Course 2, Chapter 8: Public Life of our Lord — Second year

1. What miracle did the Saviour perform on descending the mountain?

On descending the mountain, he cured a boy who was possessed by a devil.

2. What instruction did he give his apostles on this occasion?

On this occasion he instructed his apostles on the necessity and power of fasting and prayer.

3. What other instruction did he give them?

The Saviour, continuing his journey through Galilee, explained to his apostles and all his disciples the necessity of pardoning injuries, and the sinfulness of him who would refuse to forgive an injury.

4. What means did he employ for this purpose?

For this purpose he made use of a parable. A servant, said he, owed his master ten thousand talents. He had not wherewith to pay him. The master ordered him to be seized, and commanded him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant implored him for pity, and to have patience with him. The master, touched with compassion, remitted him the whole debt. The servant going put, met a fellow- servant who owed him the trifling sum of a hundred pence, and laying hold on him, he throttled him, saying, pay what thou owest. The unfortunate servant said, have patience, and I will pay thee all; but he would not, and immediately sent him to prison. When the master had learned this cruel conduct, he sent for the wicked servant, and said to him, I had pity on you, and forgave you your whole debt; oughtest thou not also to have had pity on thy fellow servant? and, being angry, he delivered him to the torturers, until he should pay the vhole debt; and the Saviour said: So also shall my

heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother, from your hearts, you whom he has pardoned, and still daily pardons, so many sins.

5. What followed this instruction?

It was followed by an event which ^ave the Saviour occasion to teach the spirit of meekness, which must animate his disciples. The inhabitants of a city in Samaria having refused to receive him, two of his apostles asked permission to call down fire from heaven to consume the guilty city. The Saviour replied, You know not of what spirit you are; the Son of man came not to destroy souls but to save. He submitted to the affront without complaint, and went into anothei town.

6. What further occurred in this journey?

In this journey, the Saviour proclaimed ane the great precept of the love of God and of our neigh bor, and coming to the little town of Bethania, hf lodged in the house .of Lazarus and his two sister* Martha and Mary.*

7. Where did he go thence?

He repaired to Jerusalem to celebrate the fea&L of the Tabernacles, where his enemies were forced ta say, with the rest of the people: Never man spake like thi man.*

8. . Were they converted?

They were not converted. To touch their hearts, the Saviour worked one of his most brilliant miracles. lie restored sight to a man who had been blind from his birth; a miracle which no prophet had ever wrought, and which had been unheard of from the beginning of the world.

152 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.