14:31. Or, what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him? 14:32. Or else, while the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace. 14:33. So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth cannot be my disciple. 14:34. Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 14:35. It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill: but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke Chapter 15 The parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son. 15:1. Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him. 15:2. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. 15:3. And he spoke to them this parable, saying: 15:4. What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost, until he find it? 15:5. And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing? 15:6. And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost? 15:7. I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance. 15:8. Or what woman having ten groats, if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently until she find it? 15:9. And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost. 15:10. So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance. Before the angels... By this it is plain that the spirits in heaven have a concern for us below, and a joy at our repentance and consequently a knowledge of it. 15:11. And he said: A certain man had two sons. 15:12. And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance. 15:13. And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously. 15:14. And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country: and he began to be in want. 15:15. And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. 15:16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 15:17. And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger! 15:18. I will arise and will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee.