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CHRISTUS. TWO men went up into the temple to pray. | |
| The one was a self-righteous Pharisee, | |
| The other a Publican. And the Pharisee | |
| Stood and prayed thus within himself! O God, | |
| I thank thee I am not as other men, | 5 |
| Extortioners, unjust, adulterers, | |
| Or even as this Publican. I fast | |
| Twice in the week, and also I give tithes | |
| Of all that I possess! The Publican, | |
| Standing afar off, would not lift so much | 10 |
| Even as his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, | |
| Saying: God be merciful to me a sinner! | |
| I tell you that this man went to his house | |
| More justified than the other. Every one | |
| That doth exalt himself shall be abased, | 15 |
| And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted! | |
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CHILDREN, among themselves. Let us go nearer! He is telling stories! | |
Let us go listen to them.
AN OLD JEW. Children, children! | |
| What are ye doing here? Why do ye crowd us? | |
| It was such little vagabonds as you, | 20 |
| That followed Elisha, mocking him and crying: | |
| Go up, thou bald-head! But the bears—the bears | |
Came out of the wood, and tare them!
A MOTHER. Speak not thus! | |
| We brought them here, that He might lay his hands | |
On them, and bless them.
CHRISTUS. Suffer little children | 25 |
| To come unto me, and forbid them not; | |
| Of such is the kingdom of heaven; and their angels | |
| Look always on my Father’s face. Takes them in his arms and blesses them.
A YOUNG RULER, running. Good Master! | |
| What good thing shall I do, that I may have | |
Eternal life?
CHRISTUS. Why callest thou me good? | 30 |
| There is none good but one, and that is God. | |
| If thou wilt enter into life eternal, | |
Keep the commandments.
YOUNG RULER. Which of them?
CHRISTUS. Thou shalt not | |
| Commit adultery; thou shalt not kill; | |
| Thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness; | 35 |
| Honor thy father and thy mother; and love | |
Thy neighbor as thyself.
YOUNG RULER. From my youth up | |
| All these things have I kept. What lack I yet? | |
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JOHN. With what divine compassion in his eyes | |
| The Master looks upon this eager youth, | 40 |
As if He loved him!
CHRISTUS. Wouldst thou perfect be, | |
| Sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor, | |
| And come, take up thy cross, and follow me, | |
| And thou shalt have thy treasure in the heavens. | |
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JOHN. Behold, how sorrowful he turns away! | 45 |
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CHRISTUS. Children! how hard it is for them that trust | |
| In riches to enter into the kingdom of God! | |
| ’T is easier for a camel to go through | |
| A needle’s eye, than for the rich to enter | |
The kingdom of God!
JOHN. Ah, who then can be saved? | 50 |
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CHRISTUS. With men this is indeed impossible, | |
| But unto God all things are possible! | |
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PETER. Behold, we have left all, and followed thee. | |
What shall we have therefor?
CHRISTUS. Eternal life. | |
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