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Giotto 1306
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A small collection of paintings on the theme of the birth of Jesus.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Islam texts
Qur’an
“In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the
Worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we
worship, and Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom
Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, Those whose (portion) Is not wrath, and who go
not astray.”
“Worship none but God; treat with kindness your parents
and kindred, and orphans and those in need. Speak fair to the people; be
steadfast in prayer; and practise regular charity.”
“To God belong the East and the West: whithersoever you turn, there is
the Presence of God. For God is All-Pervading, All-Knowing.”
“Then do you remember Me; I will remember You.”
“And your God Is one God: There is no god but He, Most
Gracious, Most Merciful.”
“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards
East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day, and
the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers;
to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for
your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, fnd
for the ransom of slaves;
to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular
charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made;
and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and
adversity, and throughout all periods of panic.
Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.”
“God! There is no god but He,
the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him, nor sleep.
His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in
His presence except as He permits? He knows what (appeareth to His creatures
as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His
knowledge except as He will. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the
earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding, and preserving them. For He is the
Most High, The Supreme (in glory).”
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands
out clear from Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in God has grasped the
most trustworthy Hand-hold, which never breaks. And God hears and knows all
things.
God is the Protector of those who have faith: From the
depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject
faith the patrons are the Evil Ones: from light they will lead them forth into
the depths of darkness. They will be Companions Of the fire, to dwell therein (For
ever).”
“Those who spend their substance in the cause of God,
and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with
injury, for them their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor
shall they grieve. Kind words and the covering of faults are better than
charity followed by injury. God is Free of all wants, and He is most
Forbearing.
O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders
of your generosity or by injury, like those who spend their substance to be
seen of men, but believe neither in God nor in the Last Day. They are in
Parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil: on it falls heavy
rain, which leaves it (just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with
aught they have earned. And God guideth not those who reject faith.
And the likeness of those who spend their substance,
seeking to please God and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and
fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of
harvest, and if it receives not heavy rain, light moisture suffices it. God
sees well whatever you do.”
“The Apostle believed in what had been revealed to him
from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believed in God, His
angels, His books, and His apostles. "We make no distinction (they say)
between one and another of His apostles." And they say: "We hear, and
we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, Our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all
journeys."
On no soul doth God place a burden greater than it can
bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that if earns.
(Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our
Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You Did lay on those before us; our
Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out
our sins, and grant us forgiveness, have mercy on us. You are our Protector; help
us against those who stand against Faith."
“God! There is no god but He,—the Living, the
Self-Subsisting, Eternal.
It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in
truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of
Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He
sent down the Criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). Then those who
reject Faith in the Signs of God will suffer the severest penalty, and God is
exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution.
From God, verily nothing is hidden on earth or in the
heavens. He it is who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases. There is no god
but He, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
He it is who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are
verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation
of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity
follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for
its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God. And those
who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the
whole of it is from our Lord:" and none will grasp the Message except men
of understanding.”
“There is no god but He that is the witness of God, His
angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no
god but He, the Exalted in Power, The Wise.
The Religion before God is Islam (submission to His
Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except
through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any
deny the Signs of God, God is swift in calling to account.
So if they dispute with thee, say: "I have
submitted my whole self to God and so have those who follow me." And say
to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also)
submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they
turn back, your duty is to convey the Message; and in God's sight are (all) His
servants.
As to those who deny the Signs of God, and in defiance
of right, slay the prophets, and slay those who teach just dealing whith
mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty. They are those whose works will
bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to
help.”
“Believers! Devour not Usury, doubled
and multiplied; but fear God; that Ye may (really) prosper.”
“Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord,
and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the
earth, prepared for the righteous.
Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in
adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for God loves those who do
good, and those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their
own souls, earnestly bring God to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins,
-and who can forgive sins except God? - and are never obstinate in persisting
knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.
For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and
Gardens with rivers flowing underneath,— an eternal dwelling: How excellent a
recompense for those who work (and strive)!
Many were the Ways of Life that have passed away before
you: travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who rejected
Truth.
“If God helps you, no one can overcome you: If He
forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? In God, then, let
Believers put their trust.”
“O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single
Person, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like
seeds) countless men and women;— Reverence God, through Whom you demand your
mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): for God ever
watches over you.
To orphans restore their property (when they reach
their age), nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and
devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your own. For this is I ndeed
a great sin.
If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly
with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if
you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one,
or (a captive) that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable, to
prevent you trom doing injustice.
And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free
gift; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you,
take it and enjoy it with right good cheer.
To those weak of understanding make not over your
property, which God hath made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe
them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice.
Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of
marriage; if then you find sound judgment in them, release their property to
them; but consume it not wastefully, nor in haste against their growing up. If
the guardian is well-off, let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let
him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When you release their
property to them, take witnesses in their presence: but all-sufficient is God
in taking account.
From what is left by parents and those nearest
relateds, there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property
be small or large,—a determinate share.
But if at the time of division other relatives, or
orphans, or poor, are present, feed them out of the (property), and speak to
them words of kindness and justice.
“Serve God, and join not any partners with Him; and do
good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near,
neighbours who are strangers, the Companion by your side, the way-farer (ye
meet), and what your right hands possess: For God loveth not the arrogant, the
vainglorious;— (nor) those who are niggardly or enjoin niggardliness on others,
or hide the bounties which God hath bestowed on them; for We have prepared, for
those who resist Faith, a Punishment that steeps them in contempt;— Not those
who spend of their substance, to be seen of men, but have no faith in God and
the Last Day: If any take the Evil One for their intimate, what a dreadful
intimate he is!
And what burden were it on them if they had faith in
God and in the Last Day, and they spent out of what God hath given them for
sustenance? For God hath full knowledge of them.
God is never unjust in the least degree: If there is
any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from His own Presence a great
reward.”
“O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your
religion: nor say of God aught but the truth.
Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an
apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit
proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His apostles. Say not
"Trinity": desist: It will be better for you: For God is One God:
Glory be to Him: (Far Exalted is He) above having a son, to Him belong all
things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs.
Christ disdaineth not to serve and worship God, nor do
the angels, those nearest (to God): Those who disdain His worship and are
arrogant,— He will gather them all together unto Himself to (answer).
But to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness,
He will give their (due) rewards,—and more, out of His bounty: but those who
are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish with a grievous penalty; nor will
they find, besides God, any to protect or help them.
O mankind! Verily there hath come to you a convincing
proof from your Lord: For We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest.
Then those who believe in God, and hold fast to
Him,—soon will He admit them to Mercy and Grace from Himself, and guide them to
Himself by a straight Way.
“It was We who revealed the Law
(to Moses): therein was guidance and light.' By its standard have been judged
the Jews, by the Prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to God's Will, by the Rabbis
and the Doctors of Law: For to them was entrusted the protection of God's Book,
and they were witnesses thereto: Therefore fear not men, but fear Me, and sell
not My Signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of)
what God has revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.”
“And in their footsteps We sent
Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come
before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and
confirmation of the Law that had come before him: A guidance and an admonition
to those who fear God.
Let the People of the Gospel judge by what God has
revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath
revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.
To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the
scripture that came before it, and guarding it's in safety: so judge between
them by what God hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging
from the Truth that has come to thee. To each among you have We prescribed a
Law and an Open Way. If God had so willed, He would have made you a single
People, but (His Plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as
in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to God; it is He that will
show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute; and this (He commands):
Judge thou between them by what God hath revealed, and follow not their vain
desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching)
which God hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for
some of their crimes it is God's purpose to punish them. And truly most men are
rebellious.
Do they then seek after a judgment of (the Days of)
Ignorance? But who, for a people whose faith is assured, can give better
judgment than God?”
“Say:"I tell you not that with me are the
Treasures of God, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an
angel. I but follow what is revealed to me."
“It is We Who created you and gave you shape; then We
bade the angels bow down to Adam, and they bowed down; not so Iblīs; he refused
to be of those who bow down.
(God) said: "What prevented you from bowing down
when I commanded you?" He said: "I am better than he: You did create
me from fire, and him from clay."
(God) said: "Get thee down from this: it is not
for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for you are of the meanest (of
creatures)."
He said: "Give me respite till the day they are
raised up."
(God) said: "Be thou among those who have
respite."
He said: "Because tyou have thrown me out of the
Way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on Your Straight Way: "Then will I
assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left:
Nor will You find, in most of them, gratitude (for Your mercies).
(God) said: "Get out from this, disgraced and
expelled. If any of them follow thee,— Hell will I fill with you all.
"O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden,
and enjoy (its good things) as you wish: but approach not this tree, or you run
into harm and transgression."
Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them,
bringing openly before their minds all their shame tat was hidden from them
(before): he said: "Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest you should
become angels or such beings as live for ever." And he swore to them both,
that he was their sincere adviser.
So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they
tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they began to sew
together the leaves of the Garden over their bodies. And their Lord called to
them: "Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an
avowed enemy to you?"
They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged our own
souls: If Thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall
certainly be lost."
(God) said: "Get you down, with enmity between
yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood,—
for a time."
He said: "Therein shall you live, and therein
shall you die; but from it shall you be taken out (at last)."
“Say: The things that my Lord has indeed forbidden
are: Shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth
or reason; assigning of partners to God, for which He has given no authority; and
saying things about God of which you have no knowledge.”
"For We
had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in
detail,—a guide and a mercy to all who believe.”
"And if there is a party among you who believes in
the Message with which I have been sent, and a party which does not believe, hold
yourselves in patience until God does decide between us: for He is the best to
decide."
“Of those We have created are people who direct (others)
with truth. And dispense justice therewith.”
“And who is more faithful to his Covenant than God? Then
rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: That is the achievement
supreme.”
Say: "In the Bounty of God. And in His Mercy, — in
that Let them rejoice."
“Say: "He is my Lord! There is no god but He! On
Him is my trust, and to Him do I turn!"”
Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she
withdrew from her family to a place in the East. She placed a screen (to screen
herself) from them; then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her
as a man in all respects.
She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (God) Most
Gracious: (come not near) if you do fear God."
He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from your
Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a holy son."
She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no
man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?"
He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith,
"That is easy for Me: and (We Wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and
a Mercy from Us": It is a matter (so) decreed."
So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a
remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a
palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before
this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!"
But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the
(palm-tree): "Grieve not! For thy Lord has provided a rivulet beneath
thee; "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let
fall fresh ripe dates upon you. "So eat and drink and cool (your) eye. And
if you do see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to
(God) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human
being.'"
At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying
him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! Truly an amazing thing have you
brought! "O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a man of evil, nor your mother
a woman unchaste!"
But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can
we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
He said: "I am indeed a servant of God: He has
given me revelation and made me a prophet; "And He has made me blessed
wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me prayer and Charity as long as I live;
"(He) has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
"So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day
that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!
“God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The
parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: The Lamp
enclosed in Glass: The glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed
Tree, an Olive, neither of the East nor of the West, whose Oil is well-nigh
luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light!
God doth guide whom He will to His Light: God doth set forth Parables for men: and God doth know all things.
God doth guide whom He will to His Light: God doth set forth Parables for men: and God doth know all things.
(Lit is such a Light) in houses, which God has
permitted to be raised to honour; for the celebration, in them, of His name: In
them is He glorified in the mornings and in the evenings, (again and again), by
men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from the Remembrance of
God, nor from regular Prayer, nor from the practice of regular Charity: Their
(only) fear is for the Day when hearts and eyes will be transformed (in a world
wholly new),— that God may reward them according to the best of their deeds,
and add even more for them out of His Grace: For God does provide for those
whom He will, without measure.
But the Unbelievers,—
their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched
with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, He finds it to be
nothing: but he finds God (ever) with him, and God will pay him his account:
And God is swift in taking account.
Or (the Unbelievers’ state) is like the depths of
darkness in a vast deep ocean, Overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped
by (dark) clouds: Depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out
his hand, he can hardly see it! For any to whom God gives not light, there is
no light!
Seest thou not that it is God whose praises all beings
in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings
outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And God knows
well all that they do.
Yes, to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and
the earth; and to God is the final goal (of all).”
“All that is on earth will perish: But will abide (for
ever) the Face of thy Lord.”
“Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, — let it
declare the Praises and Glory of God: For He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the
earth: It is He Who gives Life and Death; and He Has Power over all things.
He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the
Immanent: And He has full knowledge of all things.
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six
Days, and is moreover firmly established on the Throne (of authority). He knows
what enters within the earth and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from
heaven and what mounts up to it. And He is with you wheresoever you may be. And
God sees well all that you do.
To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the
earth: And all affairs are referred back to God.
He merges Night into Day, and He merges Day into
Night; and He has full knowledge of the secrets of (all) hearts.”
“Believe in God and His
Apostle, and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you
heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),—for them is a
great Reward.
What cause have you why ye should not believe in
God?—And the Apostle Invites you to believe in your Lord, and has indeed taken
your Covenant, if you are men of faith.
He is the One Who sends to His Servant manifest Signs,
that He may lead you from the depths of Darkness into the Light and Verily, God
is to you Most kind and Merciful.
And what cause have you why you should not spend in
the cause of God?— For to God belongs the heritage of the heavens and the
earth. Not equal among you are those who spent (freely) and fought, before the
Victory, (with those who did so later). Those are higher in rank than those who
spent (freely) and fought afterwards. But to all has God promised a goodly
(reward). And God is well acquainted with all that you do.”
“By the (Winds) Sent Forth one after another (to man's
profit); which then blow violently in tempestuous Gusts, and scatter (things) far
and wide; then separate them, one from another, then spread abroad a Message, whether
of Justification or of Warning;— Assuredly, what ye are promised must come to
pass.
Then when the stars become dim; when the heaven is
cleft asunder; when the mountains are scattered (to the winds) as dust; and when
the apostles are (all) appointed a time (to collect);— for what Day are these (portents)
deferred? For the Day of Sorting out. And what will explain to thee what is the
Day of Sorting out?
Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth! Did We
not destroy the men of old (for their evil)? So shall We make later (generations)
follow them. Thus do We deal with men of sin.
Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth! Have We
not created you from a fluid (held) despicable?— The which We placed in a place
of rest, firmly fixed, for a period (of gestation), determined (according to
need)?
For We do determine (according to need); for We are
the Best to determine (things).
Ah woe, that Day! To the Rejecters of Truth! Have We
not made the earth (as a place) to draw together the living and the dead, and
made therein mountains standing firm, lofty (in stature); and provided for you
water sweet (and wholesome)?
Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth! (It will
be said:) "Depart you to that which you used to reject as false!
"Depart you to a Shadow (of smoke ascending) in three
columns, "(which yields) no shade of coolness, and is of no use against the
fierce Blaze. "Indeed it throws about Sparks (huge) as Forts, "as if
there were (a string of) yellow camels (marching swiftly).
Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth! That will
be a Day when they shall not be able to speak, nor will it be open to them to
put forth pleas.
Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth! That will
be a Day of Sorting out! We shall gather you together and those before (you)! Now,
if ye have a trick (or plot), use it against Me!
Ah woe, that Day, to the Rejecters of Truth!”
Christianity texts
Gospels
I. The Beatitudes
“God
blesses those people who depend only on him.
They
belong to the kingdom of heaven!
God
blesses those people who grieve.
They will
find comfort!
God
blesses those people who are humble.
The earth
will belong to them!
God
blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink.
They will
be given what they want!
God
blesses those people who are merciful.
They will
be treated with mercy!
God
blesses those people whose hearts are pure.
They will
see him!
God
blesses those people who make peace.
They will
be called his children!
God
blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right.
They
belong to the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5, 3-10)
“Jesus
looked at his disciples and said:
God will bless
you people who are poor.
His
kingdom belongs to you!
God will
bless you hungry people.
You will
have plenty to eat!
God will
bless you people who are crying.
You will
laugh!
But you
rich people are in for trouble.
You have
already had an easy life!
You
well-fed people are in for trouble.
You will
go hungry!
You
people who are laughing now are in for trouble.
You are
going to cry and weep!” (Lc 6, 20-21 and 24-25)
II. Be the salt of the earth
"You are like salt for everyone on earth. But if
salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for
is to be thrown out and walked on." (Mt 5, 13)
III. Be the light of the world
"You are like light for the whole world. A city
built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put
it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light
to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the
good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven." (Mt 5, 14-16)
IV. Go beyond the law
“You know that our ancestors were told, “Do not
murder” and “A murderer must be brought to trial.” But I promise you that if
you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a
fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you
will be in danger of the fires of hell.
So if you are about to place your gift on the altar
and remember that someone is angry with you, leave your gift there in front of
the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to
God.
(…)
You know the commandment which says, “Be faithful in
marriage.” But I tell you that if you look at another woman and want her, you
are already unfaithful in your thoughts. If your right eye causes you to sin,
poke it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body, than
for your whole body to end up in hell.
If your right hand causes you to sin, chop it off and
throw it away! It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole
body to be thrown into hell.
(…)
You know that our ancestors were told, “Don't use the
Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it.” But I tell you
not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so
don't swear by heaven. The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the
earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don't swear by it. Don't
swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black. When you make
a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil.
You know that you have been taught, “An eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you not to try to get even with a person
who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and
let that person slap your other cheek. If someone sues you for your shirt, give
up your coat as well. If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry
it two miles. When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they
want to borrow money, lend it to them.
You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and
hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who
mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the
sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do
right and for the ones who do wrong. If you love only those people who love
you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends. If
you greet only your friends, what's so great about that? Don't even unbelievers
do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven." (Mt 5, 21-24
and 27-30 and 33-48)
V. Discretion with good deeds
“When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you
do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the
poor, don't blow a loud horn. That's what show-offs do in the meeting places
and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can
assure you that they already have their reward. When you give to the poor,
don't let anyone know about it. Then your gift will be given in secret. Your
Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.” (Mt 6, 1-4)
VI. Pray discreetly
"When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who
love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They
do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their
reward.
When you pray, go into a room alone and close the
door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he
will reward you.
When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who
don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers.
Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need
before you ask.
You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor your name.
Come and set up your kingdom,
so that everyone on earth will obey you,
as you are obeyed in heaven.
Give us our food for today.
Forgive us for doing wrong,
as we forgive others.
Keep us from being tempted
and protect us from evil.
If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you,
your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your
Father will not forgive your sins." (Mt 6, 5-15)
VII. Do not cumulate wealth
“Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can
destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your
treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot
break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.” (Mt
6, 19-21)
“You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like
one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot
serve both God and money.” (Mt 6, 24)
VIII. Trust is needed
“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry
about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or
clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't
even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't
you worth more than birds? Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about
clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their
clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed
as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields,
even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do
even more for you! Why do you have such little faith? Don't worry and ask
yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will
we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don't know God are always
worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of
these. But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants.
Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about tomorrow. It
will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today." (Mt 6,
25-34).
IX-. Do not judge
“Jesus said: Don't judge others, and God won't judge
you. Don't be hard on others, and God won't be hard on you. Forgive others, and
God will forgive you. If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in
return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your
lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.
(…)
You can see the speck in your friend's eye. But you
don't notice the log in your own eye. How can you say, “My friend, let me take
the speck out of your eye,” when you don't see the log in your own eye? You
show-offs! First, get the log out of your own eye. Then you can see how to take
the speck out of your friend's eye.” (Lc 6, 37-38 and 41-42)
X. The power of prayer
“So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and
you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks
will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for
everyone who knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a
snake if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child a
scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you still know how
to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more
ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.” (Lc 11, 9-13)
XI. The golden rule
“Treat others just as you want to be treated.” (Lc 6,
31)
XII- The young wealthy man
“A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good
thing must I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is
good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his
commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man asked.
Jesus answered, “Do not murder. Be faithful in
marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Respect your father and
mother. And love others as much as you love yourself.”
The young man said, “I have obeyed all of these. What
else must I do?”
Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go sell
everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in
heaven. Then come and be my follower.” When the young man heard this, he was
sad, because he was very rich.
Jesus said to his disciples, “It's terribly hard for
rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven! In fact, it's easier for a thick
rope to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's
kingdom.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly
surprised and asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”
Jesus looked straight at them and said, “There are
some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.” (Mt 19, 16-26)
Parables
- The sower
“Now listen! A farmer went out to scatter seed in a
field. While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road
and was eaten by birds. Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly
started growing because the soil wasn't very deep. But when the sun came up,
the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots. Some
other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked out the plants. So they
did not produce any grain. But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the
plants grew and produced thirty or sixty or even a hundred times as much as was
scattered. Then Jesus said, “If you have ears, pay attention.” (Mc 4, 3-9)
- The grain of mustard
“The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a
farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. Although it is the smallest of all
seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even
come and nest on its branches." (Mt 13, 31-32)
- Leaven
““What can I compare God's kingdom with? It is like what happens when a woman mixes
yeast into three batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.” (Lc 13,
20-21)
- The hidden
treasure and the precious pearl
“The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when
someone finds treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. A person like
that is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop
owner is looking for fine pearls. After finding a
very valuable one, the owner goes and sells everything in order to buy that
pearl.” (Mt 13, 44-46)
- The lost
lamb and the lost dracma
“Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise
you that their angels are always with my Father in heaven. Let me ask you this.
What would you do if you had a hundred sheep and one of them wandered off?
Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go look for the one that
had wandered away? I am sure that finding it would make you happier than having
the ninety-nine that never wandered off. That's how it is with your Father in
heaven. He doesn't want any of these little ones to be lost." (Mt 18,
10-14)
“What will a woman do if she has ten silver coins and
loses one of them? Won't she light a lamp, sweep the floor, and look carefully
until she finds it? Then she will call in her friends and neighbors and say,
“Let's celebrate! I've found the coin I lost.”
Jesus said, “In the same way God's angels are happy
when even one person turns to him.” (Lc 15, 8-10)
- The
prodigal son
“Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his
father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided his property
between his two sons.
Not long after that, the younger son packed up
everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his
money in wild living. He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through
that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.
He went to work for a man in that country, and the man
sent him out to take care of his pigs.
He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were
eating, but no one gave him a thing.
Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father's
workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go to my
father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against
you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of
your workers.’ ”
The younger son got up and started back to his father.
But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for
him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.
The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God in
heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.”
But his father said to the servants, “Hurry and bring
the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and
sandals for his feet. Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and
celebrate. This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was
lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.
The older son had been out in the field. But when he
came near the house, he heard the music and dancing. So he called one of the
servants over and asked, “What's going on here?”
The servant answered, “Your brother has come home safe
and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf.” The older brother
got so angry that he would not even go into the house.
His father came out and begged him to go in. But he
said to his father, “For years I have worked for you like a slave and have
always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I
could give a dinner for my friends. This other son of yours wasted your money
on prostitutes. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be
killed for a feast.”
His father replied, “My son, you are always with me,
and everything I have is yours. But we should be glad and celebrate! Your
brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.” (Lc 15, 11-32)
- The
wineyard workers
“As Jesus was telling what the kingdom of heaven would
be like, he said:
Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers
for his vineyard. After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day's
work, he sent them off to his vineyard.
About nine that morning, the man saw some other people
standing in the market with nothing to do. He said he would pay them what was
fair, if they would work in his vineyard. So they went.
At noon and again about three in the afternoon he
returned to the market. And each time he made the same agreement with others
who were loafing around with nothing to do.
Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back
and found some others standing there. He asked them, “Why have you been
standing here all day long doing nothing?”
“Because no one has hired us,” they answered. Then he
told them to go work in his vineyard.
That evening the owner of the vineyard told the man in
charge of the workers to call them in and give them their money. He also told
the man to begin with the ones who were hired last.
When the workers arrived, the ones who had been hired
at five in the afternoon were given a full day's pay.
The workers who had been hired first thought they
would be given more than the others. But when they were given the same, they
began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. They said, “The ones who were
hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did
us. And we worked in the hot sun all day long!”
The owner answered one of them, “Friend, I didn't
cheat you. I paid you exactly what we agreed on. Take your money now and go!
What business is it of yours if I want to pay them the same that I paid you? Don't
I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Why should you be
jealous, if I want to be generous?”
Jesus then said, “So it is. Everyone who is now first
will be last, and everyone who is last will be first.”" (Mt 20, 1-16)
- The good
samaritan
“As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran
off, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road. But
when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. Later a temple helper came
to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went
by on the other side.
A man from Samaria then came traveling along that
road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He
treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him
on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next
morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, “Please take care of
the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.”
Then Jesus asked, “Which one of these three people was
a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?”
The teacher answered, “The one who showed pity.”
Jesus said, “Go and do the same!”" (Lc 10, 30-37)
- The great banquet
“A man once gave a great
banquet and invited a lot of guests. When the banquet was ready, he sent a
servant to tell the guests, “Everything is ready! Please come.”
One guest after another started making excuses. The
first one said, “I bought some land, and I've got to look it over. Please
excuse me.”
Another guest said, “I bought five teams of oxen, and
I need to try them out. Please excuse me.”
Still another guest said, “I have just gotten married,
and I can't be there.”
The servant told his master what happened, and the
master became so angry that he said, “Go as fast as you can to every street and
alley in town! Bring in everyone who is poor or crippled or blind or lame.”
When the servant returned, he said, “Master, I've done
what you told me, and there is still plenty of room for more people.”
His master then told him, “Go out along the back roads
and fence rows and make people come in, so that my house will be full. Not one
of the guests I first invited will get even a bite of my food!”” (Lc 14, 16-24)
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