1 Then calling together the twelve apostles, he gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases.
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VERS. 1.-- *And Jesus, having called them together.* The power of signs being first granted, they are sent to preach the kingdom of God, that the greatness of the deeds might also bear witness to the greatness of the promises, and that the power shown might give credit to the words, and that they who preached new things might also do new things.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 And he said to them: Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats.
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VERS. 3.-- *Take nothing.* In Mark it is read, *that they should take nothing for the way but a staff only*. But it must be known that both were commanded by the Lord: that they should carry nothing but a staff, and that they should not carry even a staff. Not to carry a staff is not to be anxious about the things which are necessary for human sustenance, because these are owed to preachers by those to whom they preach, when they can be received without scandal. To carry nothing but a staff is to use that power of receiving necessities which has been given to preachers. *Two coats.* A single garment is whatever is necessary to a man according to the character of the place or the time. A double one is what is beyond necessity. Allegorically, in the two coats he forbids duplicity.
4 And whatsoever house you shall enter into, abide there and depart not from thence.
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VERS. 4.-- *There abide.* Do not run about through the houses and change the rights of an inviolable hospitality. Whence according to Matthew, the house in which they ought to remain must first be chosen, that the necessity of changing lodging may be taken away.
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them.
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VERS. 5.-- *The dust of your feet.* The dust is shaken off in testimony of their labour, that they entered into the city, and that the preaching reached as far as them. Or, it is shaken off, that they may receive nothing from those who have spurned the Gospel, not even the necessaries of life.
6 And going out, they went about through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing every where.
7 Now Herod, the tetrarch, heard of all things that were done by him. And he was in a doubt, because it was said
8 By some that John was risen from the dead: but by other some, that Elias had appeared: and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
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VERS. 8.-- *John is risen.* They who said that John, of whom they had seen no sign, had risen again, by the utmost malice denied that Jesus had risen again; they had seen many marvellous works, in whose passion many wonderful things had happened.
9 And Herod said: John I have beheaded. But who is this of whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.
10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all they had done. And taking them, he went aside into a desert place, apart, which belongeth to Bethsaida.
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VERS. 10.-- *They told.* The apostles tell the Lord what they had done, and how they had taught, and how John suffered while they themselves were teaching. Whence it follows: *And taking them.* The nourishment of heavenly grace is imparted not to the idle, not to those residing in the city of the Synagogue, that is, of secular dignity, but to those seeking Christ amid the deserts. For those who do not turn away in loathing are received by Christ, and both spiritually and bodily, if they have need, they are healed. And note, that after the mention of John's passion is completed, Christ refreshes, because after the failing of the law the food of the Gospel begins. Finally, after the woman who bears the figure of the Church has been healed, and after the apostles have been sent to preach, mention is made of the refreshment, because through the apostles true refreshment takes place in the Church.
11 Which when the people knew, they followed him: and he received them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and healed them who had need of healing.
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VERS. 11.-- *They followed him.* Not on beasts, not in carriages, but by the proper labour of their feet, that they might show the ardour of their mind. *He healed.* No one receives the food of Christ unless he has first been healed, because after the remission of sins the heavenly nourishment is bestowed.
12 Now the day began to decline. And the twelve came and said to him: Send away the multitude, that, going into the towns and villages round about, they may lodge and get victuals; for we are here in a desert place.
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VERS. 12.-- *Now the day began.* He refreshes them when the day has declined, because, either as the end of the ages draws near, or when the sun of justice had set, we were saved from spiritual famine. And note the order of the mystery: first medicine is applied to the wounds by the remission of sins; afterwards the nourishment of the heavenly table is dispensed.
13 But he said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said: We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; unless perhaps, we should go and buy food for all this multitude.
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VERS. 13.-- *Unless perhaps.* The apostles had not yet understood that the faith of a believing people is not for sale, but they had known that we are rather to be redeemed by his own free foods.
14 Now there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples: Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
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VERS. 14.-- *Five thousand.* By the five thousand are signified those who, being still in a secular habit, know how to use well, through the five senses of the body, the outward things which they possess. Who are fed with five loaves, because such must still be instructed by the precepts of the law, and restrained by legal fear. For those who renounce the world entirely both are four thousand, because of the evangelical doctrine, and are refreshed with seven loaves, that is, with the grace of the sevenfold Spirit.
15 And they did so and made them all sit down.
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VERS. 15.-- *And all to sit down.* According to another evangelist the five thousand sit down upon the grass, because those who still have bodily senses are delighted with better things. *For all flesh is grass.* The four thousand recline upon the earth, for it is more to press the earth than to lie upon grass.
16 And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven and blessed them: and he broke and distributed to his disciples, to set before the multitude.
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VERS. 16.-- *He distributed to his disciples.* He calls forth the apostles to the breaking of bread, that, while they testify that they have none, the greatness of the sign may become the better known. He insinuates that through their teaching fasting hearts are daily to be fed.
17 And they did all eat and were filled. And there were taken up of fragments that remained to them, twelve baskets.
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VERS. 17.-- *And they were filled.* That the people, eating, is filled signifies that hunger is to be driven away for ever from the elect, because he who has received Christ's food will not hunger. That the apostles minister announces the future distribution of the Lord's body and blood. *Twelve baskets.* Why is more left over to the five thousand men, and less to the four thousand? Because the four thousand were with Christ for three days, and therefore received more of the heavenly pasture.
18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples also were with him: and he asked them, saying: Whom do the people say that I am?
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VERS. 18.-- *And it came to pass.* After the miracle, when the crowds wished to make him king, the crowd being dismissed, he fled and went up into the mountain alone to pray; and before the disciples went up into the boat, they were present with him. But he alone prays to the Father. For the saints can be joined to the Lord by faith and love, and can behold him as more excellent than men, and can follow his manner of life in the flesh with the steps of humility; but he alone penetrates the incomprehensible secrets of the Father's position, and he alone prays what he knows must be prayed. But he is not found to have prayed with the disciples, but prays alone, because human hearts do not grasp the counsel of God, nor can anyone be a partaker of the inner things with Christ. *Whom do the crowds say that I am?* Being about to search out the faith of the disciples, he first inquires the opinion of the common people, lest the faith of the apostles should seem to be established by common opinion, but by the acknowledgment of the truth. Rightly are they named crowds who bring forward different opinions about the Lord, whose speech and understanding is unstable and wandering; and distinguishing his own from them he says. *But whom do you say that I am?*
19 But they answered and said: John the Baptist; but some say Elias: and others say that one of the former prophets is risen again.
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VERS. 19.-- *John the Baptist.* The opinion about John was perhaps for this reason, because, placed in his mother's womb, he perceived the Lord's presence. About Elias, because he was caught up into heaven, and is believed to be about to come. About Jeremias, because he was sanctified in his mother's womb.
20 And he said to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answering, said: The Christ of God.
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VERS. 20.-- *But you.* He who discourses ought to consider the persons of his hearers, lest he be derided before he is heard. *The Christ of God.* He embraced all things, who expressed both the nature and the name. For in the name of Christ there is the expression both of the godhead and of the incarnation, and the faith of the passion. The heretic, although he does not deny the name of Christ, nevertheless denies Christ, since he does not confess all the things that are Christ's.
21 But he strictly charging them, commanded they should tell this to no man.
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VERS. 21.-- *He charged them lest,* etc. He bids the disciples be silent, that he may deceive the prince of the world, and that he may avoid boasting and teach humility. At the same time, lest the disciples, still rude and imperfect, should be crushed by the weight of a greater preaching.
22 Saying: The Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the ancients and chief priests and scribes and be killed and the third day rise again.
23 And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
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VERS. 23.-- *And he said.* The things that pertain to faith in the Lord's nativity or passion he opened to the disciples alone, apart; but these things to all. *Let him deny himself.* Unless a man fall away from himself, he does not draw near to him who is above himself: and he does not lay hold of the newness to which he is called, unless he slay the oldness in which he was born; and when he ceases from vices let him also seek out virtues. Whence there is subjoined:
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: for he that shall lose his life for my sake shall save it.
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VERS. 24.-- *For he that.* As in time of persecution the soul must be laid down, so in peace earthly desires must be broken, that by how much a man seems the more secure, by so much he may be the more careful for his own keeping.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world and lose himself and cast away himself?
26 For he that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty and that of his Father and of the holy angels.
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VERS. 26.-- *Him the Son of man.* The voice of profession does not suffice for the proof of faith, a voice which the profession of the generality defends from shame.
27 But I tell you of a truth: There are some standing here that shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.
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VERS. 27.-- *Some standing here.* He who stands with Christ does not taste death, because he who has merited fellowship with Christ will not have even the slightest sense of eternal death, and for him the order of living is not interrupted even in death. *Till they see the kingdom.* Because it was hard to offer the soul to dangers and the body to death, he sustains the weakness of the human mind by the reward of present things, lest it be broken by despair or weariness. For when the eternal glory has been seen, even in passing and for a brief moment, they are nevertheless rendered stronger against the adversities of the world. He promises therefore that the glory to come is to be seen in passing upon earth, that the eternal glory may be the more surely hoped for in heaven. Or he promises that some of the disciples will see the spreading of the Church before they depart from the world by death, so that, raised up in the present against the glory of the world, they may be the more surely believed to be about to reign in heaven.
28 And it came to pass, about eight days after these words, that he took Peter and James and John and went up into a mountain to pray.
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VERS. 28.-- *After these words.* Others, who count only six days, signify that after the six ages of the world the saints must rest from labour. Luke, who counts in both the first day on which it is promised and the last on which the promise is fulfilled, hints that we shall rise on the eighth. For as Christ, after the sixth day of the week on which he ascended the cross, and after the seventh day of the week on which he rested in the sepulchre, rose on the eighth day, so we, after the six ages of the world in which we suffer and labour for the Lord, and after the seventh of the rest of souls which meanwhile is passed in another life, shall rise in the eighth age. *He took Peter.* He names three only, because *many are called, few chosen*, and those who keep the faith of the Trinity inviolate deserve to rejoice in the eternal vision. He who knows merits knows that the three apostles were more perfect than the rest. They signify those who have faith, hope, charity. Or by Peter, prelates or the married; by James, the penitent or the active; by John, virgins or the contemplative.
29 And whilst he prayed, the shape of his countenance was altered and his raiment became white and glittering.
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VERS. 29.-- *And he was made.* Being transfigured, he did not lose the substance of true flesh, but showed the glory either of his own or of our resurrection; and such as he then appeared to the apostles, such will he appear after the judgment to all the elect. For in the judgment itself he will appear both to the good and to the evil in the form of a servant, that they may see him whom they pierced. *And his raiment.* The Lord's garments are the saints who have put on Christ. Which garment, while the Lord dwelt on earth, seemed contemptible and like that of others, but shines when the Lord ascends the mountain, because *it hath not yet appeared what we shall be, but at length we shall be like to him, when we shall see him as he is.* Or the garments of the Word are the discourses of the Scriptures, and certain clothings of the divine understanding. Because as he himself appeared to those apostles in another form and his garment shone, so also to the eyes of thy mind the sense of the divine readings already grows white.
30 And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias,
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VERS. 30.-- *Behold two men.* It is to be noted that not the bodies or the souls of Elias or Moses appeared, but that those bodies were formed out of some underlying creature: it can also be believed that this was done by angelic ministry, so that angels took upon them their persons. A dead man and a living man appear, that they may signify that Christ was to die and afterwards to live, and that we should live to Christ and die to the world. To the apostles also he gives a sign from heaven, that their faith may be increased. But to the scribes tempting him he would not give one, that they might be hardened. *And they were Moses and Elias, seen.* By Moses are signified those of the lower regions; by Elias, the heavenly; by the apostles, the earthly, who shall come to the judgment.
31 Appearing in majesty. And they spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem.
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VERS. 31.-- *They spoke of his decease.* Moses, that is the lawgiver, and Elias, the most eminent of the prophets, appear with the Word, that they may show that he is the one who spoke in the law and the prophets, and whom the law and the prophets promised. Who were seen not in the lowest places, but on the mountain, because only those lofty in mind perceive the majesty of Scripture, which was fulfilled in the Lord.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep. And waking, they saw his glory and the two men that stood with him.
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VERS. 32.-- *They were heavy with sleep.* They are weighed down with sleep, because the sense of the human body is oppressed by the splendour of the incomprehensible godhead. Or they are weighed down with sleep, that they might see the glory of the resurrection after the rest of the body; and the saints will see the majesty of the Lord the more truly in proportion as they rejoice in the immortality of their flesh, in which they had conquered death. Then they shall behold Moses and Elias in glory, because they will better understand how *one iota or one tittle shall not pass from the law*, and how the Lord did not destroy the law and the prophets, but fulfilled them.
33 And it came to pass that, as they were departing from him, Peter saith to Jesus: Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses; and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
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VERS. 33.-- *It is good for us to be here.* He who had climbed to the mountains does not wish to descend to earthly things, but always to persevere on high; and Peter stands in the person of those entering the kingdom of God. *It is good for us to be here.* It is good to be in the kingdom of God. As if he should say: We alone shall enjoy this light, not the envious Jews. *Three tabernacles.* That is, words, thoughts, works. *One for Moses.* How do they know those whom they had not seen before? By the majesty coming upon them, as in the resurrection to come each one will know the other, and the one will understand through charity the things desired in the other.
34 And as he spoke these things, there came a cloud and overshadowed them. And they were afraid when they entered into the cloud.
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VERS. 34.-- *There came a cloud, and overshadowed them.* Although Peter is ignorant out of weakness, yet the devotion of his service pleases. Whence also the cloud overshadows; this overshadowing is of the divine Spirit, which does not darken the affections of men, but reveals hidden things, whose perfect one is shown when the voice is heard saying: *This is my Son.* Because he sought a material tabernacle, he received the shade of a cloud, that he might learn that in the resurrection the saints are to be protected not by the covering of houses, but by the glory of the Holy Spirit. *And they were afraid.* They fear, because human frailty does not endure to bear the sight of a greater glory; and by how much the greater the things a man has sought, by so much the more does he sink down to lower things, if he has been ignorant of his own measure.
35 And a voice came out of the cloud; saying: This is my beloved son. Hear him.
36 And whilst the voice was uttered Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace and told no man in those days any of these things which they had seen.
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VERS. 36.-- *And the voice.* The voice of the Father, the terror being taken away, teaches Peter the truth. And note that, as when the Lord was baptized, so also when he was transfigured, the mystery of the Trinity is declared, because the glory which we confess in baptism we shall see in the resurrection. The Spirit in a dove, here in a bright cloud, because he who now keeps the faith with a simple heart will then contemplate in the open light of vision what he believed, and by that very grace by which he shall be illuminated he shall be protected. *Jesus was found alone.* Not Elias, not Moses, but he whom alone you see: for him the tabernacle must be fixed in the heart. They therefore withdraw when the Lord began to be pointed out, lest the Father's voice should be thought to have been sent to the servants.
37 And it came to pass the day following, when they came down from the mountain, there met him a great multitude.
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VERS. 37.-- *And it came to pass on the next day, as they came down from the mountain.* According to the quality of merits, the Lord daily ascends for some, while by lifting them up more loftily he glorifies the perfect, whose conversation is in heaven, and instructs and teaches them of eternal things which cannot be heard by the crowd. For others he descends, while he comforts and teaches and chastens the earthly and the beginners. *There met them a crowd.* On the mountain he prays, teaches, shows forth his majesty, opens the Father's voice to the apostles; coming down, he is received by the crowd, is beset by the weeping of the wretched, reproaches the sins of unbelief, drives out the evil spirits.
38 And behold a man among the crowd cried out, saying: Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son, because he is my only one.
39 And lo, a spirit seizeth him, and he suddenly crieth out, and he throweth him down and teareth him, so that he foameth; and bruising him, he hardly departeth from him.
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VERS. 39.-- *And behold a spirit seizeth him.* Matthew describes him as a lunatic, Mark as deaf and dumb. But it signifies those who are changed like the moon, never remaining in the same state, but who wax and wane through diverse vices, who neither confess the faith, nor are willing to hear the discourse of that faith.
40 And I desired thy disciples to cast him out: and they could not.
41 And Jesus, answering:, said: O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and suffer you? Bring hither thy son.
42 And as he was coming to him, the devil threw him down and tore him.
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VERS. 42.-- *And as he was coming.* While the boy draws near to the Lord he is dashed down, because those converted to the Lord are for the most part more grievously assailed by the demon, that either they may be brought back to vices, or that the devil may avenge himself for his own expulsion. As in the beginning of the Church's birth he set many and grievous struggles against those whom he saw being withdrawn from his kingdom.
43 And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and cured the boy and restored him to his father.
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VERS. 43.-- *And he rebuked.* Not the boy suffering violence, but the devil doing violence is rebuked, because he who wishes to heal a sinner ought to reprove and drive out the vice, but to cherish the man by loving him, until he render him healed to the spiritual fathers of the Church.
44 And all were astonished at the mighty power of God. But while all wondered at all the things he did, he said to his disciples: Lay you up in your hearts these words, for it shall come to pass that the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
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VERS. 44.-- *Lay you up.* You who cleave to my discipleship, to whom I have more openly disclosed my secrets, lay up in mind the issue of the precious blood by which the world is to be redeemed, while the rest wonder at such great deeds of the divine loftiness. *It shall come to pass that he be delivered.* Among the great works of the divine power he the more often repeats the abject things of his human passion, lest, coming suddenly, it should terrify, but that, thought upon beforehand, it may be more lightly borne.
45 But they understood not this word: and it was hid from them, so that they perceived it not. And they were afraid to ask him concerning this word.
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VERS. 45.-- *But they knew not.* This ignorance arises not so much from slowness as from love, because, being still carnal and ignorant of the mystery of the cross, they cannot believe that he whom they had known to be God was to die; but as they were accustomed to hear him speaking through figures, so also they thought that what he spoke concerning his own betrayal signified figuratively something else.
46 And there entered a thought into them, which of them should be greater.
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VERS. 46.-- *And a thought entered.* Because they had seen Peter and James and John led apart into the mountain, and that some secret had been delivered to them. And they thought that above the keys of the kingdom of heaven had been promised to Peter, and that the Church was to be built upon him; or that these three were set before the rest, or that Peter was set before all the apostles: or, because they had seen Peter made equal to the Lord himself in the payment of the tribute, they judged that he was to be preferred to the rest. But it must be known that this question was raised both before the tribute and after the tribute was paid.
47 But Jesus seeing the thoughts of their hearts, took a child and set him by him,
48 And said to them: Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me. For he that is the lesser among you all, he is the greater.
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VERS. 48.-- *Whosoever shall receive a child.* Or simply: he teaches that Christ's poor are to be received for his honour by those who wish to be greater. Or he teaches that they should be little ones in malice, that they may keep the simplicity of childish innocence, so that the form of virtue which a child observes under nature's leading they themselves may follow of set purpose for the name of Christ. *Receiveth me.* He who receives an imitator of Christ receives Christ, and he who receives the image of God receives God.
49 And John, answering, said: Master, we saw a certain man casting out devils in thy name: and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.
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VERS. 49.-- *John said.* John, loving God and beloved of the Lord, thinks that he is to be shut out from the benefit who does not use the service; therefore he is taught that no one is to be kept back from the good which he has in part, but is rather to be called forward to that which he has not yet. Such men are judged to be admitted even for the salvation of others. Therefore in heretics or in bad Catholics we ought to detest and forbid, not the sacraments held in common, in which they are with us and are not against us, but the division contrary to peace and to truth, by which they are against us and do not follow the Lord with us.
50 And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not: for he that is not against you is for you.
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VERS. 50.-- *Forbid not. For he that.* John is not reproved, because he acted out of love, but he is taught, that he may know that there is a distance between the weak and the strong, because the Lord, although he rewards the stronger, does not exclude the weak.
51 And it came to pass, when the days of his assumption were accomplishing, that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
52 And he sent messengers before his face: and going, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him.
53 And they received him not, because his face was of one going to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples, James and John, had seen this, they said: Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?
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VERS. 54.-- *Lord, wilt thou.* The apostles, still rude and ignorant of the measure of vengeance, etc., *as far as* such a power has been conferred by God upon holy men. *We say that fire come down from heaven.* At the word of these men fire would come down from heaven, because they are the sons of thunder. *And consume them? And turning he rebuked them and said.* In the likeness of Elias, who both by his own hand and by fire divinely obtained put the elders of Baal to death. And in this, that the apostles presume to themselves the power of such a prophet, it is shown that the merit of the prophets was in them. The apostles do not sin, who follow the law, etc., *as far as* he does not seek vengeance who does not fear.
55 And turning, he rebuked them, saying: you know not of what spirit you are.
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VERS. 55.-- *You know not of what spirit you are.* By whose spirit you have been sealed, whose deeds you imitate, now taking counsel mercifully, but in the future judging justly.
56 The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save. And they went into another town.
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VERS. 56.-- *The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save,* etc. Perfect virtue has no zeal for vengeance, nor is there any anger where there is the fulness of charity. Vengeance is not always to be taken upon those who sin, etc., *as far as* from whom in this place the fire is kept back.
57 And it came to pass, as they walked in the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
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VERS. 57.-- *A certain man said.* This man, moved by the greatness of the signs, wishes to follow, etc., *as far as* and he feigned the service of a disciple, which feigning is figured by the fox.
58 Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
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VERS. 58.-- *The foxes have holes.* The fox is a deceitful animal, intent upon ambushes, practising the robberies of fraud, dwelling in holes even amid the very lodgings of men: so the heretic, not having the house of faith, draws others into his own fraud and seduces them from the faith.
59 But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go and to bury my father.
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VERS. 59.-- *And he said to another.* Note that the Lord spurned not faults but frauds, because he who rejected the fraudulent man chose the innocent one; but him whose father he knew to be dead, that father of whom it is said: *Forget thy father's house*, etc.
60 And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
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VERS. 60.-- *Suffer that the dead.* Mystically. The son is not called back from his duty to his father, etc., *as far as* he ought not to bury the devil's treacheries in himself.
61 And another said: I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house.
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VERS. 61.-- *To take leave of those.* If a disciple about to follow God is rebuked because he wishes to take leave of his house, what will become of those who often, with no profit, visits the houses of their own people which they had forsaken.
62 Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.