Good Master, tell us, for what reason was it We could not cast him out?
CHRISTUS.
Because of your unbelief!
VIII
THE YOUNG RULER
CHRISTUS.
Two men went up into the temple to pray.
The one was a self-righteous Pharisee, The other a Publican.And the Pharisee Stood and prayed thus within himself: O God, I thank thee I am not as other men, Extortioners, unjust, adulterers, Or even as this Publican.I fast Twice in the week, and also I give tithes Of all that I possess! The Publican, Standing afar off, would not lift so much Even as his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, Saying: God be merciful to me a sinner!
I tell you that this man went to his house More justified than the other.Every one That doth exalt himself shall be abased, And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted!
CHILDREN, among themselves.
Let us go nearer! He is telling stories!
Let us go listen to them.
AN OLD JEW.
Children, children!
What are ye doing here? Why do ye crowd us?
It was such little vagabonds as you That followed Elisha, mucking him and crying:
Go up, thou bald-head! But the bears--the bears Came out of the wood, and tare them!
A MOTHER.
Speak not thus!
We brought them here, that He might lay his hands On them, and bless them.
CHRISTUS.
Suffer little children To come unto me, and forbid them not;Of such is the kingdom of heaven; and their angels Look always on my Father's face.
Takes them in his arms and blesses them.
A YOUNG RULER, running.
Good Master!
What good thing shall I do, that I may have Eternal life?
CHRISTUS.
Why callest thou me good?
There is none good but one, and that is God.
If thou wilt enter into life eternal, Keep the commandments.
YOUNG RULER.
Which of them?
CHRISTUS.
Thou shalt not Commit adultery; thou shalt not kill;Thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness;Honor thy father and thy mother; and love Thy neighbor as thyself.
YOUNG RULER.
From my youth up All these things have I kept.What lack I yet?
JOHN.
With what divine compassion in his eyes The Master looks upon this eager youth, As if he loved him!
CHRISTUS.
Wouldst thou perfect be, Sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor, And come, take up thy cross, and follow me, And thou shalt have thy treasure in the heavens.
JOHN.
Behold, how sorrowful he turns away!
CHRISTUS.
Children! how hard it is for them that trust In riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
'T is easier for a camel to go through A needle's eye, than for the rich to enter The kingdom of God!
JOHN.
Ah, who then can be saved?
CHRISTUS.
With men this is indeed impossible, But unto God all things are possible!
PETER.
Behold, we have left all, and followed thee.
What shall we have therefor?
CHRISTUS.
Eternal life.
IX
AT BETHANY
MARTHA busy about household affairs.MARY sitting at the feet of CHRISTUS.
MARTHA.
She sitteth idly at the Master's feet.
And troubles not herself with household cares.
'T is the old story.When a guest arrives She gives up all to be with him; while IMust be the drudge, make ready the guest-chamber, Prepare the food, set everything in order, And see that naught is wanting in the house.
She shows her love by words, and I by works.
MARY.
O Master! when thou comest, it is always A Sabbath in the house.I cannot work;I must sit at thy feet; must see thee, hear thee!
I have a feeble, wayward, doubting heart, Incapable of endurance or great thoughts, Striving for something that it cannot reach, Baffled and disappointed, wounded, hungry;And only when I hear thee am I happy, And only when I see thee am at peace!
Stronger than I, and wiser, and far better In every manner, is my sister Martha.
Thou seest how well she orders everything To make thee welcome; how she comes and goes, Careful and cumbered ever with much serving, While I but welcome thee with foolish words!
Whene'er thou speakest to me, I am happy;When thou art silent, I am satisfied.
Thy presence is enough.I ask no more.
Only to be with thee, only to see thee, Sufficeth me.My heart is then at rest.
I wonder I am worthy of so much.
MARTHA.
Lord, dost thou care not that my sister Mary Hath left me thus to wait on thee alone?
I pray thee, bid her help me.
CHRISTUS.
Martha, Martha, Careful and troubled about many things Art thou, and yet one thing alone is needful!
Thy sister Mary hath chosen that good part, Which never shall be taken away from her!
X
BORN BLIND
A JEW.
Who is this beggar blinking in the sun?
Is it not he who used to sit and beg By the Gate Beautiful?
ANOTHER.
It is the same.
A THIRD.
It is not he, but like him, for that beggar Was blind from birth.It cannot be the same.
THE BEGGAR.
Yea, I am he.
A JEW.
How have thine eyes been opened?
THE BEGGAR.
A man that is called Jesus made a clay And put it on mine eyes, and said to me:
Go to Siloam's Pool and wash thyself.
I went and washed, and I received my sight.
A JEW.
Where is he?
THE BEGGAR.
I know not.
PHARISEES.
What is this crowd Gathered about a beggar? What has happened?
A JEW.
Here is a man who hath been blind from birth, And now he sees.He says a man called Jesus Hath healed him.
PHARISEES.
As God liveth, the Nazarene!
How was this done?
THE BEGGAR.
Rabboni, he put clay Upon mine eyes; I washed, and now I see.
PHARISEES.
When did he this?
THE BEGGAR.
Rabboni, yesterday.
PHARISEES.
The Sabbath day.This man is not of God, Because he keepeth not the Sabbath day!
A JEW.
How can a man that is a sinner do Such miracles?
PHARISEES.
What dost thou say of him That hath restored thy sight?
THE BEGGAR.
He is a Prophet.
A JEW.
This is a wonderful story, but not true, A beggar's fiction.He was not born blind, And never has been blind!
OTHERS.
Here are his parents.
Ask them.
PHARISEES.
Is this your son?
THE PARENTS.
Rabboni, yea;
We know this is our son.
PHARISEES.
Was he born blind?
THE PARENTS.
He was born blind.
PHARISEES.
Then how doth he now see?
THE PARENTS, aside.
What answer shall we make? If we confess It was the Christ, we shall be driven forth Out of the Synagogue!
We know, Rabboni, This is our son, and that he was born blind;But by what means he seeth, we know not, Or who his eyes hath opened, we know not.
He is of age; ask him; we cannot say;
He shall speak for himself.
