nk the cup that I am to drink and be
baptized with my baptism, but to sit on my right hand and on my left is
not mine to give; for it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten other disciples heard this request, they were at first
angry with James and John, but Jesus called them to him and said, "You
know that those who are rulers in foreign countries lord it over those
under them, and their great men have authority over them; but it is not
so among you. Whoever wishes to be great among you must serve you, and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be ready to be the servant of
all. For I did not come to be served but to be of service to others, and
to give my life so as to secure freedom for many."

Then he took a little child and set him in their midst. And taking him
in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives a little child like
this, in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me receives not only
me, but God who sent me. Whoever gives one of these little ones even a
cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple will, I tell you,
not lose his reward.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and with him all the angels, he
will sit upon his glorious throne, and all people shall be gathered
before him. And he will separate them one from another as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats, placing the sheep on his right hand
and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you whom my Father
has blessed, enter into possession of the kingdom prepared for you since
the creation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I
was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in
prison and you came to me.'

"Then the upright will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you? Or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger
and welcome you? Or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or
in prison and come to you?' The King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to
you, as you have done it even to the least of these my brothers, you
have done it to me.'"

GOD'S LOVE EVEN FOR SINNERS

Because tax-gathers and sinners kept coming to Jesus to hear him, the
Pharisees and scribes complained, "This man welcomes sinners and even
eats with them!" So he told them this story: "What man of you, if he has
a hundred sheep and lose