And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course."

"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."

Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,

And they made signs to the child's father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.

And all who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another-- "What can this child be destined to become?" For the Power of the Lord was with him.

Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law,

While the child's father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,

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

His parents did not understand what he meant.

This was in fulfillment of what is said in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah--'The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

"What are we to do then?" the people asked.

Even tax-gatherers came to be baptized, and said to John: "Teacher, what are we to do?"

And when some soldiers on active service asked "And we--what are we to do?" he said: "Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay."

"Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

And they were all lost in amazement, and kept saying to one another: "What words are these? For he gives his commands to the foul spirits with a marvelous authority, and they come out."

When Jesus became aware of the way in which they were debating, he turned to them and exclaimed: "What are you debating with yourselves?

Instantly the man stood up before their eyes, took up what he had been lying on, and went to his home, praising God.

"Why are you doing what it is not allowable to do on the Sabbath?" asked some of the Pharisees.

Jesus' answer was: "Have not you read even of what David did, when he was hungry, he and his companions--

Jesus, however, knew what was in the their minds, and said to the man whose hand was withered: "Stand up and come out into the middle." The man stood up;

But the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were goaded to madness, and consulted together what they could do to Jesus.

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.

Alas for you when all men speak well of you; for this is what their ancestors did to the false Prophets.

Give to every one who asks of you; and, when any one takes away what is yours, do not demand its return.

If you love only those who love you, what thanks will be due to you? Why, even the outcast love those who love them!

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!

If you lend only to those from whom you expect to get something, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast lend to the outcast in the hope of getting as much in return!

A good man, from the good stores of his heart, brings out what is good; while a bad man, from his bad stores, brings out what is bad. For what fills a man's heart will rise to his lips.

Why do you call me 'Master! Master!' and yet fail to do what I tell you?

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."

So his answer to the question was: "Go and report to John what you have witnessed and heard--the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is told to the poor.

"What did you go out into the Wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in rich clothing? Why, those who are accustomed to fine clothes and luxury live in royal palaces.

What then did you go to see? A Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a Prophet.

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

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."

Take care, then, how you listen. For, to all those who have, more will be given; while, from all those who have nothing, even what they seem to have will be taken away."

His reply, spoken to them all, was: "My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God's teaching and do what it bids."

Catching sight of Jesus, he shrieked out and threw himself down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed: "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you not to torment me."

"What is your name?" Jesus asked. "Legion," he answered (for many demons had taken possession of him);

When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country round.

The people went out to see what had happened, and, when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at Jesus' feet; and they were awe-struck.

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

Every one had sufficient to eat, and what was left of the broken pieces was picked up--twelve baskets.

What good does it do a man if, when he has gained the whole world, he has lost or forfeited himself?

And, as Moses and Elijah were passing away from Jesus, Peter exclaimed: "Sir, it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what he was saying;

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.

Whatever town you visit, if the people welcome you, eat what is set before you;

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

Just then a Student of the Law came forward to test Jesus further. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do if I am to 'gain Immortal Life'?"

"What is said in the Law?" answered Jesus. "What do you read there?"

I tell you that, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is a friend, yet because of his persistence he will rouse himself and give him what he wants.

What father among you, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead,

Jesus himself, however, was aware of what they were thinking, and said to them: "Any kingdom wholly divided against itself becomes a desolation; and a divided house falls.

Only give away what is in them in charity, and at once you have the whole clean.

Hence all that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, within closed doors, will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Whenever they take you before the Synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defense will be, or what you will say;

For the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say."

And then he added: "Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has."

And he began to ask himself 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?

This is what I will do,' he said; 'I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them;

And Jesus said to his disciples: "That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here--what you can get to eat; nor yet about your body--what you can get to wear.

And you--do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver.

Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out--an inexhaustible treasure in Heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin.

This you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into.

I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what more can I wish, if it is already kindled?

Why do not you yourselves decide what is right?

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

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

One of the guests heard what he said and exclaimed: "Happy will he be who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God!"

Or what king, when he is setting out to fight another king, does not first sit down and consider if with ten thousand men he is able to meet one who is coming against him with twenty thousand?

Yes, salt is good; but, if the salt itself should lose its strength, what shall be used to season it?

"What man among you who has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine out in the open country, and go after the lost sheep till he finds it?

Or again, what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

And he called one of the servants and asked what it all meant.

So the master called him and said 'What is this that I hear about you? Give in your accounts, for you cannot act as steward any longer.'

'What am I to do,' the steward asked himself, 'now that my master is taking the steward's place away from me? I have not strength to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

I know what I will do, so that, as soon as I am turned out of my stewardship, people may welcome me into their homes.'

And, if you have proved untrustworthy with what does not belong to us, who will give you what is really our own?

"You," said Jesus, "are the men who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among men may be an abomination in the sight of God.

And who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table. Even the very dogs came and licked his sores.

'Child,' answered Abraham, 'remember that you in your lifetime received what you thought desirable, just as Lazarus received what was not desirable; but now he has his consolation here, while you are suffering agony.

Does he feel grateful to his servant for doing what he is told?

And threw himself on his face at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done; and this man was a Samaritan.

Then the Master added: "Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!

And one of the Presidents asked Jesus this question--"Good Teacher, what must I do if I am to gain Immortal Life?"

You know the commandments--'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honor thy father and thy mother.'"

But Jesus said: "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

"But we," said Peter, "we left what belonged to us and followed you."

The Apostles did not comprehend any of this; his meaning was unintelligible to them, and they did not understand what he was saying.

Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;

"What do you want me to do for you?" "Master," he said, "I want to recover my sight."

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

On his return, after having been appointed King, he directed that the servants to whom he had given his money should be summoned, so that he might learn what amount of trade they had done.

For I was afraid of you, because you are a stern man. You take what you have not planted, and reap what you have not sown.'

The master answered 'Out of your own mouth I judge you, you worthless servant. You knew that I am a stern man, that I take what I have not planted, and reap what I have not sown?

'I tell you,' he answered, 'that, to him who has, more will be given, but, from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.

Yet they could not see what to do, for the people all hung upon his words.

And addressing him, said: "Tell us what authority you have to do these things. Who is it that has given you this authority?"

"Then I," said Jesus, "refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things."

'What shall I do?' said the owner of the vineyard. 'I will send my son, who is very dear to me. Perhaps they will respect him.'