Iesus setteth free the Caged Birds.
1. AND as Iesus was going to Iericho there met him a man with a cage full of birds which he had caught and some young doves. And he saw how they were in misery having lost their liberty, and moreover being tormented with hunger and thirst.
2. And he said unto the man,
What doest thou with these?
And the man answered,
I go to make my living by selling these birds which I have taken.
3. And Iesus said,
What thinkest thou, if another, stronger than thou or with greater craft, were to catch thee and bind thee, or thy wife, or thy children, and cast thee into a prison, in order to sell thee into captivity for his own profit, and to make a living?
4. Are not these thy fellow creatures, only weaker than thou? And doth not the same God (our Father-Mother) care for them as for thee? Let these thy little brethren and sisters go forth into freedom and see that thou do this thing no more, but provide honestly for thy living.
5. And the man marvelled at these words and at his authority, and he let the birds go free. So when the birds came forth they flew unto Iesus and stood on his shoulder and sang unto him.
6. And the man inquired further of his doctrine, and he went his way, and learnt the craft of making baskets, and by this craft he earned his bread, and afterwards he brake his cages and his traps, and became a disciple of Iesus.
7. AND Iesus beheld a man working on the Sabbath, and he said unto him,
Man, if thou knowest not the law in the spirit; but if thou knowest not, thou art accursed and a transgresor of the law.
8. And again Iesus said unto his disciples,
What shall be done unto these servants who, knowing their Lord’s will, prepare not themselves for his coming, neither do according to his will?
9. Verily I say unto you, They that know their Master’s will, and do it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. But they who not knowing their Master’s will, do it not, shall be beaten with but few stripes. To whomsoever much is given, of them is much required. And to whom little is given from them is required but little.
The Blind Man who denied that others saw.
10. AND there was a certain man who was blind from his birth. And he denied that there were such things as Sun, Moon, and Stars, or that colour existed. And they tried in vain to persuade him that other people saw them; and they led him to Iesus, and he anointed his eyes and made him to see.
11. And he greatly rejoiced with wonder and admiration, and confessed that before he was blind. And now after this, he said,
I see all, I know everything, I am god.
12. And Iesus again said unto him,
How canst thou know all? Thou canst not see through the walls of thine house, nor read the thoughts of thy fellow men, nor understand the language of birds, or of beasts. Thou canst not even recall the events of thy former life, conception, or birth.
13. Remember with humility how much remains unknown to thee, yea, unseen, and doing so, thou mayest see more clearly.
LECTION 41. 11-13. -Very applicable to the present age also.