In those days a certain man came up to Jesus and, kneeling before Him, said: "Lord! have mercy on my son; at the new moon he is possessed and suffers greatly, for he often throws himself into the fire and often into the water, I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not heal him. And Jesus answered, saying, O unfaithful and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long shall I endure you? bring him to Me here. And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out of him; and the lad was healed in that hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private, and said, Why could we not cast him out? And Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a mustard seed, and say unto this mountain, Go from here to there, and it shall pass; and nothing will be impossible for you; this kind is expelled only by prayer and fasting. While they were in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again."

Matthew 17:14-23a

Week 10.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 73

In those days the collectors of didrachms came to Peter and said, "Will not your teacher give you didrachms?" He says: yes. And when he had entered into the house, Jesus warned him, and said, What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take duties or tributes? From their own sons, or from strangers? Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Therefore the sons are free; but that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a fishing rod, and take the first fish that comes along, and opening its mouth, you will find a stater; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus called the child, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, unless ye be converted, and be as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven; therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 17:24–18:4

Saturday, 10th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 74

Woe to the world because of temptations, for temptations must come; but woe to the man through whom the temptation comes. But if thy hand or thy foot offends thee, cut them off and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life without an arm or without a foot, than to be cast into everlasting fire with two hands and two feet; And if thy eye offends thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than to be cast into hell fire with two eyes. See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost.

Matthew 18:1–11

Monday of the 9th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 75

The Lord said, "Take heed, despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man had a hundred sheep, and one of them was lost, would he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek the lost one? and if it happens to be found, then, verily, I say to you, he rejoices over her more than over the ninety-nine who are not lost. Thus, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. But if your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him between you and him alone; if he hearkens to you, you have gained your brother; but if he does not listen, take with you one or two more, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed; but if he does not listen to them, tell the church; and if he does not listen to the church, then let him be to you as a heathen and a publican. Truly I say to you, whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Verily I also say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth to ask for any thing, whatever they ask shall be done unto them by my Father which is in heaven: for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:10–20