
{1}1{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus 
Christ, the Son of God. [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}It is written in the book of 
Isaiah, the prophet, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you to 
prepare your way. {R}_{I}3_{/}Let the people hear the voice calling in 
the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, level his paths."
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}4_{/}So John began to baptise in the desert; he preached a 
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}5_{/}All Judea and all the people from the city of 
Jerusalem went out to John to confess their sins and be baptized 
by him in the river Jordan.
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}John was clothed in camel's hair and wore a leather 
garment around his waist. His food was locusts and honey. 
[=]_{I}7_{/}He preached to the people saying, "After me comes one who 
is more powerful than I am; [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}I have baptized you with 
water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. As for me, I am 
not worthy to bend down and untie his sandals."
[=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}At that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town of Galilee, 
and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}10_{/}And the 
moment he came up out of the water, heaven opened before him and 
he saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. [=]_[*]_{I}11_{/}And 
these words were heard from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved, 
the One I have chosen."
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Then the Spirit drove him into the desert. 
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Jesus stayed in the desert forty days and was tempted by 
Satan. He was with the wild animals, but angels ministered to him.

{N}JESUS CALLS HIS FIRST DISCIPLES{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}14_{/}After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee 
and began preaching the Good News of God. [=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}He said, "The 
time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and 
believe the Good News."
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}16_{/}As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake 
Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the 
lake, for they were fishermen. {R}_{I}17_{/}And Jesus said to them, 
"Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." [=]_{I}18_{/}At 
once, they left their nets and followed him. {R}_{I}19_{/}Jesus went a 
little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; 
they were in their boat mending their nets. {R}_{I}20_{/}Immediately, 
Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father 
Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.
Jesus teaches and drives out an evil spirit 
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}They went into the town of Capernaum and Jesus began 
to teach in the synagogue during the sabbath assemblies. 
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}The people were astonished at the way he taught, for he 
spoke as one having authority and not like the teachers of the 
Law.
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}23_{/}It happened that a man with an evil spirit was in their 
synagogue [=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}and he shouted, "What do you want with us, 
Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you 
are: You are the Holy One of God." {R}_{I}25_{/}Then Jesus faced him and 
said with authority, "Be silent and come out of this man!" 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}26_{/}The evil spirit shook the man violently and, with a 
loud shriek, came out of him.
{I}27_{/}All the people were astonished and they wondered, "What is 
this? With what authority he preaches! He even orders evil spirits 
and they obey him!" {R}_{I}28_{/}And Jesus' fame spread throughout all 
the country of Galilee.

{N}JESUS HEALS MANY{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of 
Simon and Andrew with James and John. {R}_{I}30_{/}As Simon's mother-in-
law was sick in bed with fever, they immediately told him about 
her. {R}_{I}31_{/}Jesus went to her and taking her by the hand, raised 
her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 
[=]_{R}_{I}32_{/}That evening at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the 
sick and those who had evil spirits: {I}33_{/}the whole town was 
pressing around the door. [=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Jesus healed many who had 
various diseases, and drove out many demons; but he did not let 
them speak, for they knew who he was.

{N}JESUS' PRAYER AT NIGHT{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus 
went off to a lonely place where he prayed. [=]_{R}_{I}36_{/}Simon and 
the others went out, too, searching for him; {I}37_{/}and when they 
found him they said, "Everyone is looking for you." [=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}Then 
Jesus answered, "Let's go to the nearby villages so that I may 
preach there too; for that is why I came." 
[=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}So Jesus set out to preach in all the synagogues 
throughout Galilee; he also cast out demons.

{N}JESUS CURES A LEPER{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}A leper came to Jesus and begged him, "If you so 
will, you can make me clean." {R}_{I}41_{/}Moved with pity, Jesus 
stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be 
clean." {R}_{I}42_{/}The leprosy left the man at once and he was made 
clean. {R}_{I}43_{/}As Jesus sent the man away, he sternly warned him, 
[=]_[*]_{I}44_{/}"Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show 
yourself to the priest and for the cleansing bring the offering 
ordered by Moses; in this way you will make your declaration."
{R}_{I}45_{/}However, as soon as the man went out, he began spreading the 
news everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter any 
town. But even though he stayed in the rural areas, people came to 
him from everywhere.

{N}JESUS FORGIVES AND CURES A PARALYTIC{/}

{1}2{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}After some days Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the 
news spread that he was at home, [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}so many people gathered 
that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus 
was preaching the Word to them, {R}_{I}3_{/}some people brought a 
paralyzed man to him.
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}The four men who carried him couldn't get near Jesus 
because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where 
Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. 
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the 
paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven."
{R}_{I}6_{/}Now, some teachers of the Law who were sitting there wondered 
within themselves, [=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}"How can he speak like this insulting 
God? Who can forgive sins except God?"
[=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}At once Jesus knew through his spirit what they were 
thinking and asked, "Why do you wonder? {R}_{I}9_{/}Is it easier to say 
to this paralyzed man: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say: 'Rise, 
take up your mat and walk?' [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}10_{/}But now you shall know 
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."
And he said to the paralytic, {I}11_{/}"Stand up, take up your mat and 
go home." [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}The man rose and, in the sight of all those 
people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were 
astonished and praised God saying, "We have never seen anything 
like this!"

{N}THE CALL OF LEVI{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}When Jesus went out again beside the lake, a crowd 
came to him and he taught them. {R}_{I}14_{/}As he walked along, he saw a 
tax collector sitting in his office. This was Levi, the son of 
Alpheus. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." And Levi got up and 
followed him.
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}And it so happened that while Jesus was eating in Levi's 
house, tax collectors and sinners were sitting with him and his 
disciples for there were indeed many of them. But there were also 
teachers of the Law of the Pharisees' party, [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}16_{/}among 
those who followed Jesus, and when they saw him eating with 
sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why! He 
eats with tax collectors and sinners!"
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Jesus heard them and answered, "Healthy people don't 
need a doctor, but sick people do. I did not come to call the 
righteous but sinners."

{N}NEW WINE, NEW SKIN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}One day, when the disciples of John the Baptist and 
the Pharisees were fasting, some people asked Jesus, "Why is it 
that both the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but 
yours do not?" [=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}Jesus answered, "How can the wedding 
guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they 
have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. {I}20_{/}But the day 
will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and on that 
day they will fast.
{I}21_{/}No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat, because the 
new patch will shrink and tear away from the old cloth, making a 
worse tear. {I}22_{/}And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, for 
the wine would burst the skins and then both the wine and the 
skins would be lost. But new wine, new skins!"
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}23_{/}One sabbath he was walking through grainfields. As 
his disciples walked along with him, they began to pick the heads 
of grain and crush them in their hands. [=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}Then the 
Pharisees said to Jesus, "Look! they are doing what is forbidden 
on the sabbath!"
{R}_{I}25_{/}And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did in 
his time of need, when he and his men were very hungry? 
[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}He went into the house of God when Abiathar was High 
Priest and ate the bread of offering, which only the priests are 
allowed to eat, and he also gave some to the men who were with 
him." [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Then Jesus said to them, "The sabbath was made for 
man, not man for the sabbath. {R}_{I}28_{/}So the Son of Man is master 
even of the sabbath."

{N}CURE OF THE MAN WITH A WITHERED HAND{/}

{1}3{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Again Jesus entered the synagogue. A man who had a 
paralyzed hand was there [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}and some people watched Jesus: 
Would he heal the man on the sabbath? If he did they could accuse 
him.
{R}_{I}3_{/}Jesus said to the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand here in 
the center." {R}_{I}4_{/}Then he asked them, "What does the Law allow us 
to do on the sabbath? To do good or to do harm? To save life or to 
kill?" But they were silent.
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}5_{/}Then Jesus looked around at them with anger and deep 
sadness because they had closed their minds. And he said to the 
man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was 
healed. {R}_{I}6_{/}But as soon as the Pharisees left, they met with 
Herod's supporters, looking for a way to destroy Jesus.
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}Jesus and his disciples withdrew to the lakeside and a 
large crowd from Galilee followed him. A great number of people 
also came from Judea, {R}_{I}8_{/}Jerusalem, Idumea, Transjordan and from 
the region of Tyre and Sidon, for they had heard of all that he 
was doing.
{R}_{I}9_{/}Because of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to have a boat 
ready for him, to prevent the people from crushing him. 
[=]_{I}10_{/}He healed so many that all who had diseases kept pressing 
towards him to touch him. {R}_{I}11_{/}Even the people who had evil 
spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and cry 
out, "You are the Son of God." {I}12_{/}But he warned them sternly not 
to tell anyone who he was.

{N}THE TWELVE APOSTLES{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Then Jesus went up into the hill country and called 
those he wanted and they came to him. [=]_[*]_{I}14_{/}So he appointed 
twelve to be with him; and he called them apostles. He wanted to 
send them out to preach, [=]_{I}15_{/}and he gave them authority to 
drive out demons.
{R}_{I}16_{/}These are the Twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; 
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}James, son of Zebedee, and John his brother, to whom he 
gave the name Boanerges, which means "men of thunder"; 
{R}_{I}18_{/}Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of 
Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean {I}19_{/}and Judas Iscariot, the 
one who betrayed him.

{N}THE SIN AGAINST THE SPIRIT{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}20_{/}They went home. The crowd began to gather again and 
they couldn't even have a meal. {I}21_{/}Knowing what was happening 
his relatives came to take charge of him: "He is out of his mind," 
they said. [=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Meanwhile, the teachers of the Law who had 
come from Jerusalem said, "He is in the power of Beelzebul: the 
chief of the demons helps him to drive out demons."
{R}_{I}23_{/}Jesus called them to him and began teaching them by means of 
stories or parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan? {I}24_{/}If a 
nation is divided by civil war, that nation cannot stand. {I}25_{/}If 
a family divides itself into groups, that family will not survive. 
{R}_{I}26_{/}In the same way, if Satan has risen against himself and is 
divided, he will not stand; he is finished. [=]_{I}27_{/}No one can 
break into the house of the Strong one in order to plunder his 
goods, unless he first ties up the Strong one. Then indeed, he can 
plunder his house.
[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}Truly, I say to you, every sin will be forgiven 
humankind, even insults to God, however numerous. [=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}But 
whoever slanders the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven: he 
carries the guilt of his sin forever.
{R}_{I}30_{/}"This was their sin when they said, 'He has an evil spirit 
in him.'"

{N}JESUS' TRUE FAMILY{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{I}31_{/}Then his mother and his brothers came. As they 
stood outside, they sent someone to call him. {R}_{I}32_{/}The crowd 
sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and your brothers are 
outside asking for you." [=]_{I}33_{/}He replied, "Who are my mother 
and my brothers?"
{I}34_{/}And looking around at those who sat there he said, "Here are 
my mother and my brothers. {R}_{I}35_{/}Whoever does the will of God is 
brother and sister and mother to me."

{N}THE SOWER{/}

{1}4{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Again Jesus began to teach by the lake, but such a 
large crowd gathered about him that he got into a boat and sat in 
it on the lake while the crowd stood on the shore. [=]_{I}2_{/}He 
taught them many things through stories or parables. In his 
teaching he said,
{I}3_{/}"Listen! The sower went out to sow. {I}4_{/}As he sowed, some of 
the seed fell along a path and the birds came and ate it up. 
{I}5_{/}Some of the seed fell on rocky ground where it had little 
soil; it sprang up immediately because it had no depth; {I}6_{/}but 
when the sun rose and burned it, it withered because it had no 
roots. {I}7_{/}Other seed fell among thornbushes and the thorns grew 
and choked it, so it didn't produce any grain. {I}8_{/}But some seed 
fell on good soil, grew and increased and yielded grain; some 
produced thirty times as much, others sixty and others one hundred 
times as much." [=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}And Jesus added, "Listen then, if you 
have ears."
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}10_{/}When the crowd went away, some who were around him 
with the Twelve asked about the parables.
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}He answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has 
been given to you. But for those outside, everything comes in 
parables, [=]_{I}12_{/}so that the more they see, they don't perceive; 
the more they hear, they don't understand; otherwise they would be 
converted and pardoned."
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this 
parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?
{I}14_{/}What the sower is sowing is the word. {I}15_{/}Those along the 
path where the seed fell are people who hear the word, but as soon 
as they do, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in 
them.
[*]_{I}16_{/}Other people receive the word like rocky ground. As soon 
as they hear the word, they accept it with joy, {I}17_{/}but they have 
no roots so it lasts only a little while. No sooner does trouble 
or persecution come because of the word, than they fall.
{I}18_{/}Others receive the seed as among thorns. After they hear the 
word, {I}19_{/}they are caught up in the worries of this life, false 
hopes of riches and other desires. All these come in and choke the 
word so that finally it produces nothing.
{I}20_{/}And there are others who receive the word as good soil. They 
hear the word, take it to heart and produce: some thirty, some 
sixty and some one hundred times as much."

{N}PARABLE OF THE LAMP{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Jesus also said to them, "When the light comes, is 
it to be put under a tub or a bed? Surely it is put on a 
lampstand. {I}22_{/}Whatever is hidden will be disclosed, and whatever 
is kept secret will be brought to light. [=]_{I}23_{/}Listen then, if 
you have ears!"
[=]_{I}24_{/}And he also said to them, "Pay attention to what you 
hear. In the measure you give, so shall you receive and still more 
will be given to you. [=]_{I}25_{/}For the one who produces something, 
more will be given, and from him who does not produce anything, 
even what he has will be taken away from him."

{N}THE SEED GROWING BY ITSELF{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}26_{/}Jesus also said, "In the kingdom of God it is like this. 
A man scatters seed upon the soil. [=]_{I}27_{/}Whether he is asleep 
or awake, be it day or night, the seed sprouts and grows, he knows 
not how. {I}28_{/}The soil produces of itself; first the blade, then 
the ear, then the full grain in the ear. [=]_{I}29_{/}And when it is 
ripe for harvesting he takes the sickle for the cutting: the time 
for harvest has come."

{N}THE MUSTARD SEED{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}Jesus also said, "What is the kingdom of God like? 
To what shall we compare it? {I}31_{/}It is like a mustard seed which, 
when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the 
soil. [=]_{I}32_{/}But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest 
of the plants in the garden and even grows branches so big that 
the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade."
[=]_{R}_{I}33_{/}Jesus used many such stories or parables, to proclaim 
the word to them in a way they would be able to understand. 
{I}34_{/}He would not teach them without parables; but privately to 
his disciples he explained everything.

{N}JESUS CALMS THE STORM{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}On that same day when evening had come, Jesus said 
to them, "Let's go across to the other side." {I}36_{/}So they left 
the crowd and took him away in the boat he had been sitting in, 
and other boats set out with him. {R}_{I}37_{/}Then a storm gathered and 
it began to blow a gale. The waves spilled over into the boat so 
that it was soon filled with water. {R}_{I}38_{/}And Jesus was in the 
stern, asleep on the cushion.
They woke him up and said, "Master, don't you care if we sink?" 
[=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}As Jesus awoke, he rebuked the wind and ordered the sea, 
"Quiet now! Be still!" The wind dropped and there was a great 
calm. {R}_{I}40_{/}Then Jesus said to them, "Why are you so frightened? 
Do you still have no faith?"
{R}_{I}41_{/}But they were terrified and they said to one another, "Who 
can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"

{N}THE GERASENE DEMONIAC{/}

{1}5{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}1_{/}They arrived on the other side of{I} {/}the lake in the 
region of the Gerasenes. {R}_{I}2_{/}No sooner did Jesus leave the boat 
than he was met by a man with evil spirits who had come from the 
tombs. [=]_{I}3_{/}He lived among the tombs and no one could restrain 
him, even with a chain. {I}4_{/}He had often been bound with fetters 
and chains but he would pull the chains apart and smash the 
fetters, and no one had the strength to control him. {I}5_{/}Night and 
day he stayed among the tombs on the hillsides, and was 
continually screaming and beating himself with stones.
{R}_{I}6_{/}When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell at his feet 
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}and cried with a loud voice, "What do you want with me, 
Jesus, son of the Most High God? For God's sake I beg you, do not 
torment me." {R}_{I}8_{/}He said this because Jesus had commanded, "Come 
out of the man, evil spirit." {R}_{I}9_{/}And when Jesus asked him, "What 
is your name?" he replied, "Legion is my name, for we are many." 
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}And all of them kept begging Jesus not to send them out 
of that region.
{I}11_{/}Now, a great herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside, 
{I}12_{/}and the evil spirits begged him, "Send us to the pigs and let 
us go into them." {R}_{I}13_{/}So Jesus let them go. The evil spirits 
came out of the man and went into the pigs, and immediately the 
herd rushed down the cliff and all were drowned in the lake. 
{I}14_{/}The herdsmen fled and reported this in the town and in the 
countryside, so all the people came to see what had happened.
{R}_{I}15_{/}They came to Jesus and saw the man freed of the evil spirits 
sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the same man who had 
been possessed by the legion. They were afraid. {R}_{I}16_{/}And when 
those who had seen it told what had happened to the man and to the 
pigs, {R}_{I}17_{/}the people begged Jesus to leave their neighborhood.
{R}_{I}18_{/}When Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been 
possessed begged to stay with him. {R}_{I}19_{/}Jesus would not let him 
and said, "Go home to your people and tell them how much the Lord 
has done for you and how he has had mercy on you." {R}_{I}20_{/}So he 
went throughout the country of Decapolis telling everyone how much 
Jesus had done for him. And all the people were astonished.

{N}JESUS RAISES THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Jesus then crossed to the other side of the lake and 
while he was still on the shore, a large crowd gathered around 
him. {R}_{I}22_{/}Jairus, an official of the synagogue, came up and 
seeing Jesus, threw himself at his feet {R}_{I}23_{/}and asked him 
earnestly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and 
lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live."
{R}_{I}24_{/}Jesus went with him and many people followed, pressing from 
every side. {I}25_{/}Among the crowd was a woman who had suffered from 
bleeding for twelve years. {I}26_{/}She had suffered a lot at the 
hands of many doctors and had spent everything she had, but 
instead of getting better, she was worse. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Since she had 
heard about Jesus, this woman came up behind him and touched his 
cloak {I}28_{/}thinking, "If I just touch his clothing, I shall get 
well." {I}29_{/}Her flow of blood dried up at once, and she felt in 
her body that she was healed of her complaint.
[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}But Jesus was conscious that healing power had gone out 
from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched 
my clothes?" {I}31_{/}His disciples answered, "You see how the people 
are crowding around you. Why do you ask who touched you?" {I}32_{/}But 
he kept looking around to see who had done it. {I}33_{/}Then the 
woman, aware of what had happened, came forward trembling and 
afraid. She knelt before him and told him the whole truth.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Then Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has 
saved you; go in peace and be free of this illness."
{R}_{I}35_{/}While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the 
official's house to inform him, "Your daughter is dead. Why 
trouble the Master any further?" {R}_{I}36_{/}But Jesus ignored what they 
said and told the official, "Do not fear, just believe." {R}_{I}37_{/}And 
he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James and John, the 
brother of James.
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}38_{/}When they arrived at the house, Jesus saw a great 
commotion with people weeping and wailing loudly. [=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}Jesus 
entered and said to them, "Why all this commotion and weeping? The 
child is not dead but asleep."
[*]_{R}_{I}40_{/}They laughed at him. But Jesus sent them outside and 
went with the child's father and mother and his companions into 
the room where the child lay. {I}41_{/}Taking her by the hand, he said 
to her, "Talitha kumi!" which means: "Little girl, get up!"
{I}42_{/}The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was 
twelve years old.) The parents were astonished, greatly 
astonished. {R}_{I}43_{/}Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone 
know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

{N}IS HE NOT THE CARPENTER?{/}

{1}6{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Leaving that place, Jesus returned to his own 
country, and his disciples followed him. [=]_{I}2_{/}When the sabbath 
came, he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of those who 
heard him were astonished. They commented, "How did this come to 
him? What kind of wisdom has been given to him that he also 
performs such miracles? [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}Who is he but the carpenter, the 
son of Mary and the brother of James and Joset and Judas and 
Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here among us?" So they took 
offense at him. 
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}And Jesus said to them, "Prophets are despised only in 
their own country, among their relatives and in their own family." 
{I}5_{/}And he could work no miracles there, but only healed a few 
sick people by laying his hands on them. [\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}Jesus 
himself was astounded at their unbelief.

{N}JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE{/}

Jesus then went around the villages teaching. [=]_{I}7_{/}He called 
the Twelve to him and began to send them out two by two, giving 
them authority over evil spirits. [=]_{I}8_{/}And he ordered them to 
take nothing for the journey except a staff; no food, no bag, no 
money in their belts. {I}9_{/}They were to wear sandals and were not 
to take an extra tunic.
[=]_[*]_{I}10_{/}And he added, "In whatever house you are welcomed, 
stay there until you leave the place. {I}11_{/}If any place doesn't 
receive you and the people refuse to listen to you, leave after 
shaking the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against 
them."
{I}12_{/}So they set out to proclaim that this was the time to repent. 
{I}13_{/}They drove out many demons and healed many sick people by 
anointing them.

{N}JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}King Herod also heard about Jesus because his name 
had become well-known. Some people said, "John the Baptist has 
been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at 
work in him." {R}_{I}15_{/}Others thought, "He is Elijah," and others, 
"He is a prophet like the prophets of times past." {R}_{I}16_{/}When 
Herod was told of this, he thought: "I had John beheaded, yet he 
has risen from the dead!"
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}For this is what had happened. Herod had ordered John to 
be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of 
Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her 
[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}and John had told him, "It is not right for you to live 
with your brother's wife." {R}_{I}19_{/}So Herodias held a grudge against 
John and wanted to kill him, but she could not {R}_{I}20_{/}because Herod 
respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and 
kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became 
very disturbed whenever he heard him.
{R}_{I}21_{/}Herodias had her chance on Herod's birthday, when he gave a 
dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs 
and the leaders of Galilee. {R}_{I}22_{/}On that occasion the daughter of 
Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his 
guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want 
and I will give it to you." [=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}And he went so far as to say 
with many oaths, "I will give you anything you ask, even half my 
kingdom." {R}_{I}24_{/}She went out to consult her mother, "What shall I 
ask for?" The mother replied, "The head of John the Baptist." 
{R}_{I}25_{/}The girl hurried to the king and made her request: "I want 
you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a 
dish." 
{R}_{I}26_{/}The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in 
front of his guests because of his oaths. {R}_{I}27_{/}So he sent one of 
the bodyguards with orders to bring John's head. He went and 
beheaded John in prison; {I}28_{/}then he brought the head on a dish 
and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. 
{R}_{I}29_{/}When John's disciples heard of this, they came and took his 
body and buried it.

{N}JESUS, SHEPHERD AND PROPHET{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they 
had done and taught. [=]_{I}31_{/}Then he said to them, "Go off by 
yourselves to a remote place and have some rest." For there were 
so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even 
to eat. {I}32_{/}And they went away in the boat to a secluded area by 
themselves.
{I}33_{/}But people saw them leaving and many could guess where they 
were going. So, from all the towns they hurried there on foot, 
arriving ahead of them.
[=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}As Jesus went ashore he saw a large crowd, and he had 
compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. 
And he began a long teaching session with them.

{N}FIRST MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES{/}

[\u0095]_{I}35_{/}It was now getting late, so his disciples came to him and 
said, "This is a lonely place and it is now late. {I}36_{/}You should 
send the people away and let them go to the farms and villages 
around here to buy themselves something to eat." 
[=]_{R}_{I}37_{/}Jesus replied, "You yourselves give them something to 
eat." They answered, "If we are to give them food, we must go and 
buy two hundred silver coins' worth of bread." {R}_{I}38_{/}But Jesus 
said, "You have some loaves: how many? Go and see." The disciples 
found out and said, "There are five loaves and two fish."
{I}39_{/}Then he told them to have the people sit down together in 
groups on the green grass. [=]_{I}40_{/}This they did in groups of 
hundreds and fifties. [=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}And Jesus took the five loaves and 
the two fish and, raising his eyes to heaven, he pronounced a 
blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples to 
distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them.

{I}42_{/}They all ate and everyone had enough. {I}43_{/}The disciples 
gathered up what was left and filled twelve baskets with broken 
pieces of bread and fish. [=]_{I}44_{/}Five thousand men had eaten 
there.

{N}JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}45_{/}Immediately, Jesus obliged his disciples to get 
into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, towards 
Bethsaida, while he himself sent the crowd away. {I}46_{/}And having 
sent the people off, he went by himself to the hillside to pray.

{I}47_{/}When evening came, the boat was far out on the lake while he 
was alone on the land. [=]_{R}_{I}48_{/}Jesus saw his disciples straining 
at the oars, for the wind was against them, and before daybreak he 
came to them walking on the lake; and he was going to pass them 
by.
[=]_{I}49_{/}When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it 
was a ghost and cried out; [=]_{I}50_{/}for they all saw him and were 
terrified. But at once he called to them, "Courage! It's me; don't 
be afraid." [=]_{R}_{I}51_{/}Then Jesus got into the boat with them and 
the wind died down. They were completely astonished, 
[=]_[*]_{I}52_{/}for they had not really grasped the fact of the 
loaves; their minds were dull.
[=]_{I}53_{/}Having crossed the lake, they came ashore at Genesaret 
where they tied up the boat. [=]_{R}_{I}54_{/}As soon as they landed, 
people recognized Jesus {I}55_{/}and ran to spread the news throughout 
the countryside. Wherever he was they brought to him the sick 
lying on their mats. [=]_[*]_{I}56_{/}And wherever he went, to 
villages, towns or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplace 
and begged him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. And 
all who touched him were cured.

{N}TRUE CLEANNESS{/}

{1}7{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}One day the Pharisees gathered around Jesus and 
with them were some teachers of the Law who had just come from 
Jerusalem.
[=]_{I}2_{/}They noticed that some of his disciples were eating their 
meal with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. {R}_{I}3_{/}Now 
the Pharisees, and in fact, all the Jews, never eat without 
washing their hands for they follow the tradition received from 
their ancestors. {I}4_{/}Nor do they eat anything when they come from 
the market without first washing themselves. And there are many 
other traditions they observe, for example, the ritual washing of 
cups, pots and plates.
[*]_{R}_{I}5_{/}So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked him, 
"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders, but 
eat with unclean hands?"
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}Jesus answered, "You, shallow people! How well Isaiah 
prophesied of you when he wrote: This people honors me with their 
lips, but their heart is far from me. {I}7_{/}The worship they offer 
me is worthless, for what they teach are only human rules. 
{R}_{I}8_{/}You even put aside the commandment of God to hold fast to 
human tradition."
{R}_{I}9_{/}And Jesus commented, "You have a fine way of disregarding the 
commandment of God in order to implant your own tradition. 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}10_{/}For example, Moses said: Do your duty to your father 
and your mother, and: Whoever curses his father or his mother is 
to be put to death. {R}_{I}11_{/}But according to you someone could say 
to his father or mother: 'I already declared Corban, which means 
"offered to God," what you could have expected from me.' {I}12_{/}In 
this case, you no longer let him do anything for a father or 
mother. {R}_{I}13_{/}So you nullify the word of God through the tradition 
you have handed on. And you do many other things like that."
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Jesus then called the people to him again and said to 
them, "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. 
{I}15_{/}Nothing that enters one from outside can make that person 
unclean. It is what comes out from within that makes unclean. 
{I}16_{/}Let everyone who has ears listen."
[*]_{R}_{I}17_{/}When Jesus got home and was away from the crowd, his 
disciples asked him about this saying {I}18_{/}and he replied, "So 
even you are dull? Do you not see that whatever comes from outside 
cannot make a person unclean? [*]_{R}_{I}19_{/}Since it enters, not the 
heart but the stomach and is finally passed out."
Thus Jesus declared that all foods are clean.
[=]_{I}20_{/}And he went on, "What comes out of a person is what 
defiles, {I}21_{/}for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, 
murder, [=]_{I}22_{/}adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, 
indecency, slander, pride and folly. {I}23_{/}All these evil things 
come from within and make a person unclean."

{N}THE FAITH OF THE SYROPHOENICIAN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}When Jesus left that place he went to the border of 
the Tyrian country. There he entered a house and did not want 
anyone to know he was there, but he could not remain hidden. 
{R}_{I}25_{/}A woman whose small daughter had an evil spirit, heard of 
him and came and fell at his feet. {I}26_{/}Now this woman was a 
pagan, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the 
demon out of her daughter. 
{R}_{I}27_{/}Jesus told her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is 
not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 
{I}28_{/}But she replied, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the 
crumbs from the children's bread." {R}_{I}29_{/}Then Jesus said to her, 
"You may go your way; because of such a reply the demon has gone 
out of your daughter." {I}30_{/}And when the woman went home, she 
found her child lying in bed and the demon gone.

{N}HEALING OF A DEAF AND DUMB MAN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}Again Jesus set out; from the country of Tyre he 
passed through Sidon and skirting the sea of Galilee he came to 
the territory of Decapolis. [=]_{R}_{I}32_{/}There a deaf man who also 
had difficulty in speaking was brought to him. They asked Jesus to 
lay his hand upon him.
{R}_{I}33_{/}Jesus took him apart from the crowd, put his fingers into 
the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. {I}34_{/}Then, 
looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him, "Ephphetha," 
that is, "Be opened."
{I}35_{/}And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he 
began to speak clearly. {R}_{I}36_{/}Jesus ordered them not to tell 
anyone, but the more he insisted on this, the more they proclaimed 
it. [=]_{I}37_{/}The people were completely astonished and said, "He 
has done all things well; he makes the deaf hear and the dumb 
speak."

{N}SECOND MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES{/}

{1}8{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Soon afterwards Jesus was in the midst of another 
large crowd that obviously had nothing to eat. So he called his 
disciples and said to them, {I}2_{/}"I feel sorry for these people 
because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing 
to eat. {I}3_{/}If I send them to their homes hungry, they will faint 
on the way; some of them have come a long way." 
{I}4_{/}His disciples replied, "Where in a deserted place like this 
could we get enough bread to feed these people?" {I}5_{/}He asked 
them, "How many loaves have you?" And they answered, "Seven."
{I}6_{/}Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking 
the seven loaves and giving thanks, he broke them and handed them 
to his disciples to distribute. And they distributed them among 
the people. {R}_{I}7_{/}They also had some small fish, so Jesus said a 
blessing and asked that these be shared as well.
{I}8_{/}The people ate and were satisfied. The broken pieces were 
collected, seven wicker baskets full of leftovers. {R}_{I}9_{/}Now there 
had been about four thousand people. Jesus sent them away 
[=]_[*]_{I}10_{/}and immediately got into the boat with his disciples 
and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

{N}WHY DO THEY DEMAND A SIGN?{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}The Pharisees came and started to argue with Jesus. 
Hoping to embarrass him, they asked for some heavenly sign. 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Then his spirit was moved. He gave a deep sigh and 
said, "Why do the people of this present time ask for a sign? 
Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this people." 
{I}13_{/}Then he left them, got into the boat again and went to the 
other side of the lake.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}14_{/}The disciples had forgotten to bring more bread and 
had only one loaf with them in the boat. [=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}Then Jesus 
warned them, "Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the 
Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." {I}16_{/}And they said to one 
another, "He saw that we have no bread."
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Aware of this, Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking 
about the loaves you are short of? Do you not see or understand? 
Are  your minds  closed? {I}18_{/}Have you eyes that don't see and 
ears that don't hear? And do you not remember {I}19_{/}when I broke 
the five loaves among five thousand? How many baskets full of 
leftovers did you collect?" They answered, "Twelve." [=]_{I}20_{/}"And 
having seven loaves for the four thousand, how many wicker baskets 
of leftovers did you collect?" They answered, "Seven." {R}_{I}21_{/}Then 
Jesus said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

{N}CURE OF THE BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}22_{/}When they came to Bethsaida, Jesus was asked to touch a 
blind man who was brought to him. [=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}He took the blind man 
by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had put 
spittle on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked, "Can 
you see anything?" {R}_{I}24_{/}The man, who was beginning to see, 
replied, "I see people! They look like trees, but they move 
around." {R}_{I}25_{/}Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again and the 
man could see perfectly. His sight was restored and he could see 
everything clearly.
{R}_{I}26_{/}Then Jesus sent him home saying, "Do not return to the 
village."

{N}PETER'S PROFESSION OF FAITH{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages 
around Cesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked them, "Who do 
people say I am?" {R}_{I}28_{/}And they told him, "Some say you are John 
the Baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets."
Then Jesus asked them, [=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}"But you, who do you say I am?" 
Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." {I}30_{/}And he ordered them 
not to tell anyone about him.
[=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man had 
to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief 
priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and after 
three days rise again. {R}_{I}32_{/}Jesus said all this quite openly, so 
that Peter took him aside and began to protest strongly. {R}_{I}33_{/}But 
Jesus turning around, and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter 
saying, "Get behind me Satan! You are thinking, not as God does, 
but as people do."

{N}TAKE UP YOUR CROSS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Then Jesus called the people and his disciples 
and said, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your 
cross and follow me. [=]_{I}35_{/}For if you choose to save your life, 
you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for 
the sake of the Gospel, you will save it.
{I}36_{/}What good is it to gain the whole world but destroy yourself? 
{I}37_{/}There is nothing you can give to recover your life. 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}38_{/}I tell you: If anyone is ashamed of me and of my 
words among this adulterous and sinful people, the Son of Man will 
also be ashamed of him when he comes in the Glory of his Father 
with the holy angels."

{N}THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS{/}

{1}9{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}And he went on to say, "Truly I tell you, there 
are some here who will not die before they see the kingdom of God 
coming with power."
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and 
John, and led them up a high mountain. There his appearance was 
changed before their eyes. [=]_{I}3_{/}Even his clothes shone, 
becoming as white as no bleach of this world could make them. 
{R}_{I}4_{/}Elijah and Moses appeared to them; the two were talking with 
Jesus.
{R}_{I}5_{/}Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that 
we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses 
and one for Elijah." {I}6_{/}For he did not know what to say; they 
were overcome with awe. [=]_{I}7_{/}But a cloud formed, covering them 
in a shadow, and from the cloud came this word, "This is my Son, 
the Beloved; listen to him." [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}And suddenly, as they looked 
around, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus with them.
[=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}As they came down the mountain, he ordered them to tell 
no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man be risen from the 
dead. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}10_{/}So they kept this to themselves, although they 
discussed with one another what 'to rise from the dead' could 
mean.

{N}THE QUESTION ABOUT ELIJAH{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}Finally they asked him, "Why then do the teachers of 
the Law say that Elijah must come first?" [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Jesus answered 
them, "Of course, Elijah will come first so that everything may be 
as it should be... But, why do the Scriptures say that the Son of 
Man must suffer many things and be despised? [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}13_{/}I tell 
you that Elijah has already come and they have treated him as they 
pleased, as the Scriptures say of him."

{N}THE BOY WITH AN EVIL SPIRIT{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}14_{/}When they came to the place where they had left 
the disciples, they saw many people around and some teachers of 
the Law arguing with them. {R}_{I}15_{/}When the people saw Jesus, they 
were astonished and ran to greet him.
{R}_{I}16_{/}He asked, "What are you arguing about with them?" A man 
answered him from the crowd, {R}_{I}17_{/}"Master, I brought my son to 
you for he has a dumb spirit. {R}_{I}18_{/}Whenever the spirit seizes 
him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth, grinds his 
teeth and becomes stiff all over. I asked your disciples to drive 
the spirit out, but they could not."
[*]_{R}_{I}19_{/}Jesus replied, "You faithless people. How long must I be 
with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me." 
{R}_{I}20_{/}And they brought the boy to him.
As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it shook and convulsed the boy 
who fell on the ground and began rolling about, foaming at the 
mouth. {R}_{I}21_{/}Then Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been 
happening to him?" He replied, "From childhood. {R}_{I}22_{/}And it has 
often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. 
If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us."
{R}_{I}23_{/}Jesus said to him, "Why do you say: 'If you can?' All things 
are possible for one who believes." [=]_{I}24{/}Immediately the father 
of the boy cried out, "I do believe, but help the little faith I 
have."
{R}_{I}25_{/}Jesus saw that the crowd was increasing rapidly, so he 
ordered the evil spirit, "Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you: 
Leave the boy and never enter him again." {R}_{I}26_{/}The evil spirit 
shook and convulsed the boy and with a terrible shriek came out. 
The boy lay like a corpse and people said, "He is dead." {R}_{I}27_{/}But 
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him and the boy stood up.
{R}_{I}28_{/}After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him 
privately, "Why couldn't we drive out the spirit?" 
[=]_[*]_{I}29_{/}And he answered, "Only prayer can drive out this 
kind, nothing else."

{N}JESUS AGAIN SPEAKS OF HIS PASSION{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}After leaving that place, they made their way 
through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he 
was {R}_{I}31_{/}because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, 
"The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill 
him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise." 
{I}32_{/}The disciples, however, did not understand these words and 
they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

{N}WHO IS THE GREATEST?{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}33_{/}They came to Capernaum and, once inside the 
house, Jesus asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" 
{I}34_{/}But they did not answer because they had been arguing about 
who was the greatest.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}35_{/}Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, 
"If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant 
of all." {I}36_{/}Then he took a little child, placed it in their 
midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 
[=]_{I}37_{/}"Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, 
welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One 
who sent me."
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}John said to him, "Master, we saw someone who drove 
out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him 
because he does not belong to our group." [=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}Jesus 
answered, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in my 
name can soon after speak evil of me. [=]_{I}40_{/}For whoever is not 
against us is for us.
[=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}If anyone gives you a drink of water because you belong 
to Christ and bear his name, truly, I say to you, he will not go 
without reward.

{N}IF YOUR EYE CAUSES YOU TO SIN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}If anyone should cause one of these little ones who 
believe in me to stumble and sin, it would be better for him to be 
thrown into the sea with a great millstone around his neck. 
[=]_[*]_{I}43_{/}If your hand makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It 
is better for you to enter life without a hand than with two hands 
to go to hell, to the fire that never goes out. {I}45_{/}And if your 
foot makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It is better for you to 
enter life without a foot than with both feet to be thrown into 
hell. {I}47_{/}And if your eye makes you fall into sin, tear it out! 
It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye 
than, keeping both eyes, to be thrown into hell [=]_{I}48_{/}where the 
worms that eat them never die, and the fire never goes out. 
{I}49_{/}The fire itself will preserve them.
[=]_[*]_{I}50_{/}Salt is a good thing; but if it loses its saltiness, 
how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at 
peace with one another."

{N}DIVORCE{/}

{1}10{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Jesus then left that place and went to the province 
of Judea, beyond the Jordan River. Once more crowds gathered 
around him and once more he taught them, as he always did. 
{R}_{I}2_{/}Some (Pharisees came and) put him to the test with this 
question, "Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?" {R}_{I}3_{/}He 
replied, "What law did Moses give you?" [=]_{I}4_{/}They answered, 
"Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to 
divorce."
{R}_{I}5_{/}Then Jesus said to them, "Moses wrote this law for you, 
because you are stubborn. {R}_{I}6_{/}But in the beginning of creation 
God made them male and female, [=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}and because of this, man 
has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, {I}8_{/}and 
the two shall become one body. So they are no longer two but one 
body. {R}_{I}9_{/}Therefore let no one separate what God has joined."
[=]_{I}10_{/}When they were indoors at home, the disciples again asked 
him about this [=]_{I}11_{/}and he told them, "Whoever divorces his 
wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife, 
{I}12_{/}and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another 
also commits adultery."

{N}LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}13_{/}People were bringing their little children to him to 
have him touch them, and the disciples rebuked them for this.
[*]_{R}_{I}14_{/}When Jesus noticed it, he was very angry and said, "Let 
the children come to me and don't stop them, for the kingdom of 
God belongs to such as these. [=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}Truly, I say to you, 
whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not 
enter it." {I}16_{/}Then he took the children in his arms and laying 
his hands on them, blessed them.

{N}JESUS AND THE RICH MAN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Just as Jesus was setting out on his journey again, 
a man ran up, knelt before him and asked, "Good Master, what must 
I do to have eternal life?"
{R}_{I}18_{/}Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but 
God alone. [=]_{I}19_{/}You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not 
commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not 
cheat, honor your father and mother." {R}_{I}20_{/}The man replied, "I 
have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood."
[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him and he 
said, "For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you have and 
give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. 
Then come and follow me." {R}_{I}22_{/}On hearing these words, his face 
fell and he went away sorrowful for he was a man of great wealth.

{N}HOW HARD FOR THE RICH TO DISCOVER THE KINGDOM!{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How 
hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 
{R}_{I}24_{/}The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus 
insisted, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 
{R}_{I}25_{/}It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
{I}26_{/}They were more astonished than ever and wondered, "Who, then, 
can be saved?" {R}_{I}27_{/}Jesus looked steadily at them and said, "For 
humans it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible 
with God."

{N}THE REWARD FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}Peter spoke up and said, "We have given up 
everything to follow you." {R}_{I}29_{/}Jesus answered, "Truly, there is 
no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or 
mother, or children, or lands for my sake and for the Gospel, 
{I}30_{/}who will not receive his reward. I say to you: even in the 
midst of persecution he will receive a hundred times as many 
houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the 
present time and in the world to come eternal life. [=]_{I}31_{/}Do 
pay attention: Many who now are first will be last, and the last, 
first."
[=]_{R}_{I}32_{/}They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus 
was walking ahead. The Twelve were anxious and those who followed 
were afraid. Once more Jesus took the Twelve aside to tell them 
what was to happen to him, {R}_{I}33_{/}"You see we are going up to 
Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be given over to the chief 
priests and the teachers of the Law. They will condemn him to 
death and hand him over to the foreigners {I}34_{/}who will make fun 
of him, spit on him, scourge him and finally kill him; but three 
days later he will rise."

{N}JAMES AND JOHN ASK FOR THE FIRST PLACES{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus 
and said to him, "Master, we want you to grant us what we are 
going to ask of you." [=]_{I}36_{/}And he said, "What do you want me 
to do for you?" {I}37_{/}They answered, "Grant us to sit one at your 
right and one at your left when you come in your glory."
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you are 
asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized in the 
way I am baptized?" [=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}They answered, "We can." And Jesus 
told them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be 
baptized in the way I am baptized. [*]_{I}40_{/}But to sit at my right 
or at my left is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for 
others."
{R}_{I}41_{/}On hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and 
John; [=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}Jesus then called them to him and said, "As you 
know, the so-called rulers of the nations act as tyrants and their 
great ones oppress them. [=]_{I}43_{/}But it shall not be so among 
you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 
{I}44_{/}and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave 
of all. [=]_{R}_{I}45_{/}Think of the Son of Man who has not come to be 
served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many."

{N}THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}46_{/}They came to Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with 
his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, the 
son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. {R}_{I}47_{/}On hearing that 
it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he began to call out, "Son of 
David, Jesus, have mercy on me!" {R}_{I}48_{/}Many people scolded him and 
told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, "Son of 
David, have mercy on me!"
{R}_{I}49_{/}Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind 
man saying, "Take heart. Get up, he is calling you." {R}_{I}50_{/}He 
immediately threw aside his cloak, jumped up and went to Jesus.
{R}_{I}51_{/}Then Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" 
The blind man said, "Master, let me see again!" [=]_{R}_{I}52_{/}And 
Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your faith has made you well." 
And immediately he could see, and he followed Jesus along the 
road.

{N}THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM{/}

{1}11{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}When they drew near to Jerusalem and arrived at 
Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of 
his disciples with these instructions, [=]_{I}2_{/}"Go to the village 
on the other side and, as you enter it, you will find there a colt 
tied up that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. {I}3_{/}If 
anyone says to you: 'What are you doing?' give this answer: 'The 
Lord needs it, but he will send it back immediately.'"
{I}4_{/}They went off and found the colt out in the street tied at the 
door. {I}5_{/}As they were untying it, some of the bystanders asked, 
"Why are you untying that colt?" {R}_{I}6_{/}They answered as Jesus had 
told them, and the people allowed them to continue.
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on its 
back, and Jesus sat upon it. {I}8_{/}Many people also spread their 
cloaks on the road, while others spread leafy branches from the 
fields. [=]_{I}9{/}Then the people who walked ahead and those who 
followed behind Jesus began to shout, "Hosannah! Blessed is he who 
comes in the name of the Lord! [=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}Blessed is the kingdom of 
our father David which comes! Hosannah in the highest!"
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}So Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. And 
after he had looked all around, as it was already late, he went 
out to Bethany with the Twelve. 

{N}JESUS CURSES THE BARREN FIG TREE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}12_{/}The next day, when they were leaving Bethany, he 
felt hungry. [=]_{I}13_{/}In the distance he noticed a fig tree 
covered with leaves, so he went to see if he could find anything 
on it. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was 
not the season for figs. {R}_{I}14_{/}Then Jesus said to the fig tree, 
"May no one ever eat your fruit!" And his disciples heard these 
words.

{N}JESUS CLEARS THE TEMPLE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}When they reached Jerusalem, Jesus went to the 
Temple and began to drive away all the people he saw buying and 
selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and 
the stools of those who sold pigeons. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}16_{/}And he would 
not let anyone carry anything through the Temple area.
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Jesus then taught the people, "Does not God say in the 
Scriptures: My house will be called a House of Prayer for all the 
nations? But you have turned it into a den of thieves."
[=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}The chief priests and the teachers of the Law heard of 
this, and they tried to find a way to destroy him. They were 
afraid of him because all the people were captivated in his 
teaching.
[=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}When evening came, Jesus left the city.

{N}THE POWER OF FAITH{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}20_{/}Early next morning, as they walked along the road, 
the disciples saw the fig tree withered to its roots. {R}_{I}21_{/}Peter 
then said to him, "Master, look! The fig tree you cursed has 
withered."
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}And Jesus replied, "Have faith in God. [=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}Truly, 
I say to you, if you say to this mountain: 'Get up and throw 
yourself into the sea,' and have no doubt in your heart but 
believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. 
[=]_{I}24_{/}Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, 
believe that you have received it, and it shall be done for you. 
[*]_{I}25_{/}And when you stand to pray, forgive whatever you may hold 
against anyone, [=]_{I}26_{/}so that your heavenly Father may also 
forgive your sins."

{N}BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU ACT?{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}They were once again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was 
walking in the Temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the Law 
and the elders came to him {I}28_{/}and asked, "What authority do you 
have to act like this? Who gave you authority to do the things you 
do?"
{R}_{I}29_{/}Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question, only one, 
and if you give me an answer, then I will tell you what authority 
I have to act like this. {R}_{I}30_{/}Was John's preaching and baptism a 
work of God, or was it merely something human? Answer me."
[=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}And they kept arguing among themselves, "If we answer 
that it was a work of God, he will say: 'Why then did you not 
believe him?'" {R}_{I}32_{/}But neither could they answer before the 
people that the baptism of John was merely something human, for 
everyone regarded John as a prophet. {R}_{I}33_{/}So they answered Jesus, 
"We don't know," and Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you 
what authority I have to act as I do."

{N}PARABLE OF THE TENANTS{/}

{1}12{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Using parables, Jesus went on to say, "A man planted 
a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press 
and built a watch tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenants 
and went abroad.
{I}2_{/}In due time he sent a servant to receive from the tenants his 
share of the fruit. {I}3_{/}But they seized the servant, struck him 
and sent him back empty-handed. {R}_{I}4_{/}Again the man sent another 
servant. They also struck him on the head and treated him 
shamefully. {I}5_{/}He sent another and they killed him. In the same 
way they treated many others; some they struck and others they 
killed. [=]_{I}6_{/}One was still left, his beloved son. And so, last 
of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said: 'They will 
respect my son.'
{I}7_{/}But those tenants said to one another: 'This is the one who is 
to inherit the vineyard. Let's kill him and the property will be 
ours.' {I}8_{/}So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of 
the vineyard. {I}9_{/}Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He 
will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to 
others."
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}And Jesus added, "Have you not read this text of the 
Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the 
keystone. {I}11_{/}This was the Lord's doing; and we marvel at it.
[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}They wanted to arrest him for they realized that Jesus 
meant this parable for them, but they were afraid of the crowd. So 
they left him and went away.

{N}PAYING TAXES TO CAESAR{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}13_{/}They sent to Jesus some Pharisees with members 
of Herod's party, with the purpose of trapping him in his own 
words. {R}_{I}14_{/}They came and said to Jesus, "Master, we know that 
you are true; you are not influenced by anyone, and your answers 
do not vary according to who is listening to you but you truly 
teach God's way. Tell us, is it against the Law to pay taxes to 
Caesar? Should we pay them or not?"
{R}_{I}15_{/}But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, "Why are you 
testing me? Bring me a silver coin and let me see it." {R}_{I}16_{/}They 
brought him one and Jesus asked, "Whose head is this, and whose 
name?" They answered, "Caesar's." [=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Then Jesus said, 
"Return to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
And they were greatly astonished.

{N}THE RESURRECTION{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}18_{/}The Sadducees also came to Jesus. Since they claim that 
there is no resurrection, they questioned him in this way, 
[=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}"Master, in the Scriptures Moses gave us this law: 'If 
anyone dies and leaves a wife but no children, his brother must 
take the wife and give her a child who will be considered the 
child of his deceased brother.' {I}20_{/}Now, there were seven 
brothers. The first married a wife, but he died without leaving 
any children. {I}21{/}The second took the wife and he, too, died 
leaving no children. The same thing happened to the third. 
{I}22_{/}Finally the seven died leaving no children. Last of all the 
woman died. {I}23_{/}Now, in the resurrection, to which of them will 
she be wife? For the seven had her as wife."
{R}_{I}24_{/}Jesus replied, "You could be wrong in this regard because 
you understand neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 
[=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry 
but are like the angels in heaven.
[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}Now, about the resurrection of the dead, have you never 
reflected on the chapter of the burning bush in the book of Moses? 
God said to him: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the 
God of Jacob. {R}_{I}27_{/}Now, he is the God, not of the dead but of the 
living. You are totally wrong."

{N}THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}A teacher of the Law had been listening to this 
discussion and admired how Jesus answered them. So he came up and 
asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?"
[=]_{R}_{I}29_{/}Jesus answered, "The first is: Hear, Israel! The Lord, 
our God, is One Lord; [*]_{R}_{I}30_{/}and you shall love the Lord, your 
God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind 
and with all your strength. [=]_{I}31_{/}And after this comes another 
one: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no 
commandment greater than these two."
[=]_{R}_{I}32_{/}The teacher of the Law said to him, "Well-spoken, 
Master; you are right when you say that he is one and there is no 
other. [=]_{R}_{I}33_{/}To love him with all our heart, with all our 
understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor 
as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or 
sacrifice."
[=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Jesus approved this answer and said, "You are not far 
from the kingdom of God." But after that, no one dared to ask him 
any more questions.

{N}WHOSE SON IS THE CHRIST?{/}

[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}35_{/}As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he said, "The 
teachers of the Law say that the Messiah is the son of David. How 
can that be? [=]_{R}_{I}36_{/}For David himself, inspired by the Holy 
Spirit declared: The Lord said to my Lord: sit at my right until I 
put your enemies under your feet. [=]_{R}_{I}37_{/}If David himself calls 
him Lord, in what way can he be his son?"
Many people came to Jesus and listened to him gladly.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}As he was teaching, he also said to them, "Beware of 
those teachers of the Law who enjoy walking around in long robes 
and being greeted in the marketplace, {I}39_{/}and who like to occupy 
reserved seats in the synagogues and the first places at feasts. 
{I}40_{/}They even devour the widow's and the orphan's goods while 
making a show of long prayers. How severe a sentence they will 
receive!"

{N}THE WIDOW'S OFFERING{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}41_{/}Jesus sat down opposite the Temple treasury and 
watched the people dropping money into the treasury box; and many 
rich people put in large offerings. {I}42_{/}But a poor widow also 
came and dropped in two small coins.
{R}_{I}43_{/}Then Jesus called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I 
say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who gave 
offerings. {I}44_{/}For all of them gave from their plenty, but she 
gave from her poverty and put in everything she had, her very 
living."

{N}JESUS SPEAKS OF THE END{/}

{1}13{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}As Jesus left the Temple, one of his disciples 
said, "Look, Master, at the enormous stones and wonderful 
buildings here!" {R}_{I}2_{/}And Jesus answered, "You see these great 
buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another, but all will 
be torn down."
{R}_{I}3_{/}After a while, when Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, 
facing the Temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew approached him 
privately and asked, [=]_{I}4_{/}"Tell us when this will be. What sign 
will be given us before all this happens?"
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}Then Jesus began to tell them, "Don't let anyone mislead 
you. {I}6_{/}Many will come, taking my place, and say: 'I am the one 
you are waiting for,' and they will deceive many people.
{I}7_{/}When you hear of war and threats of war, don't be troubled; 
this must occur but the end is not yet. [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}Nation will fight 
nation and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be earthquakes 
everywhere and famines, too. And these will be like the first 
pains of childbirth. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}9_{/}Be on your guard, for you will 
be arrested and taken to Jewish courts. You will be beaten in 
synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my 
sake to bear witness before them. [=]_[*]_{I}10_{/}For the preaching 
of the Gospel to all nations has to come first.
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}So when you are arrested and brought to trial, don't 
worry about what you are to say; for you shall say what will be 
given you in that hour. It is not you who speak but the Holy 
Spirit.
[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}Brother will betray brother, even to death, and the 
father his child. Children will turn against their parents and 
have them put to death. [=]_{I}13_{/}You will be hated by all for my 
name's sake, but whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

{N}LAST DAYS OF JERUSALEM{/}

[=]_[*]_{I}14_{/}So, when you see the idol of the oppressor set in the 
place where it should not be (may the reader understand!), then 
let those in Judea flee to the mountains. [=]_{I}15_{/}If you are on 
the housetop, don't come down to take anything with you. {I}16_{/}If 
you are in the field, don't turn back to fetch your cloak. 
{I}17_{/}How hard it will be then for pregnant women and mothers with 
babies at the breast! {I}18_{/}Pray that it may not happen in winter. 
[*]_{R}_{I}19_{/}For this will be a time of distress such as was never 
known from the beginning when God created the world, until now and 
is never to be known again. {I}20_{/}So that if the Lord had not 
shortened that time, no one would survive; but he decided to 
shorten it for the sake of some of his chosen.
[=]_[*]_{I}21_{/}And if anyone says to you at that time: 'Look, here 
is the Messiah! Look, he is there!' - do not believe it. 
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}For false Messiahs and false prophets will arise and 
perform signs and wonders in order to deceive even God's chosen 
people, if that were possible. {I}23_{/}Then be on your guard, I have 
told you everything ahead of time.

{N}THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{I}24_{/}Later on, in those days after that disastrous 
time, the sun will grow dark, the moon will not give its light, 
[=]_{I}25_{/}the stars will fall out of the sky and the whole universe 
will be shaken. [=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}Then people will see the Son of Man 
coming in the clouds with great power and glory. {I}27_{/}And he will 
send the angels to gather his chosen people from the four winds, 
from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
{I}28_{/}Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branches 
become tender and it begins to sprout leaves, you know that summer 
is near. {I}29_{/}In the same way, when you see these things 
happening, know that the time is near, even at the door. 
[=]_{I}30_{/}Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away 
until all this has happened. [=]_{I}31_{/}Heaven and earth will pass 
away, but my words will not pass away.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}32_{/}But, regarding that Day and that Hour, no one knows 
when it will come, not even the angels, not even the Son, but only 
the Father.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}33_{/}Be alert and watch, for you don't know when the time 
will come. {R}_{I}34_{/}When a man goes abroad and leaves his home, he 
puts his servants in charge, giving to each one some 
responsibility; and he orders the doorkeeper to stay awake. 
[=]_{I}35_{/}So stay awake, for you don't know when the Lord of the 
house will come, in the evening or at midnight, when the cock 
crows or before dawn. {I}36_{/}If he comes suddenly, do not let him 
catch you asleep.
{I}37_{/}And what I say to you, I say to all: watch."

{N}CONSPIRACY AGAINST JESUS{/}

{1}14{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}It was now two days before the feast of the Passover 
and Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the teachers of the 
Law were looking craftily for a way to arrest Jesus and put him to 
death; {R}_{I}2_{/}for they said, "Not during the Festival, or there 
might be trouble among the people."

{N}JESUS ANOINTED AT BETHANY{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. 
As he was reclining at dinner, a woman entered carrying a precious 
jar of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She broke the jar and 
poured the perfumed oil on Jesus' head. {R}_{I}4_{/}Then some of them 
became angry and said, "What a useless waste of perfume. {R}_{I}5_{/}It 
could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and 
the money given to the poor." And they criticized her.
{R}_{I}6_{/}But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why are you troubling her? 
What she has just done for me is a very charitable work. 
[=]_{I}7_{/}At any time you can help the poor, for you always have 
them with you, but you will not have me forever. {I}8_{/}This woman 
has done what was hers to do, she has anointed my body beforehand 
for my burial. [=]_{I}9_{/}Truly, I say to you, wherever the Good News 
is proclaimed, and this will be throughout the world, what she has 
done will be told in praise of her."
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the 
chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. {I}11_{/}On hearing 
him they were excited and promised to give him money. So Judas 
started planning the best way to hand him over to them.

{N}THE LORD'S SUPPER{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened 
Bread, the day when the Passover Lamb was killed, the disciples 
asked him, "Where would you have us go to prepare the Passover 
meal for you?"
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}So Jesus sent two of his disciples with these 
instructions, "Go into the city and there a man will come to you 
carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the house he enters and say 
to the owner, {R}_{I}14_{/}'The Master says: Where is the room where I 
may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' {I}15_{/}Then he will 
show you a large room upstairs, already arranged and furnished. 
There you will prepare for us." {R}_{I}16_{/}The disciples went off. When 
they reached the city, they found everything just as Jesus had 
told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}When it was evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}18_{/}While they were at table eating, Jesus said, "Truly, 
I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who shares my meal." 
{I}19_{/}They were deeply distressed at hearing this and asked him, 
one after the other, "You don't mean me, do you?" [=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}And 
Jesus answered, "It is one of you Twelve, one who dips his bread 
in the dish with me. {I}21{/}The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures 
say he will. But alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is 
betrayed; better for him if he had never been born."
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}22_{/}While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed 
and broke it, and gave it to them. And he said, "Take this, it is 
my body." {I}23_{/}Then he took a cup and after he had given thanks, 
passed it to them and they all drank from it. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}24_{/}And he 
said, "This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is to be 
poured out for many. [=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}Truly, I say to you, I will not 
taste the fruit of the vine again until the day I drink the new 
wine in the kingdom of God."

{N}PETER'S DENIAL FORETOLD{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the 
Hill of Olives. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}And Jesus said to them, "All of you will 
be confused and fall away; for the Scripture says: I will strike 
the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. [=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}But after 
I am raised up, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."
{R}_{I}29_{/}Then Peter said to him, "Even though all the others fall 
away, I will not." {R}_{I}30_{/}And Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, 
today, this very night before the cock crows twice, you will deny 
me three times." {R}_{I}31_{/}But Peter insisted,"Though I have to die 
with you, I will never deny you." And all of them said the same.

{N}GETHSEMANE{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}32_{/}They came to a place which was called Gethsemane and 
Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
[=]_{R}_{I}33_{/}But he took Peter, James and John along with him, and 
becoming filled with fear and distress, {R}_{I}34_{/}he said to them, "My 
soul is full of sorrow, even to death. Remain here and stay 
awake."
{R}_{I}35_{/}Then he went a little further on and fell to the ground, 
praying that if possible this hour might pass him by. Jesus said, 
[=]_[*]_{I}36_{/}"Abba (Daddy), all things are possible for you; take 
this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want."
{R}_{I}37_{/}Then he came and found them asleep and said to Peter, 
"Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? 
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}Keep watch and pray, all of you, so that you may not 
slip into temptation. The spirit indeed is eager but human nature 
is weak. {I}39_{/}And going away he prayed saying the same words. 
{I}40_{/}When he came back to the disciples, he found them asleep 
again; they could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know 
what to say to him.
{R}_{I}41_{/}When he came back the third time, he said, "You can sleep on 
now and take your rest! It is all over, the time has come; the Son 
of Man is now given into the hands of sinners. {I}42_{/}Get up, let us 
go. Look: the one betraying me is right here."

{N}THE ARREST{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}43_{/}While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the 
twelve, came up. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, 
who had been sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the Law 
and the elders. {R}_{I}44_{/}The traitor had arranged a signal for them, 
"The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him and take him away under 
guard."
{R}_{I}45_{/}So, when he came, he went directly to Jesus calling, 
"Master! Master!" and kissed him. {R}_{I}46_{/}Then they seized Jesus and 
arrested him. {R}_{I}47_{/}One of the bystanders drew his sword and 
struck out at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.
{R}_{I}48_{/}Jesus turned to them saying, "So you have set out against a 
robber! Did you need swords and clubs to arrest me? [=]_{I}49{/}Day 
after day I was among you teaching in the Temple and you did not 
arrest me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled." [=]_{I}50_{/}Then 
they all deserted him and fled.
{R}_{I}51_{/}A young man covered by nothing but a linen cloth followed 
Jesus. As they took hold of him, {I}52_{/}he left the cloth in their 
hands and fled away naked.
[\u0095]_[=]_{I}53{/}They led Jesus to the High Priest and all the chief 
priests assembled with the elders and the teachers of the Law. 
{R}_{I}54_{/}Peter had followed him at a distance and went right into the 
courtyard of the High Priest, where he sat with the guards, 
warming himself at the fire.
{R}_{I}55_{/}Now the chief priests and the whole Council tried to find 
some evidence against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 
but they were unable to find any. {I}56_{/}Even though many came up to 
speak falsely against him, their evidence did not agree. {I}57_{/}At 
last some stood up and gave this false witness: [=]_{I}58{/}"We heard 
him say: 'I will destroy this Temple made by hands and in three 
days I will build another not made by human hands." {I}59_{/}But even 
so their evidence did not agree.
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}60_{/}The High Priest then stood up in the midst of them and 
asked Jesus, "Have you no answer at all? What of this evidence 
against you?" [=]_{I}61{/}But Jesus was silent and made no reply.
The High Priest put a second question to him, "Are you the Christ, 
the Son of the Blessed One?" [=]_{R}_{I}62_{/}Then Jesus answered, "I am, 
and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the 
Most Powerful and coming with the clouds of heaven around him." 
[*]_{R}_{I}63_{/}The High Priest tore his clothes to show his horror and 
said, "What more evidence do we need? {R}_{I}64_{/}You have just heard 
his blasphemous words. What is your decision?" And they all 
condemned Jesus saying, "He must die."
{R}_{I}65_{/}Some of them began to spit on Jesus and, blindfolding him, 
they struck him saying, "Play the prophet!" And the guards set 
upon him with blows.

{N}PETER DISOWNS JESUS{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}66_{/}While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the High 
Priest's servant-girls came by. {R}_{I}67_{/}Noticing Peter beside the 
fire, she looked straight at him and said, "You also were with 
Jesus, the Nazarene." [*]_{I}68_{/}But he denied it, "I don't know or 
understand what you are talking about." And he went out through 
the gateway.
{R}_{I}69_{/}The servant-girl saw him there and told the bystanders, 
"This man is one of them." {R}_{I}70_{/}But Peter denied it again. After 
a little while those standing by said to Peter, "Of course you are 
one of them; you are a Galilean, aren't you?" {R}_{I}71_{/}And Peter 
began to justify himself with curses and oaths, "I don't know the 
man you are talking about."
{R}_{I}72_{/}Just then a cock crowed a second time and Peter remembered 
what Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will 
deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.

{N}JESUS BEFORE PILATE{/}

{1}15{/}

[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Early in the morning, the chief priests, the elders 
and the teachers of the Law (that is, the whole Council or 
Sanhedrin) had their plan ready. They put Jesus in chains, led him 
away and handed him over to Pilate.
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus 
answered, "You say so." [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}As the chief priests accused 
Jesus of many things, {R}_{I}4_{/}Pilate asked him again, "Have you no 
answer at all? See how many charges they bring against you." 
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}But Jesus gave no further answers, so that Pilate 
wondered.
[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}At every Passover festival, Pilate used to free any 
prisoner the people asked for. {R}_{I}7_{/}Now there was a man called 
Barabbas, jailed with the rioters who had committed murder in the 
uprising. [*]_{R}_{I}8_{/}When the crowd went up to ask Pilate the usual 
favor, {R}_{I}9_{/}he said to them, "Do you want me to set free the King 
of the Jews?" {R}_{I}10_{/}For he realized that the chief priests had 
handed Jesus over to him out of envy. {R}_{I}11_{/}But the chief priests 
stirred up the crowd to ask instead for the release of Barabbas. 
{R}_{I}12_{/}Pilate replied, "And what shall I do with the man you call 
King of the Jews?" {I}13_{/}The crowd shouted back, "Crucify him!" 
[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Pilate asked, "What evil has he done?" But they shouted 
the louder, "Crucify him!"

{N}JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}15_{/}As Pilate wanted to please the people, he freed Barabbas 
and after the flogging of Jesus had him handed over to be 
crucified.
[=]_{I}16_{/}The soldiers took him inside the courtyard known as the 
praetorium and called the rest of their companions. {I}17_{/}They 
clothed him in a purple cloak and twisting a crown of thorns, they 
forced it onto his head. {R}_{I}18_{/}Then they began saluting him, "Long 
life to the King of the Jews!" {I}19_{/}With a stick they gave him 
blows on the head and spat on him; then they knelt down pretending 
to worship him.
{I}20_{/}When they had finished mocking him, they pulled off the 
purple cloak and put his own clothes on him.

{N}THE CRUCIFIXION{/}

The soldiers led him out of the city to crucify him. 
[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}21_{/}On the way they met Simon of Cyrene, father of 
Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, and 
forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. 
[=]_{I}22_{/}When they had led him to the place called Golgotha, which 
means the Skull, {I}23_{/}they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but 
he would not take it. [=]_{I}24_{/}Then they nailed him to the cross 
and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide 
what each should take.
[*]_{I}25_{/}It was about nine o'clock in the morning when they 
crucified him. {R}_{I}26_{/}The statement of his offense was displayed 
above his head and it read, "The King of the Jews." {I}27_{/}They also 
crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his 
left.
[=]_{I}29_{/}People passing by laughed at him, shook their head and 
jeered, "Aha! So you are able to tear down the Temple and build it 
up again in three days. {I}30{/}Now save yourself and come down from 
the cross!" 
{I}31{/}In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law 
mocked him saying to one another, "The man who saved others cannot 
save himself. {R}_{I}32_{/}Let's see the Messiah, the king of Israel, 
come down from his cross and then we will believe in him." Even 
the men who were crucified with Jesus insulted him.

{N}THE DEATH OF JESUS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}33_{/}When noon came, darkness fell over the whole land and 
lasted until three o'clock; {R}_{I}34_{/}and at three o'clock Jesus cried 
out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabachthani?" which means 
"My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" [=]_{R}_{I}35_{/}As soon as 
they heard these words, some of the bystanders said, "Listen! He 
is calling for Elijah." [=]_{R}_{I}36_{/}And one of them went quickly to 
fill a sponge with bitter wine and, putting it on a reed, gave him 
to drink saying, "Now let's see whether Elijah comes to take him 
down." 
{R}_{I}37_{/}But Jesus uttered a loud cry and gave up his spirit. 
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}And immediately the curtain which enclosed the Temple 
sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.
{R}_{I}39_{/}The captain who was standing in front of him saw how Jesus 
died and heard the cry he gave; and he said, "Truly, this man was 
the Son of God."
[=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}There were also some women watching from a distance; 
among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the 
younger and Joset, and Salome, [=]_{R}_{I}41_{/}who had followed Jesus 
when he was in Galilee and saw to his needs. There were also 
others who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

{N}THE BURIAL{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}42_{/}It was now evening and as it was Preparation Day, 
that is the day before the sabbath, {R}_{I}43_{/}Joseph of Arimathea 
boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph was 
a respected member of the Council who was himself waiting for the 
kingdom of God.
{R}_{I}44_{/}Pilate was surprised that Jesus should have died so soon; so 
he summoned the captain and inquired if Jesus was already dead. 
{R}_{I}45_{/}After hearing the captain, he let Joseph have the body.
[=]_{R}_{I}46_{/}Joseph took it down and wrapped it in the linen sheet he 
had bought. He laid the body in a tomb which had been cut out of 
the rock and rolled a stone across the entrance to the tomb. 
{R}_{I}47_{/}Now Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset took note 
of where the body had been laid.

{N}HE HAS BEEN RAISED, HE IS NOT HERE{/}

{1}16{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}When the sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the 
mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go 
and anoint the body. {I}2_{/}And very early in the morning on the 
first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb.
[=]_{I}3_{/}They were saying to one another, "Who will roll back the 
stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" {I}4_{/}But as they 
looked up, they noticed that the stone had already been rolled 
away. It was a very big stone.
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man in a white 
robe seated on the right, and they were amazed. [=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}But he 
said to them, "Don't be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of 
Nazareth who was crucified; he has been raised and is not here. 
This is, however, the place where they laid him. {R}_{I}7_{/}Now go and 
tell his disciples and Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to 
Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you." {I}8_{/}The 
women went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement 
had seized them. And they were so afraid that they said nothing to 
anyone.

{N}SHORT CONCLUSION OF MARK'S GOSPEL{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_[*]_{R}_{I}9_{/}After Jesus rose early on the first day of the 
week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom he had driven 
out seven demons. [=]_{I}10_{/}She went and reported the news to his 
followers, who were now mourning and weeping. {I}11_{/}But when they 
heard that he lived and had been seen by her, they would not 
believe it.
[=]_{I}12_{/}After this he showed himself in another form to two of 
them, as they were walking into the country. {I}13_{/}These men too 
went back and told the others, but they did not believe them.
[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Later Jesus showed himself to the Eleven while they were 
at table. He reproached them for their unbelief and stubbornness 
in refusing to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 
[\u0095]_{I}15_{/}Then he told them, "Go out to the whole world and 
proclaim the Good News to all creation. [=]_[*]_{I}16_{/}The one who 
believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to 
believe will be condemned. [=]_{I}17_{/}Signs like these will 
accompany those who have believed: in my Name they will cast out 
demons and speak new languages;{I}18_{/}they will pick up snakes and, 
if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed. They will 
lay their hands on the sick and they will be healed."
{R}_{I}19_{/}So then, after speaking to them, the Lord  Jesus  was  taken 
up into  heaven and took his place at the right hand of God. 
[=]_{I}20_{/}The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, while the 
Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs which 
accompanied them.

