Study Desk

At dinner-time he sent his servant to announce to those who had been invited, "`Come, for things are now ready.'

"Another said, "`I am just married. It is impossible for me to come.'

For I tell you that not one of those who were invited shall taste my dinner.'"

If not, while the other is still a long way off, he sends messengers and sues for peace.

Neither for land nor dunghill is it of any use; they throw it away. Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!"

Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says, `Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep--the one I had lost.'

And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, "`Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

"But the father said to his servants, "`Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.

for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' "And they began to be merry.

"`All these years,' replied the son, `I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends;

but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'

We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'"

He called him and said, "`What is this I hear about you? Render an account of your stewardship, for I cannot let you hold it any longer.'

"Then the steward said within himself, "`What am I to do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. I am not strong enough for field labour: to beg, I should be ashamed.

"And the master praised the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for, in relation to their own contemporaries, the men of this age are shrewder than the sons of Light.

"No servant can be in bondage to two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will cling fast to one and scorn the other. You cannot be bondservants both of God and of gold."

To all this the Pharisees listened, bitterly jeering at Him; for they were lovers of money.

"You are they," He said to them, "who boast of their own goodness before men, but God sees your hearts; for that which holds a proud position among men is detestable in God's sight.

But it is easier for earth and sky to pass away than for one smallest detail of the Law to fall to the ground.

So he cried aloud, and said, "`Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'