In order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.]

When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.

"This is what the Lord has done for me," she said, "now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living."

But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled."

"You have no relation of that name!" they exclaimed;

Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,

That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,

About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.

In that same country-side were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,

Now, when the angels had left them and gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another: "Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, of which the Lord has told us."

And, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.

While Mary treasured up all that they said, and dwelt upon it in her thoughts.

And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

In compliance with the Law of the Lord that 'every first-born male shall be dedicated to the Lord,'

There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ.

At that moment she came up, and began publicly to thank God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem.

Thinking that he was with their fellow-travelers, they went one day's journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances;

It was not till the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the Teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.

"What made you search for me?" he answered. "Did not you know that I must be in my Father's House?"

However he went down with them to Nazareth, and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart.

And John said to the crowds that went to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?

Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!

Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

His winnowing-fan is in his hand, that he may clear his threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire."

But Prince Herod, being rebuked by John respecting Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and for all the evil things that he had done,

All that time he ate nothing; and, when it was over, he became hungry.

And Jesus answered him: "Scripture says--'It is not on bread alone that man is to live.'"

Moved by the power of the Spirit, Jesus returned to Galilee. Reports about him spread through all that neighborhood;

The book given him was that of the Prophet Isaiah; and Jesus opened the book and found the place where it says--

All who were present spoke well of him, and were astonished at the beautiful words that fell from his lips. "Is not he Joseph's son?" they asked.

"Doubtless," said Jesus, "you will remind me of the saying-- 'Doctor, cure yourself;' and you will say 'Do here in your own country all that we have heard that has been done at Capernaum.'

I tell you," he continued, "that no Prophet is acceptable in his own country.

And yet it was not to one of them that Elijah was sent, but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidonia.

And even demons came out from many people, screaming 'You are the Son of God.' Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

Jesus, however, said to them: "I must take the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other town also, for that was why I was sent."

They did so, and enclosed such a great shoal of fish that their nets began to break.

So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; and they came and filled both the boats so full of fish that they were almost sinking.

And then Jesus impressed upon him that he was not to say a word to any one, "but," he added, "set out and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing, in the manner directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure."

On one of those days, when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and Doctors of the Law were sitting near by. (They had come from all the villages in Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was upon Jesus, so that he could work cures.)

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-- he spoke to the paralyzed man-- "To you I say, Get up, and take up your pallet, and go to your home."

In answer Jesus said: "It is not those who are well that need a doctor, but those who are ill.

That he went into the House of God, and took the consecrated bread and ate it, and gave some to his companions, though only the priests are allowed to eat it?"

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely, to see if he would work cures on the Sabbath, so that they might find a charge to bring against him.

Now about that time, Jesus went out, up the hill, to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Then indeed you may be glad and dance for joy, for be sure that your reward in Heaven will be great; for that is what their ancestors did to the Prophets.

For, if you show kindness only to those who show kindness to you, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast do that!

Give, and others will give to you. A generous measure, pressed and shaken down, and running over, will they pour into your lap; For the measure that you mete will be meted out to you in return."

He may be compared to a man building a house, who dug, and went deep, and laid the foundation upon the rock. Then, when a flood came, the river swept down upon that house, but had no power to shake it, because it had been built well.

But those who have listened and not acted upon what they have heard may be compared to a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The river swept down upon it, and the house immediately collapsed; and great was the crash that followed."

When Jesus had brought to a conclusion all that he had then had to say to the people, he entered Capernaum.

And, hearing about Jesus, he sent some Jewish Councillors to him, with the request that he would come and save his slave's life.

When they found Jesus, they earnestly implored him to do so. "He is a man who deserves that you should show him this favor," they said,

That was why I did not even venture to come to you myself; but speak, and let my manservant be cured.

At that very time Jesus had cured many people of diseases, afflictions, and wicked spirits, and had given many blind people their sight.

For now that John the Baptist has come, not eating bread or drinking wine, you are saying 'He has a demon in him';

And now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, you are saying 'Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax- gatherers and outcasts.'

Just then a woman, who was an outcast in the town, having ascertained that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of perfume,

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself: "Had this man been 'The Prophet,' he would have known who, and what sort of woman, this is who is touching him, and that she is an outcast."

"To you," he said, "the knowledge of the hidden truths of the Kingdom of God has been imparted, but to others in parables only, that 'though they have eyes they may not see, and though they have ears, they may not understand.'

By that which fell among the brambles are meant those who hear the Message, but who, as they go on their way, are completely choked by this world's cares and wealth and pleasures, and bring nothing to perfection.

But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having heard the Message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return.

No man sets light to a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it underneath a couch, but he puts it on a lamp-stand, so that anyone who comes in may see the light.

One day about that time, Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them: "Let us go across the lake."

"Where is your faith?" he exclaimed. But in great awe and amazement they said to one another: "Who can this be, that he commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him?"

For Jesus was commanding the foul spirit to come out from the man. On many occasions it had seized him, and, even when secured with chains and fetters, and watched, he would break through anything that bound him, and be driven by the demon into the Wilds.

"Go back to your home," he said, "and relate the story of all that God has done for you." So the man went through the whole town and proclaimed, as he went, all that Jesus had done for him.

And a man named Jaeirus, who was a President of the Synagogue, came to Jesus, and threw himself at Jesus' feet, with entreaties that he would come to his house,

"Who was it that touched me?" Jesus asked; and, while everyone was denying having done so, Peter exclaimed: "Why, Sir, the people are crowding round you and pressing upon you!"

"Somebody touched me," said Jesus; "for I felt that power had gone out from me."

Then the woman, when she saw that she was discovered, came forward trembling, and threw herself down before him; and, in the presence of all the people, she told him her reason for touching him, and that she had been cured instantly.

They began to laugh at him, for they knew that she was dead.

Her parents were amazed, but Jesus impressed on them that they were not to tell any one what had happened.

Whatever house you go to stay in, remain there, and leave from that place.

If people do not welcome you, as you leave that town, shake even the dust off your feet, as a protest against them."

Prince Herod heard of all that was happening, and was perplexed, because it was said by some that John must be risen from the dead.

Some again said that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the old Prophets had risen again.

When the Apostles returned, they related to Jesus all that they had done. Then Jesus retired privately to a town called Bethsaida, taking the Apostles with him.

The day was drawing to a close, when the twelve came up to him, and said: "Send the crowd away, so that they may make their way to the villages and farms round about, and find themselves lodgings and provisions, for we are in a lonely spot here."

Afterwards, when Jesus was alone, praying, his disciples joined him, and he asked them this question-- "Who do the people say that I am?"

"John the Baptist," was their answer; "others, however, say that you are Elijah, while others say that one of the old Prophets has risen again."

"But you," he went on, "who do you say that I am?" And to this Peter answered: "The Christ of God."

He told them that the Son of Man must undergo much suffering, and be rejected by the Councillors, and Chief Priests, and Teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise on the third day.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life--that man shall save it.

And, as the voice ceased, Jesus was found alone. The Apostles kept silence, and told no one about any of the things that they had seen.

And all present were struck with awe at the majesty of God. In the midst of the general astonishment at all that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples:

But the disciples did not understand the meaning of this; it had been concealed from them so that they did not see it, and they were afraid to question him as to what he meant.

And Jesus, knowing of the discussion that was occupying their thoughts, took hold of a little child, and placed it beside him,

And then said to them: "Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me; and any one who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. For whoever is lowliest among you all--that man is great."

After this, the Master appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them on as his Messengers, two and two, in advance, to every town and place that he was himself intending to visit.

Remain at that same house, and eat and drink whatever they offer you; for the worker is worth his wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another.

'We wipe off the very dust of your town which has clung to Our feet; still, be assured that the Kingdom of God is close at Hand.'

I tell you that the doom of Sodom will be more bearable on 'That Day' than the doom of that town.

Yet do not rejoice in the fact that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been enrolled in Heaven."

At that same time, moved to exultation by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: "I thank thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that, though thou hast hidden these things from the wise and learned, thou hast revealed them to the childlike! Yes, Father, I thank thee that this has seemed good to thee.

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said to them alone: "Blessed are the eyes that see what you are seeing;

"You have answered right," said Jesus; "do that, and you shall live."

As it chanced, a priest was going down by that road. He saw the man, but passed by on the opposite side.

But a Samaritan, traveling that way, came upon the man, and, when he saw him, he was moved with compassion.