14:34. Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
14:35. It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill: but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Luke Chapter 15
The parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son.
15:1. Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.
15:2. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.
15:3. And he spoke to them this parable, saying:
15:4. What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost, until he find it?
15:5. And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing?
15:6. And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?
15:7. I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.
15:8. Or what woman having ten groats, if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently until she find it?
15:9. And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost.
15:10. So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of G.o.d upon one sinner doing penance.
Before the angels... By this it is plain that the spirits in heaven have a concern for us below, and a joy at our repentance and consequently a knowledge of it.
15:11. And he said: A certain man had two sons.
15:12. And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.
15:13. And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.
15:14. And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country: and he began to be in want.
15:15. And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country.
And he sent him into his farm to feed swine.
15:16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
15:17. And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father"s house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger!
15:18. I will arise and will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee.
15:19. I am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
15:20. And rising up, he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compa.s.sion and running to him fell upon his neck and kissed him.
15:21. And the son said to him: Father: I have sinned against heaven and before thee I am not now worthy to be called thy son.
15:22. And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
15:23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat and make merry:
15:24. Because this my son was dead and is come to life again, was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
15:25. Now his elder son was in the field and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
15:27. And he said to him: Thy brother is come and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe.
15:28. And he was angry and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him.
15:29. And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve thee and I have never transgressed thy commandment: and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends.
15:30. But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
15:31. But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me; and all I have is thine.
15:32. But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found.
Luke Chapter 16
The parable of the unjust steward and of the rich man and Lazarus.
16:1. And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods.
16:2. And he called him and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship: for now thou canst be steward no longer.
16:3. And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed.
16:4. I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
16:5. Therefore, calling together every one of his lord"s debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord?
16:6. But he said: An hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.
16:7. Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill and write eighty.
16:8. And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.
16:9. And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity: that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.
Mammon of iniquity... Mammon signifies riches. They are here called the mammon of iniquity, because oftentimes ill gotten, ill bestowed, or an occasion of evil; and at the best are but worldly, and false; and not the true riches of a Christian. They may receive... By this we see, that the poor servants of G.o.d, whom we have relieved by our alms, may hereafter, by their intercession, bring our souls to heaven.
16:10. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in that which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little is unjust also in that which is greater.