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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Shall we give to the needy?

Shall we give to the needy?
NICODEMUS Should we give to the needy?

JESUS Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

JESUS (CONT’D) So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

NICODEMUS Teacher, teach me to pray?

JESUS And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

JESUS (CONT’D) This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.

JESUS (CONT’D) For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

NICODEMUS Can we judge or criticize others?

JESUS Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

JESUS (CONT’D) Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ When all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

JESUS (CONT’D) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and i will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentile and humble in heart, ann you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

JESUS (CONT’D) The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into his harvest.

JESUS (CONT’D) If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me can not be my disciple. A group of religious approach Jesus Jesus turns to the Nicodemus and speaks:

JESUS (CONT’D) Now do you understand that all of life and its challenges are solved by the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Then you will not be far from the Kingdom of God; and you will live. Nicodemus becomes flustered and he backs off to the edge of the crowd. Jesus turns and walks away. We see Nicodemus weeping again.

FADE OUT.

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