Jesus began to preach saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven
is at hand.” –Matthew 4:17 -Image Courtesy: Gadel
Repent or Perish
There were some present at that very time who told Him of Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices and He answered them: “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered thus? I tell you, No but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came seeking fruit on it and found none and he said to the Vinedresser, ‘Lo these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down, why should it use up on the ground?’ – The Vinedresser answered: ‘Let it alone sir, till I dig about it and put on manure and if it bears fruit next year, well and good but if not you can cut it down.'”
Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman
Now as Jesus was teaching in one of the Synagogues on the Sabbath and there was a Woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, she was bent over and could not straighten herself and when Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her:
“Woman, you are freed from this infirmity” and he laid His hands upon her and immediately she was made straight and she praised God.
The ruler of the Synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath said to the people: “There are six days on which work ought to be done, come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”
Then the Lord answered him: “You hypocrites. Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? – Ought not this Woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said this, all of his adversaries were put to shame and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Jesus said therefore, “What is the Kingdom of God like and to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden and it grew and became a tree and the bird of the air made nests in its branches.”
The Parable of the Yeast
Jesus speaking again said: “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a Woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.”
The Narrow Door
Jesus went on his way through towns and villages teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem and someone said to him,”Lord, will those who are saved be few?”
Jesus said to them: “Strive to enter by the narrow door for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door saying, ‘Lord open to us,’ He will answer to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets’ but he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from, depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’ – There you will weep and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out and Men will come from east and west, from north and south and sit at table in the Kingdom of God and behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”
The Lament Over Jerusalem
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to Him, ‘Get away from here for Herod wants to kill you’ and He said to them: “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a Prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the Prophets and stoning those who are sent to you. How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings and you would not? Behold your house is forsaken and I tell you, you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'” –Luke 13
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