours. (St. Matthew xix, 1; St. Mark x, 1; St. Luke x, 25 - 37.) 305

CHAPTER IV

THE HOME OF MARTHA AND MARY

The Family at Bethany — Martha, Lazarus, and Mary — The Different Characters of the Two Sisters — Mary's Is Easily Explained, Especially if She Was None Other Than the Sinner, Mary Magdalen — Decisive Reasons That Support This Hypothesis — Magdalen Had at That Time Gone Back to Bethany — The Social Position of the Family — Hospitality Differently Offered and Differently Understood by the Sisters — Martha Is Troubled, Whereas Mary Listens — Martha's Vexation and Her Demand — Jesus' Reply — Lesson of Wisdom. (St. Luke x, 38 - 42.) 315

CHAPTER V

JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES HOW TO PRAY

The Disciples and the Theory of Prayer — The Lord's Prayer: the Invocation, the Six Petitions in Particular and in Their Relations, the Conclusion — The Efficaciousness of Prayer Proved by the Example of the Importunate Friend — The Paternal Goodness of God. (St. Luke xi, 1 - 13; St. Matthew vi, 9 - 13; vii, 7 - 11.) 328

CHAPTER VI

JESUS AT THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION

The Signification of This Feast — Jesus in Solomon's Porch — He Is Besought to Explain Himself — Jesus' Response: "I and the Father Are One" — The Anger of the Jews at His Claim to Divinity — The Claim Ought Not to Worry Them; Why? — Nor the Fact — Jesus Asserts It a Second Time — He Escapes from His Enemies and Leaves Jerusalem. (St. John x, 22 - 39.) 340

CHAPTER VII

ON THE ROAD BACK TO PERÆA

Jesus' Soul Is Filled with Indignation Again St. the Pharisees — An Occasion That Causes It to Burst Forth — Maledictions Uttered During a Repast at the House of One of Them — Grand and Beautiful Lesson to the Disciples in the Presence of the Multitude — What We Must and Must Not Fear — Jesus Refuses to Intervene in a Division of Family Goods — Parable of the Foolish Rich Man. (St. Luke xi, 37; xii, 21.) 349

CHAPTER VIII

LESSONS OF WISDOM AND EFFUSIONS OF PIETY

Teachings on Abandonment to the Paternal Kindness of God — Simple and Touching Reasons That Favour It — Our Treasure Should Be in Heaven — Another Series of Teachings on Christian Vigilance — Parable of the Servants Awaiting Their Master — The Son of Man Comes Like a Thief — Peter's Question — The Two Stewards — Jesus Utters the Thoughts That Oppress His Heart — The Flame Which He Is Come to Bring Into the World — The Hour of the Conflict Approaches — They Do Not Understand Him. (St. Luke xii, 22 - 59; St. Matthew vi. 25 - 33; vi. 19 - 21; xxiv, 43 - 51; X. 34 - 36.) 360

CHAPTER IX

OTHER CURES ON THE SABBATH - DAY — A DINNER AT THE HOUSE OF A PHARISEE

Jesus Is Well Received in Peræa — He There Again Meets the Pharisees with Their Scruples About Healing on the Sabbath — The Woman "Bowed Together," and the Apothegm on the Ass and the Ox Loosed from the Manger — The Dropsical Man in the Pharisee's House — Wise Lessons Regarding the Desire for the First Places — The Guests Whom It Is Best to Invite, and Those Who Are to Participate in the Eternal Banquet — The Parable of the Great Supper. (St. John X, 40 - 42; St. Luke xiii, 10 - 17, and xiv, 1 - 24.) 374

CHAPTER X

THE SMALL NUMBER OF THE ELECT, AND THE REPROBATION OF ISRAEL

Is It the Minority That Shall Be Saved? — The Real Gate Is Narrow — The Wide Gate Exists Only in the Imagination of Sinners — Woe to the Jews Who Shall Have Remained Outside, and Who Should Have Been Within — Tidings from Jerusalem — There Are Greater Criminals than the Galileans Massacred by Pilate or the Jews Destroyed by the Tower of Siloe — God's Justice After His Mercy — The Parable of the Barren Fig-Tree. (St. Luke xiii, 22 - 30, and xiii, 1 - 9.) 387

CHAPTER XI

A FIRST ENTHUSIASM NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAKE DISCIPLES

The Enthusiasm of the Multitudes — Jesus Explains What One Must Do to Become a Disciple — He Must Hate That Which He Has Held Most Dear — He Must Bear His Cross — The Tower to Be Built and the War to Be Waged — Salt Is Good — The Plots of the Pharisaical Faction to Draw Jesus Out of Perœa — The Master's Grave and Solemn Response. (St. Luke xiv, 23 - 35; xiii, 31 - 33.) 395

CHAPTER XII

THE MERCY OF GOD IN PARABLES

God Pities the Sinner, Because He Sees Him in Danger: the Parable of the Lost Sheep — He Is Sorry for His Errors, Because a Man Given to Sin Is One Just Man Less to Glorify Him: the Parable of the Lost Groat — He Loves Him, Because the Sinner Is Ever His Son: the Parable of the Prodigal Son — Final Blow Aimed at the Jealous Pharisees. (St. Luke xv, 1 - 32.) 402

CHAPTER XIII

WORKS OF CHARITY AND THE FUTURE LIFE

Works of Charity the Way to Heaven — Publicans, Pharisees, Sadducees, All Must Remember This — The Steward's Fortunate Breach of Trust — We Must Become Friends with the Treasures That God Confides to Us — The Pharisees' Detestable Attitude — Another Parable: Lazarus and the Sinful Rich Man — The Judgments of the Future Life — Since Moses and the Prophets Have Spoken, the Testimony of One Risen from the Dead Were Useless. (St. Luke xvi, 1 - 31.) 425

CHAPTER XIV

THE HUMILITY THAT MARKS THE TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD

Pride, Even Before God, the Radical Vice of Pharisaism — The Apostles Furnish Jesus an Excellent Opportunity to Condemn It — "Increase Our Faith" — In Strict Justice, God Is Never Man's Debtor — This Theory Is the True Basis of Humility — The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. (St. Luke xvii, 5 - 10; xviii, 9 - 14.) 439

CHAPTER XV

JESUS GOES TO BETHANY TO RAISE LAZARUS TO LIFE AGAIN

The Message from Bethany — The Master's Response — Two Days' Delay — The Disciples' Hesitation to Go to Judea — The Arrival at Bethany and the Dialogue with Martha — Mary Joins Her Sister — Jesus' Emotion — "Where Have You Laid Him?" — Jesus Weeps Before the Tomb — The Motives of His Prayer to the Father — "Lazarus, Come Forth!" — The Effect of the Miracle on Those Present (St. John xi, 1 - 46.) 446

CHAPTER XVI

THE SANHEDRIM DECIDES TO MAKE AWAY WITH JESUS - HE RETREATS TO EPHREM

Solemn Assembly of the Sanhedrim — A Probable Account of the Meeting — Coarse and Brutal Words of Caiphas — His Involuntary Prophecy — Jesus Retreats to Ephrem — The Apostles Must Pray Constantly That the Kingdom of God May Come — Parable of the Unjust Judge and the Widow. (St. John xi, 47 - 54; St. Luke xviii, 1 - 8.) 461

CHAPTER XVII

HOW THE FIRST BECOME LAST AND THE LAST FIRST

Of Ten Lepers Who Are Healed, Only One Shows Gratitude — He Is a Samaritan Whom Faith Makes Whole — Parable of the Labourers Sent to the Vineyard — The Significance of the Penny Given to Each One — The Call to Salvation Not Identical with Salvation Itself — Story of the Rich Young Man — After Having Observed the Commandments. He Hesitates Before the Evangelical Counsels — His Riches a Hindrance to His Entering Heaven — Peter's Question — The Reward of Those Who Abandon All. (St. Luke xvii, 12 - 19; St. Matthew xx, 1 - 16; St. Luke xviii, 18 - 30; St. Mark x, 17 - 31; St. Matthew xix, 16 - 30.) 469

CHAPTER XVIII

MARRIAGE. CELIBACY. AND CHILDREN IN THE EYES OF JESUS

The Great Question of Divorce — Hillel and Schanunai — Jesus Is for God Against Both — He Recalls and Restores the Primitive Ordinance — Admirable Argumentation — The Objection Taken from Moses, and Its Answer — Absolute Indissolubility According to the New Law — The Excellence of Celibacy — Benediction of Little Children. (St. Matthew xix, 3 - 15; St. Mark x. 2 - 16; St. Luke xviii. 15 - 17.) 487