Fragmenda

Scripture

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

John sends his disciples to Christ, who upbraids the Jews for their incredulity, and calls to him such as are sensible of their burdens.

1 

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he passed from thence, to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 

Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he said to him:

3 

Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another?

4 

And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen.

5 

The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6 

And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me.

7 

And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind?

8 

But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings.

9 

But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea I tell you, and more than a prophet.

10 

For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

11 

Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 

And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away.

13 

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John:

14 

And if you will receive it, he is Elias that is to come.

15 

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

16 

But whereunto shall I esteem this generation to be like? It is like to children sitting in the market place.

17 

Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned.

18 

For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say: He hath a devil.

19 

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.

20 

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance.

21 

Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes.

22 

But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.

23 

And thou Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted up to heaven? thou shalt go down even unto hell. For if in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day.

24 

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee.

25 

At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones.

26 

Yea, Father: for so hath it seemed good in thy sight.

27 

All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him.

28 

Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.

29 

Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls.

30 

For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

Catechism

Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part 3, Chapter 8, Sections 17-19

Witnesses Must Give Testimony Truthfully

With regard to an accused person who is conscious of his own guilt, God commands him to confess the truth, if he is interrogated judicially. By that confession he, in some sort, bears witness to, and proclaims the praise and glory of God; and of this we have a proof in these words of Josue, when exhorting Achan to confess the truth: My son, give glory to the Lord the God of Israel.

But as this Commandment chiefly concerns witnesses, the pastor should give them special attention. The spirit of the precept not only prohibits false testimony, but also commands the truth to be told. In human affairs, to bear testimony to the truth is a matter of the highest importance, because there are innumerable things of which we must be ignorant unless we arrive at a knowledge of them on the faith of witnesses. In matters with which we are not personally acquainted and which we need to know, there is nothing so important as true evidence. Hence the words of St. Augustine: He who conceals the truth and he who utters falsehood are both guilty; the one, because he is unwilling to render a service; the other, because he has the will to do an injury.

We are not, however, at all times, obliged to disclose the truth; but when, in a court of justice, a witness is legally interrogated by the judge, he is emphatically bound to tell the whole truth. Here, however, witnesses should be most circumspect, lest, trusting too much to memory, they affirm for certain what they have not fully ascertained.

Lawyers And Plaintiffs Must Be Guided By Love Of Justice

Attorneys and counsel, plaintiffs and prosecutors, remain still to be treated of. The two former should not refuse to contribute their services and legal assistance, when the necessities of others call for their aid. They should deal generously with the poor. They should not defend an unjust cause, prolong lawsuits by trickery, nor encourage them for the sake of gain. As to remuneration for their services and labours, let them be guided by the principles of justice and of equity.

Plaintiffs and prosecutors, on their side, are to be warned not to be led by the influence of love, or hatred, or any other undue motive into exposing anyone to danger through unjust charges:

All Must Speak Truthfully And With Charity

To all conscientious persons is addressed the divine command that in all their intercourse with society, in every conversation, they should speak the truth at all times from the sincerity of their hearts; that they should utter nothing injurious to the reputation of another, not even of those by whom they know they have been injured and persecuted. For they should always remember that between them and others there exists such a close social bond that they are all members of the same body.