¹ Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.

² “There was,”he said, “in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.

³ In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’

⁴ For a time the judge refused, but afterwards he said to himself ‘Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,

⁵ yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.’”

⁶ Then the Master added: “Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!

⁷ And God — will not he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them — though he holds his hand?

⁸ He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

⁹ Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable —

¹⁰ “Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way — ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men — thieves, rogues, adulterers — or even like this tax-gatherer.

¹² I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.’

¹³ Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even ‘to raise his eyes to heaven’; but he kept striking his breast and saying ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴ This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹⁵ Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.

¹⁶ Jesus, however, called the little children to him. “Let the little children come to me,”he said, “and do not hinder them; for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs.

¹⁷ I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.”

¹⁸ And one of the Presidents asked Jesus this question — “Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?”

¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?”answered Jesus. “No one is good but God.

²⁰ You know the commandments — ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honor your father and your mother.’”

²¹ “I have observed all these,” he replied, “from childhood.”

²² Hearing this, Jesus said to him: “There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.”

²³ But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.

²⁴ Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples: “How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁵ It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁶ “Then who can be saved?” asked those who heard this.

²⁷ But Jesus said: “What is impossible with people is possible with God.”

²⁸ “But we,” said Peter, “we left what belonged to us and followed you.”

²⁹ “I tell you,”he answered, “that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

³⁰ who will not receive many times as much in the present, and in the age that is coming eternal life.”

³¹ Gathering the Twelve around him, Jesus said to them: “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man.

³² For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;

³³ they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.”

³⁴ The apostles did not comprehend any of this; his meaning was unintelligible to them, and they did not understand what he was saying.

³⁵ As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.

³⁶ Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;

³⁷ and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,

³⁸ he shouted out: “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”

³⁹ Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder: “Son of David, take pity on me!”

⁴⁰ Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him:

⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” he said, “I want to recover my sight.”

⁴² And Jesus said: “Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.”

⁴³ Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.