Solomon of Rehoboam, Rehoboam of Abijah, Abijah of Asa,

Asa of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat of Jehoram, Jehoram of Uzziah,

The birth of Jesus Christ took place as follows:--His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but, before the marriage took place, she found herself to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him.

He made Mary his wife, but did not live with her as her husband until after the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus.

He called together all the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law in the nation, and questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born.

And, sending them to Bethlehem, he said: "Go and make careful inquiries about the child, and, as soon as you have found him, bring me word, that I, too, may go and do homage to him."

But, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as King of Judea, he was afraid to go back there; and having been warned in a dream, he went into the part of the country called Galilee.

At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him

After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending, like a dove, and alighting upon him,

As Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers--Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew--casting a net into the Sea; for they were fishermen.

And he began to teach them as follows:

Again, you have heard that to our ancestors it was said--'Thou shalt not break an oath, but thou shall keep thine oaths as a debt due to the Lord.'

And, when any one wants to go to law with you, to take your coat, let him have your cloak as well;

You, then, must become perfect--as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Therefore, when you do acts of charity, do not have a trumpet blown in front of you, as hypocrites do in the Synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. There, I tell you, is their reward!

And, when you pray, you are not to behave as hypocrites do. They like to pray standing in the Synagogues and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. There, I tell you, is their reward!

When praying, do not repeat the same words over and over again, as is done by the Gentiles, who think that by using many words they will obtain a hearing.

Do not imitate them; for God, your Father, knows what you need before you ask him.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done--on earth, as in Heaven.

And forgive us our wrong-doings, as we have forgiven those who have wronged us;

And, when you fast, do not put on gloomy looks, as hypocrites do who disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. That, I tell you, is their reward!

Do not then ask anxiously 'What can we get to eat?' or 'What can we get to drink?' or 'What can we get to wear?'

For, just as you judge others, you will yourselves be judged, and the measure that you mete will be meted out to you.

Ask, and your prayer shall be granted; search, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.

If you, then, wicked though you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to those that ask him!

Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying as he did so: "I am willing; become clean." Instantly he was made clean from his leprosy;

And then Jesus said to him: "Be careful not to say a word to any one, but go and show yourself to the Priest, and offer the gift directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure."

Jesus was surprised to hear this, and said to those who were following him: "Never I tell you, in any Israelite have I met with such faith as this!

Which, I ask, is the easier?--to say 'Your sins are forgiven'? or to say 'Get up, and walk about'?

As Jesus went along, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him: "Follow me." Matthew got up and followed him.

Jesus answered: "Can the bridegroom's friends mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be parted from them, and they will fast then.

As Jesus was passing on from there, he was followed by two blind men, who kept calling out: "Take pity on us, Son of David!"

Just as they were going out, some people brought up to Jesus a dumb man who was possessed by a demon;

And, as soon as the demon had been driven out, the dumb man spoke. The people were astonished at this, and exclaimed: "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!"

Calling his twelve Disciples to him, Jesus gave them authority over foul spirits, so that they could drive them out, as well as the power of curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

The names of the twelve Apostles are these: First Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebediah, and his brother John;

These twelve Jesus sent out as his Messengers, after giving them these instructions-- "Do not go to the Gentiles, nor enter any Samaritan town,

As you enter the house, greet it.

If no one welcomes you, or listens to what you say, as you leave that house or that town, shake off its dust from your feet.

Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as serpents, and as blameless as doves.

Whenever they betray you, do not be anxious as to how you shall speak or what you shall say, for what you shall say will be given you at the moment;

While as for you, the very hairs of your head are numbered.

He who welcomes you is welcoming me; and he who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger.

Then he said to the man. "Stretch out your hand." The man stretched it out; and it had become as sound as the other.

You brood of vipers! how can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips.

For, just as 'Jonah was inside the sea-monster three days and three nights,' so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

As soon as the sun had risen, it was scorched, and, having no root, withered away.

But, as he has no root, he stands for only a short time; and, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, he falls away at once.

'No,' said he, 'for fear that, while you are gathering the tares, you should root up the wheat as well.

And, just as the tares are gathered and burnt, so it will be at the close of the age.

Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a Prophet.

"Your faith is great," was his reply to the woman; "it shall be as you wish!" And her daughter was cured that very hour.

"Where can we," his disciples asked, "in a lonely place find enough bread for such a crowd as this?"

But Jesus answered: [ "In the evening you say 'It will be fine weather, for the sky is as red as fire.'

But in the morning you say 'To-day it will be stormy, for the sky is as red as fire and threatening.' You learn to read the sky; yet you are unable to read the signs of the times!]

Jesus, however, turning to Peter, said: "Out of my way, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you look at things, not as God does, but as man does."

There his appearance was transformed before their eyes; his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying as he did so: "Rise up, and do not be afraid."

As they were going down the mountain side, Jesus gave them this warning-- "Do not speak of this vision to any one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

And I tell you that Elijah has already come, and people have not recognized him, but have treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, too, the Son of Man is destined to undergo suffering at men's hands."

If he refuses to listen to them, speak to the Church; and, if he also refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.

Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they shall pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in Heaven.

Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus: "Master, how often am I to forgive my Brother when he wrongs me? As many as seven times?"

And, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had.

Ought not you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow- servant, just as I showed mercy to you?'

"Why ask me about goodness?" answered Jesus. "There is but One who is good. If you want to enter the Life, keep the commandments."

Honor thy father and thy mother.' And 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself."

"I tell you," answered Jesus, "that at the New Creation, 'when the Son of Man takes his seat on his throne of glory,' you who followed me shall be seated upon twelve thrones, as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Every one who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, on account of my Name, will receive many times as much, and will 'gain Immortal Life.'

So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o'clock, he did as before.

Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you.

Have not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?'

When Jesus was on the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples round him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way:

"You shall indeed drink my cup," he said, "but as to a seat at my right and at my left--that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said: "The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their great men oppress them.

Just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

When they had almost reached Jerusalem, having come as far as Bethphage, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two disciples.

"Go to the village facing you," he said, "and you will immediately find an ass tethered, with a foal by her side; untie her, and lead her here for me.

'Say to the daughter of Zion--"Behold, thy King is coming to thee, Gentle, and riding on an ass, And on the foal of a beast of burden."'

So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

They led the ass and the foal back, and, when they had put their cloaks on them, he seated himself upon them.

The crowds that led the way, as well as those that followed behind, kept shouting: "God save the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! God save him from on high!"

And whatever you ask for in your prayers will, if you have faith, be granted you."

After Jesus had come into the Temple Courts, the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation came up to him as he was teaching, and said: " What authority have you to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

"I, too," said Jesus in reply, "will ask you one question; if you will give me an answer to it, then I, also, will tell you what authority I have to act as I do.

But if we say 'human,' we are afraid of the people, for every one regards John as a Prophet."

Which of the two sons did as his father wished?" " The second," they said. "I tell you," added Jesus, "that tax-gatherers and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God before you.

As a last resource he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

Yes, and he who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces, while any one on whom it falls--it will scatter him as dust."

Yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a Prophet.

Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a snare for Jesus in the course of conversation.

Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother.

For at the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in Heaven.

As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God--

The second, which is like it, is this--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'

Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when he is gained, you make him twice as deserving of the Pit as you are yourselves.

You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.