His parents were amazed when they saw him, and his mother said to him: "My child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."

And the Holy Spirit descended, in a visible form, like a dove, upon him, and from the heavens came a voice--"Thou art my Son, the Beloved; in thee I delight."

A scholar is not above his teacher; yet every finished scholar shall be like his teacher.

"To what then," Jesus continued, "shall I compare the people of the present generation? What are they like?

They are like some little children who are sitting in the market-place and calling out to one another--'We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not wept!'

Now, go. Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like lambs among wolves.

And Jesus replied: "I have had visions of Satan, fallen, like lightning from the heavens.

Alas for you! You are like unsuspected graves, over which men walk unawares."

Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendor was not robed like one of these.

And be like men who are waiting for their Master's return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once.

So Jesus said: "What is the Kingdom of God like? and to what can I liken it?

It is like a mustard-seed which a man took and put in his garden. The seed grew and became a tree, and 'the wild birds roosted in its branches.'"

And again Jesus said: "To what can I liken the Kingdom of God?

It is like some yeast which a woman took and covered in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen."

But the Master said: "If your faith were only like a mustard- seed, you could say to this mulberry tree 'Be up-rooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way--'O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men-- thieves, rogues, adulterers--or even like this tax-gatherer.

I tell you, unless a man receives the Kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all."

He tried to see what Jesus was like; but, being short, he was unable to do so because of the crowd.

Nor indeed can they die again, for they are like angels and, having shared in the resurrection, they are God's Sons.

"Be on your guard against the Teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and like to be greeted in the streets with respect, and to have the best seats in the Synagogues, and places of honor at dinner.

Be on your guard lest your minds should ever be dulled by debauches or drunkenness or the anxieties of life, and lest 'That Day' should come suddenly upon you, like a snare.

But with you it must not be so. No, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who leads like him who serves.

Simon! Simon! listen. Satan demanded leave to sift you all like wheat,

And, as his anguish became intense, he prayed still more earnestly, while his sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground.]