Volume 2

178 Life of Jesus Christ
these places did Jesus take time to go to the synagogues to
teach, but instructed the crowds that gathered to hear Him
on hills in the open air, on the public places, and in the
streets. Several of the disciples remained with Jesus, while
the others scattered through the valleys and shepherd
villages to call the dwellers to the places which Jesus was
to pass. The whole day's work was performed with incredible
hardship and fatigue, with constant going from
place to place. Jesus cured many sick, some of whom
were carried to Him, but others cried out themselves for
His aid. There were some lunatics among them. Many
possessed ran clanl0ring after Him, but He commanded
them to be silent and to retire.
What made that day's work still nl0re wearisome, was
the bad dispositions of the people and the insults of the
Pharisees. These places, being near Jerusalem, were full
of people who had taken part against Jesus. It was then as
it is now in little places, they talk of everything without
understanding anything. It was to such people that Jesus
suddenly appeared with His band of disciples and His
grave and denunciatory preaching. He repeated the instructions
delivered at Bethoron, spoke of the graces now
offered for the last time, after which would come the day
of Justice, and again alluded to the ill-usage of the
Prophets, the imprisonment of John, and the persecution
directed against Himself. He brought forward above all
the parable of the Lord of the vineyard, who had now
sent His Son. He said that the Kingdom would soon come
and the King's Son would enter into possession of it. He
often cried, "Woe!" to Jerusalem and to them that would
not receive His Kingdom, would not do penance. These
severe and menacing discourses were interrupted by many
acts of charity and by the cure of the sick. In this way,
Jesus journeyed from place to place.
The disciples had much to endure, and it was often very
hard for them. On reaching a town or village and an­