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The Ark Placed in the Tent children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
a Orit b Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son c Other ancient authorities read at what hour
d Gk to give them e Or cut him off f Gk virgins g Other ancient authorities add and the bride
h Other ancient authorities add in which the Son of Man is coming
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Mar k 2.1 Mark 2.22
Jesus Heals a Paralytic these questions among themselves; and he booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the
8 A Liar, a Lunatic, 8 chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sense only if He really was the
or the Son of God God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. In the
mouth of any speaker who is not God, these words would imply what I can
only regard as a silliness and conceit unrivalled by any other character in
history.
A mong these Jews there suddenly turns up a man who goes about
talking as if He was God. He claims to forgive sins. He says He has
always existed. He says He is coming to judge the world at the end of time.
Yet (and this is the strange, significant thing) even His enemies, when
they read the Gospels, do not usually get the impression of silliness and
conceit. Still less do unprejudiced readers. Christ says that He is “humble
Now let us get this clear. Among Pantheists, like the Indians, anyone might and meek” and we believe Him; not noticing that, if He were merely a man,
say that he was a part of God, or one with God: there would be nothing humility and meekness are the very last characteristics we could attribute to
very odd about it. But this man, since He was a Jew, could not mean that some of His sayings.
kind of God. God, in their language, meant the Being outside the world, I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that
who had made it and was infinitely different from anything else. And when people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral
you have grasped that, you will see that what this man said was, quite teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we
simply, the most shocking thing that has ever been uttered by human lips. must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus
One part of the claim tends to slip past us unnoticed because we have said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a
heard it so often that we no longer see what it amounts to. I mean the claim level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the
to forgive sins: any sins. Now unless the speaker is God, this is really so Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the
preposterous as to be comic. We can all understand how a man forgives Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up
offences against himself. You tread on my toes and I forgive you, you steal for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His
my money and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing
unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open
treading on other men’s toes and stealing other men’s money? Asinine fatuity to us. He did not intend to. [609]
is the kindest description we should give of his conduct. Yet this is what —from Mere Christianity
Jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to
consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He For reflection E Mark 2:1-12
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Matthew 25.1 Matthew 25.46
The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids you have been trustworthy in a few things, I welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into
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john 13.12 joh n 14.27
12 After he had washed their feet, had after receiving the piece of bread, he immedi- also. From now on you do know him and neither sees him nor knows him. You know
put on his robe, and had returned to the ately went out. And it was night. have seen him.” him, because he abides with you, and he will
table, he said to them, “Do you know what 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the be in d you.
I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher The New Commandment Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said 18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am
and Lord—and you are right, for that is what 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, to him, “Have I been with you all this time, coming to you. 19 In a little while the world
I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and Philip, and you still do not know me? Who- will no longer see me, but you will see me;
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has ever has seen me has seen the Father. How because I live, you also will live. 20 On that
another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an exam- been glorified in him, d God will also glorify can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you day you will know that I am in my Father,
ple, that you also should do as I have done him in himself and will glorify him at once. not believe that I am in the Father and the and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have
to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants e are 33 Little children, I am with you only a little Father is in me? The words that I say to you my commandments and keep them are those
not greater than their master, nor are mes- longer. You will look for me; and as I said to I do not speak on my own; but the Father who love me; and those who love me will be
sengers greater than the one who sent them. the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe loved by my Father, and I will love them and
17 If you know these things, you are blessed going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new me that I am in the Father and the Father is reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot)
if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of commandment, that you love one another. in me; but if you do not, then believe me be- said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will
you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is Just as I have loved you, you also should love cause of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”
to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my one another. 35 By this everyone will know tell you, the one who believes in me will also 23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me
bread f has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I tell that you are my disciples, if you have love for do the works that I do and, in fact, will do will keep my word, and my Father will love
you this now, before it occurs, so that when one another.” greater works than these, because I am going them, and we will come to them and make
it does occur, you may believe that I am he. g to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in our home with them. 24 Whoever does not
20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial my name, so that the Father may be glorified love me does not keep my words; and the
whom I send receives me; and whoever re- 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me a for word that you hear is not mine, but is from
ceives me receives him who sent me.” are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am anything, I will do it. the Father who sent me.
going, you cannot follow me now; but you 25 “I have said these things to you while
Jesus Foretells His Betrayal will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, The Promise of the Holy Spirit I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, c the
21 After saying this Jesus was troubled “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will 15 “If you love me, you will keep b my Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, name, will teach you everything, and remind
you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The dis- “Will you lay down your life for me? Very and he will give you another Advocate, c to be you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I
ciples looked at one another, uncertain of truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do
whom he was speaking. 23 One of his dis- will have denied me three times. whom the world cannot receive, because it not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
ciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was re-
clining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore Jesus the Way to the Father
motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he
was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to
Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe e in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house there are many dwell-
Our True Home
answered, “It is the one to whom I give this
piece of bread when I have dipped it in the
dish.” a So when he had dipped the piece of
ing places. If it were not so, would I have told
you that I go to prepare a place for you? f
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
T he Christian doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious
fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security
which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world:
bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscar- will come again and will take you to myself, but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never
iot. b 27 After he received the piece of bread, c so that where I am, there you may be also. safe, but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not hard to see why.
Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, 4 And you know the way to the place where The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and
“Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now I am going.” g 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, oppose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love,
no one at the table knew why he said this to we do not know where you are going. How a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bathe or
him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the
the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them
“Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that one comes to the Father except through me. for home. [137]
he should give something to the poor. 30 So, 7 If you know me, you will know h my Father — from The Problem of Pain
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psalM 133.1 p sa l M 1 3 7. 6
e Or cut him off f Gk virgins g Other ancient authorities add and the bride h Other ancient authorities add in which the Son of
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Genesis 45.1 Genesis 46.34
Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers you and your household, and all that you saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry their sister Serah. The children of Beriah:
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. nation there. 4 I myself will go down with you dren of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and
into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; Shillem 25 (these are the children of Bilhah,
angry with yourselves, because you sold me brothers, ‘Do this: load your animals and go and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.” whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel,
here; for God sent me before you to preserve back to the land of Canaan. 18 Take your fa- 5 Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons
life. 6 For the famine has been in the land ther and your households and come to me, and the sons of Israel carried their father Ja- in all). 26 All the persons belonging to Jacob
these two years; and there are five more years so that I may give you the best of the land cob, their little ones, and their wives, in the who came into Egypt, who were his own off-
in which there will be neither plowing nor of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. spring, not including the wives of his sons,
harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve land.’ 19 You are further charged to say, ‘Do 6 They also took their livestock and the goods were sixty-six persons in all. 27 The children
for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt,
for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you your little ones and for your wives, and bring and they came into Egypt, Jacob and all his were two; all the persons of the house of Ja-
who sent me here, but God; he has made me your father, and come. 20 Give no thought to offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons’ cob who came into Egypt were seventy.
a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house your possessions, for the best of all the land sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’
and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry of Egypt is yours.’ ” daughters; all his offspring he brought with Jacob Settles in Goshen
and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus 21 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave him into Egypt. 28 Israela sent Judah ahead to Joseph to
says your son Joseph, God has made me lord them wagons according to the instruction of 8 Now these are the names of the Isra- lead the way before him into Goshen. When
of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the elites, Jacob and his offspring, who came to they came to the land of Goshen, 29 Joseph
journey. 22 To each one of them he gave a set Egypt. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, 9 and the made ready his chariot and went up to meet
of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three children of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, his father Israel in Goshen. He presented
E and Carmi. 10 The children of Simeon: Jem- himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on
hundred pieces of silver and five sets of gar-
ments. 23 To his father he sent the following: uel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul,c his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph,
Those who will not be God’s sons become ten donkeys loaded with the good things of the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The chil- “I can die now, having seen for myself that
His tools. Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with dren of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his broth-
grain, bread, and provision for his father on 12 The children of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, ers and to his father’s household, “I will go up
— from A Preface to Paradise Lost the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers on Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My
their way, and as they were leaving he said to the land of Canaan); and the children of Perez brothers and my father’s household, who
E them, “Do not quarrela along the way.” were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The children of were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Jashub,d and Shimron. 32 The men are shepherds, for they have been
10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 14 The children of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and keepers of livestock; and they have brought
you shall be near me, you and your children 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! Jahleel 15 (these are the sons of Leah, whom their flocks, and their herds, and all that they
and your children’s children, as well as your He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you, and says,
flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I He was stunned; he could not believe them. with his daughter Dinah; in all his sons and ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say,
will provide for you there—since there are 27 But when they told him all the words of Jo- his daughters numbered thirty-three). 16 The ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock
five more years of famine to come—so that seph that he had said to them, and when he children of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ez- from our youth even until now, both we and
bon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The children our ancestors’—in order that you may settle
a Or it b Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son c Other ancient authorities read at what hour d Gk to give them of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds
e Or cut him off f Gk virgins g Other ancient authorities add and the bride h Other ancient authorities add in which the Son of
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psalM 49.15 psa lM 51.17
15 But God will ransom my soul from the 8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; Psalm 51 let the bones that you have crushed
power of Sheol, your burnt offerings are continually Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon rejoice.
for he will receive me. before me. 9 Hide your face from my sins,
Selah 9 I will not accept a bull from your house, To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet and blot out all my iniquities.
or goats from your folds. Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
16 Do not be afraid when some become rich, 10 For every wild animal of the forest is 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
when the wealth of their houses mine, 1 Have mercy on me, O God, and put a new and right a spirit within
increases. the cattle on a thousand hills. according to your steadfast love; me.
17 For when they die they will carry nothing 11 I know all the birds of the air, a according to your abundant mercy 11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
away; and all that moves in the field is mine. blot out my transgressions. and do not take your holy spirit from
their wealth will not go down after 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, me.
them. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, and cleanse me from my sin. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
18 Though in their lifetime they count for the world and all that is in it is and sustain in me a willing b spirit.
themselves happy mine. 3 For I know my transgressions,
—for you are praised when you do 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, and my sin is ever before me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your
well for yourself— or drink the blood of goats? 4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, ways,
19 they h will go to the company of their 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, b and done what is evil in your sight, and sinners will return to you.
ancestors, and pay your vows to the Most High. so that you are justified in your sentence 14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
who will never again see the light. 15 Call on me in the day of trouble; and blameless when you pass O God of my salvation,
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify judgment. and my tongue will sing aloud of your
they are like the animals that perish. me.” 5 Indeed, I was born guilty, deliverance.
a sinner when my mother conceived
P s a l m 50 16 But to the wicked God says: me. 15 O Lord, open my lips,
The Acceptable Sacrifice “What right have you to recite my 6 You desire truth in the inward being; d and my mouth will declare your
statutes, therefore teach me wisdom in my praise.
A Psalm of Asaph. or take my covenant on your lips? secret heart. 6 For you have no delight in sacrifice;
17 For you hate discipline, 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be if I were to give a burnt offering, you
1 The mighty one, God the Lord, and you cast my words behind you. clean; would not be pleased.
speaks and summons the earth 18 You make friends with a thief when you wash me, and I shall be whiter 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God c is a
from the rising of the sun to its setting. see one, than snow. broken spirit;
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, and you keep company with 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; a broken and contrite heart, O God,
God shines forth. adulterers. a Or it b Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son c Other ancient authorities read at what hour d Gk to give them
e Or cut him off f Gk virgins g Other ancient authorities add and the bride h Other ancient authorities add in which
3 Our God comes and does not keep 19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil,
silence, and your tongue frames deceit.
before him is a devouring fire, 20 You sit and speak against your kin;
4
and a mighty tempest all around him.
He calls to the heavens above 21
you slander your own mother’s child.
These things you have done and I have
8 Noticing the Dirt 8
I
and to the earth, that he may judge his been silent; know all about the despair of overcoming chronic temptations. It is
people: you thought that I was one just like not serious provided self-offended petulance, annoyance at breaking
5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, yourself. records, impatience etc doesn’t get the upper hand. No amount of falls will
who made a covenant with me by But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall of
sacrifice!” before you. course be v. muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, 22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God, the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, & the clean clothes are in
for God himself is judge. or I will tear you apart, and there will the airing cupboard. The only fatal thing is to lose one’s temper and give it
Selah be no one to deliver. up. It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present to us: it is the v.
23 Those who bring thanksgiving as their sign of His presence. [115]
7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak, sacrifice honor me;
—from CSL letter to Mrs. Neylan, January 20, 1942
O Israel, I will testify against you. to those who go the right way c
I am God, your God. I will show the salvation of God.”
For reflection E Psalm 51:10-12
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psalM 18.22 psalM 19.10
22 For all his ordinances were before me, consumed. Psalm 19 with joy.
and his statutes I did not put away 38 I struck them down, so that they were
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
God's Glory in Creation and the Law and its circuit to the end of them;
from me. not able to rise;
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
23 I was blameless before him, they fell under my feet. and nothing is hid from its heat.
and I kept myself from guilt. 39 For you girded me with strength for the 1 The heavens are telling the glory of God;
24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed battle; and the firmament b proclaims his 7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
me according to my you made my assailants sink under handiwork. reviving the soul;
righteousness, me. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, the decrees of the Lord are sure,
according to the cleanness of my 40 You made my enemies turn their backs and night to night declares knowledge. making wise the simple;
hands in his sight. to me, 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
and those who hated me I destroyed. their voice is not heard; rejoicing the heart;
25 With the loyal you show yourself loyal; 41 They cried for help, but there was no one 4 yet their voice c goes out through all the the commandment of the Lord is clear,
with the blameless you show yourself to save them; earth, enlightening the eyes;
blameless; they cried to the Lord, but he did not and their words to the end of the 9 the fear of the Lord is pure,
26 with the pure you show yourself pure; answer them. world. enduring forever;
and with the crooked you show 42 I beat them fine, like dust before the the ordinances of the Lord are true
yourself perverse. wind; In the heavens d he has set a tent for the and righteous altogether.
27 For you deliver a humble people, I cast them out like the mire of the sun, 10 More to be desired are they than gold,
but the haughty eyes you bring down. streets. 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from even much fine gold;
28 It is you who light my lamp; his wedding canopy, sweeter also than honey,
the Lord, my God, lights up my 43 You delivered me from strife with the and like a strong man runs its course and drippings of the honeycomb.
darkness. peoples; a a Or it b Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son c Other ancient authorities read at what hour d Gk to give them
29 By you I can crush a troop, you made me head of the nations; e Or cut him off f Gk virgins g Other ancient authorities add and the bride h Other ancient authorities add in which the Son of
and by my God I can leap over a wall. people whom I had not known served
30 This God—his way is perfect; me.
the promise of the Lord proves true; 44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed
he is a shield for all who take refuge me;
in him. foreigners came cringing to me. God and the Heavens
45 Foreigners lost heart,
31
32
For who is God except the Lord?
And who is a rock besides our God?—
the God who girded me with strength,
and came trembling out of their
strongholds. I t is not an accident that simple-minded people, however spiritual,
should blend the ideas of God and Heaven and the blue sky. It is a fact,
not a fiction, that light and life-giving heat do come down from the sky to
and made my way safe. 46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, Earth. The analogy of the sky’s role to begetting and of the Earth’s role to
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer, and exalted be the God of my bearing is sound as far as it goes. The huge dome of the sky is of all things
and set me secure on the heights. salvation, sensuously perceived the most like infinity. And when God made space
34 He trains my hands for war, 47 the God who gave me vengeance and worlds that move in space, and clothed our world with air, and gave us
so that my arms can bend a bow of and subdued peoples under me; such eyes and such imaginations as those we have, He knew what the sky
bronze. 48 who delivered me from my enemies; would mean to us. And since nothing in His work is accidental, if He knew,
35 You have given me the shield of your indeed, you exalted me above my He intended. We cannot be certain that this was not indeed one of the chief
salvation, adversaries; purposes for which Nature was created; still less that it was not one of the
and your right hand has supported you delivered me from the violent. chief reasons why the withdrawal was allowed to affect human senses as a
me; movement upwards. (A disappearance into the Earth would beget a wholly
your help b has made me great. 49 For this I will extol you, O Lord, among different religion.) The ancients in letting the spiritual symbolism of the sky
36 You gave me a wide place for my steps the nations, flow straight into their minds without stopping to discover by analysis that
under me, and sing praises to your name. it was a symbol, were not entirely mistaken. In one way they were perhaps
and my feet did not slip. 50 Great triumphs he gives to his king, less mistaken than we. [225]
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook and shows steadfast love to his —from Miracles
them; anointed,
and did not turn back until they were to David and his descendants forever. For reflection E Psalm 19:1-6
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