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Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.

You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?

You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this way?

Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.

So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.

“You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?

Again He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God?

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”

At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”

Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.

So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”

And they were unable to answer these questions.

“When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.

Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you.

Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.

When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’

The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.

Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?

Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?

Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?

Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

…saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.

So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

…comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’

The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.

After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.

Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death!

Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death!

I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.

So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’

The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

…and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.

So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’