Category: Faith Links

“‘… the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.'”

“Jesus said to His Disciples: ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. …'”

“Peter approached Jesus and asked Him, ‘Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. …'”

“The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. … he said, ‘Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. … Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall Name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High … of His Kingdom there will be no end.’ … Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’ Then the Angel departed from her.”

“‘… he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also … I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'”

“‘… His son said to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.”
But his father ordered his servants,
“Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.” …'”

“‘… There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. … Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ … They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. … The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone … the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.’ …”