Liturgical Colour : White

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Matthew 18 : 1-10

In illo tempore : Accesserunt discipuli ad Jesum, dicentes : Quis, putas, major est in regno caelorum? Et advocans Jesus parvulum, statuit eum in medio eorum et dixit : Amen, dico vobis, nisi conversi fueritis et efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum caelorum.

Quicumque ergo humiliaverit se sicut parvulus iste, hic est major in regno caelorum. Et qui susceperit unum parvulum talem in Nomine Meo, Me suscipit. Qui autem scandalizaverit unum de pusillis istis, qui in Me credunt, expedit ei, ut suspendatur mola asinaria in collo ejus, et demergatur in profundum maris.

Vae mundo a scandalis! Necesse est enim, ut veniant scandala : verumtamen vae homini illi, per quem scandalum venit! Si autem manus tua vel pes tuus scandalizat te, abscide eum et projice abs te : bonum tibi est ad vitam ingredi debilem vel claudum, quam duas manus vel duos pedes habentem mitti in ignem aeternum.

Et si oculos tuos scandalizat te, erue eum et projice abs te : bonum tibi est cum uno oculo in vitam intrare, quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis. Videte, ne contemnatis unum ex his pusillis : dico enim vobis, quia Angeli eorum in caelis semper vident faciem Patris Mei, qui in caelis est.

English translation

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who do You think, is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven?” And Jesus calling unto Him a little child, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.”

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven, and he who shall receive one such little child in My Name, receives Me, but he who shall scandalise one of these little ones who believed in Me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

“Woe to the world because of scandals, for it must need be that scandals come, but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandals came. And if your hand, or your foot, scandalise you, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, and to be cast into everlasting fire.”

“And if your eye scandalise you, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It us better for you having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes and to be cast into hell fire. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in Heaven always see the face of My Father, Who is in Heaven.”