Myself to him. Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it, that Thou wilt manifest Thyself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and will make Our abode with him. He that loveth Me not, keepeth not My words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father’s who sent Me. (John xiv. 21-24.)
This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to His disciples, after He was risen from the dead. When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith to him: Feed My Iambs. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest Thou Me? He saith to Him: Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith to ‘him: Feed My lambs. He said to him the third time: ‘Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved, because He had said to him the third time: Lovest thou Me? And he said to Him: Lord, Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I love Thee. He said to him: Feed My sheep. (John xxi. 14-17.)
And as we tarried there for some days, there came from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. Who, when he was come to us, took Paul’s girdle: and binding his own feet and hands, he said: Thus saith the Holy Ghost: The man whose girdle this is, the Jews shall bind in this manner in Jerusalem, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Which when we had heard, both we and they that were of that place, desired him that he would not go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, and said: What do you mean weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but to die also in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts xxi. 10-13.)
Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword? As it Is written: For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. But in all these things we overcome, because of Him that hath loved us. For I
