1. When Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the city,

2. a man named Zaccheus was there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man.

3. He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see because of the crowd.

4. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus who had to pass that way.

5. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, come down quickly for I must stay at your house today."

6. So Zaccheus hurried down and received him joyfully.

7. All the people who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest."

8. But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, "The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much."

9. Looking at him Jesus said, "Salvation has come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham.

10. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

11. Jesus was now near Jerusalem and the people with him thought that God's reign was about to appear. So as they were listening to him, Jesus went on to tell them a parable.

12. He said, "A man of noble birth went to a distant place to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he would return.

13. Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. He said: 'Put this money to work until I get back.'

14. But his compatriots who disliked him sent a delegation after him with this message: 'We do not want this man to be our king.'

15. He returned, however, appointed as king. At once he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made.

16. The first came in and reported: 'Sir, your pound has earned ten more.'

17. The master replied: 'Well done, my good servant. Since you have proved yourself capable in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of ten cities.'

18. The second reported: 'Sir, your pound earned five more pounds.'

19. The master replied: 'Right, take charge of five cities.'

20. The third came in and said: 'Sir, here is your money which I hid for safekeeping.

21. I was afraid of you for you are an exacting person; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.'

22. The master replied: 'You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow!

23. Why, then, did you not put my money on loan so that when I got back I could have collected it with interest?'

24. Then the master said to those standing by: 'Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.'

25. They objected: 'But, sir, he already has ten!'

26. 'I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

27. As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, bring them in and execute them right here in my presence.'"

28. So Jesus spoke, and he went on ahead of them, on his way to Jerusalem.

29. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, close to Mount Olivet, he sent two of the disciples with these instructions,

30. "Go to the village opposite and as you enter it you will find a colt tied up that no one has yet ridden: untie it and bring it here.

31. And if anyone says to you: 'Why are you untying this colt?' You shall give this answer: 'The Master needs it.'"

32. So the two disciples went and found things just as Jesus had said.

33. As they were untying the colt, the owner said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

34. And they answered, "The Master needs it."

35. So they brought it to Jesus and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they mounted Jesus on it.

36. And as he went down, people spread their cloaks on the road.

37. When Jesus came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road slopes down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen,

38. and they cried out, "Blessed is he who comes as king in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and Glory in the highest heavens."

39. Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Master, rebuke your disciples."

40. But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if they were to remain silent, the stones would cry out."

41. When Jesus had come in sight of the city, he wept over it

42. and said, "If only today you knew the ways of peace! But now your eyes are held from seeing.

43. Yet days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and shut you in and press on you from every side.

44. And they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and the visitation of your God."

45. Then Jesus entered the Temple area and began to drive out the merchants.

46. And he said to them, "God says in the Scriptures: My house shall be a house of prayer: but you have turned it into a den of robbers."

47. Jesus was teaching every day in the Temple. The chief priests and teachers of the Law wanted to kill him and the elders of the Jews as well,

48. but they were unable to do anything, for all the people were listening to him and hanging on his words.





“Quem te agita e te atormenta é o demônio.Quem te consola é Deus”! São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina