This was the Hebrew expression for taking a meal; their frugality
probably suggested this method of expression, bread being the
principal part of their repast. (Calmet) --- What a contrast here
between the actions of the Pharisees and those of our Saviour! They
watched all his actions, in order to h... [ Continue Reading ]
Our divine Saviour, regardless of the wicked designs which these
Pharisees meditated to destroy him, cures the sick man, who did not
dare to ask the favour of him, for fear of the Pharisees. He could
only persuade himself to stand in his presence, hoping that Christ
would at length cast a compassion... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is it lawful? Jesus knew their thoughts, and that they would blame
him as a sabbath-breaker: yet he healed the man, and confounded them
by the example and common practice of pulling an ass out of a pit on
the sabbath-day. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
By this example Christ convicts his adversaries, as guilty of sordid
avarice, since, in delivering beasts from the danger of perishing on
the sabbath-day, they consult only their own advantage, whilst he was
only employed in an act of charity towards his neighbour; an action
they seemed so warmly to... [ Continue Reading ]
_A parable. What parable? In the text there is no parable, but only
instruction. Maldonatus thinks that our Saviour spoke a parable on
this occasion, which St. Luke has omitted, giving us only the moral
and the substance of the instruction conveyed by it. (Calmet) --- To
take the lowest place at a f... [ Continue Reading ]
_The lowest place. A person of the first quality is not to do this
literally, which would be preposterous; but it is to teach every on
humility of heart and mind. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ does not here forbid the invitation of friends and relatives,
since that would be acting directly contrary to his own maxims and
spirit, which breathe nothing but charity and union. He merely wishes
to purify our motives in the disposal of our charity, by insinuating
that there is more merit... [ Continue Reading ]
_By this man we are to understand Christ Jesus, the great mediator
between God and man. He sent his servants, at supper-time, to say to
them that were invited, that they should come; i.e. he sent his
apostles to call the people of Israel, who had been invited to his
supper on almost innumerable occa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Compel them to come in. This is almost the only expression in the New
Testament, which can give to the intolerant a plea for persecution.
The spirit of the gospel is the spirit of mildness, and the compulsion
which it authorizes to bring infidels or heretics into the Church, is
such as we use towar... [ Continue Reading ]
Hate not, &c. The law of Christ does not allow us to hate even our
enemies, much less our parents: but the meaning of the text is, that
we must be in the at disposition of soul so as to be willing to
renounce and part with every thing, how near or dear soever it may be
to us, that would keep us from... [ Continue Reading ]
_For which of you, &c. The similitude, which our divine Saviour makes
us of, represents the offices and duty of a true Christian, for he has
to build within himself and conduct others by his example to war with
the devil, the world, and the flesh; and he has to season, purify, and
keep all his actio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lest after, &c. Here he wishes to shew us, that we are not to embrace
any state of life, particularly that of an ecclesiastic, without
previous and serious consideration, whether we shall be able to go
through with the difficulties and dangers which will inevitably befall
us: lest afterwards we fin... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if the salt, &c. Man, after he has once been illumined with the
light of faith, should he be so unfortunate as to fall into the sink
of his former evil habits, what remedy is there remaining for him? He
is, as our Saviour says, neither profitable for the land nor for the
dunghill, but shall be... [ Continue Reading ]