Volume 2

Jesus in the Synagogue
283
of His own day to dumb dogs which, instead of keeping
guard, think but of fattening themselves, of eating and
drinking immoderately. By these words He meant the Herodians
and Sadducees who, lurking in secret, attack people
without barking, yes, even assault the pastors of the flock.
Jesus' words were very sharp and incisive.
Toward the close of His discourse, He read from
Deuteronomy 11 :29, of the blessing upon Garizim and
the curse upon Hebal, and of many other things connected
with the Commandments and the Promised Land.
These different passages Jesus applied to the Kingdom of
God.
One of the Herodians stepped up to Him and very
respectfully begged Him to say a word upon the number
of those that would enter His Kingdom. They thought to
entrap Him by this question, because on the one side, all
by circumcision had a share in the Kingdom; and on the
other, while rejecting many of the Jews, He had spoken
even of Gentiles and eunuchs as having a part in it. Jesus
did not give them a direct answer. He beat around and at
last struck upon a point that made them forget their
former question. To another question put to Him, His
answer consisted of a series of interrogations: How many
of those that had wandered in the desert entered the land
of Canaan? Nevertheless, had not all gone through the
Jordan? How many really entered into possession of the
land? Had they conquered it entirely, or were they not
obliged to share it with the Gentiles? Would they not one
day be chased out of it? Jesus added, moreover, that no
one should enter into His Kingdom excepting by the narrow
way and the gate of the Spouse. I understood that by
this were signified Mary and the Church. In the Church
we· are regenerated by Baptism; from Mary was the
Bridegroonl born, in order that through her He might
lead us into the Church, and through the Church to God.
He contrasted entrance by the gate of the Spouse with