Jesus transfigura-se
(Mc 9.2-13; Lc 9.28-36)
1Passados seis dias, Jesus levou Pedro, Tiago e seu irmão João ao cimo de um alto monte. Não havia ali mais ninguém. 2E o aspeto de Jesus mudou de tal maneira que o seu rosto brilhava como o Sol e as suas vestes ficaram de uma brancura deslumbrante. 3De súbito, Moisés e Elias apareceram e puseram-se a falar com ele. 4Pedro disse: “Senhor, que bom é estarmos aqui! Se quiseres, farei três tendas: uma para ti, outra para Moisés e outra para Elias!”
5Enquanto falava, uma nuvem brilhante desceu sobre eles e uma voz que dela saía disse: “Este é o meu Filho amado, em quem tenho grande prazer. Ouçam-no!” 6Ao ouvirem isto, os discípulos curvaram-se e inclinaram o rosto, muito assustados. 7Jesus aproximou-se e tocou-lhes. “Levantem-se, não tenham medo!” 8Quando tornaram a olhar, não viram mais ninguém, a não ser apenas o próprio Jesus.
9Enquanto desciam do monte, Jesus recomendou-lhes: “Não contem a ninguém o que viram até que o Filho do Homem ressuscite dos mortos.” 10E os discípulos perguntaram-lhe: “Então, porque é que os especialistas na Lei insistem que Elias deve vir antes?” 11Jesus respondeu: “Elias, de facto, vem para pôr tudo em ordem. 12Mas digo-vos: Elias já veio e fizeram dele tudo o que quiseram. Do mesmo modo, também o Filho do Homem será maltratado às mãos deles.” 13Então os discípulos perceberam que se referia a João Batista.
A cura do rapaz endemoninhado
(Mc 9.14-29; Lc 9.37-42)
14Quando chegaram junto da multidão, um homem ajoelhou-se diante dele e disse: 15“Senhor, tem misericórdia do meu filho que tem ataques e anda em grande aflição, pois muitas vezes cai no lume e muitas outras na água. 16Já o trouxe aos teus discípulos, mas não conseguiram curá-lo.”
17Jesus respondeu: “Ó povo sem fé e obstinado! Até quando terei de andar convosco? Até quando terei de suportar-vos? Tragam-me cá o rapaz!” 18Jesus repreendeu o demónio que estava dentro do rapaz e ele deixou-o, ficando bom a partir daquele momento.
19Os discípulos perguntaram a Jesus, quando já estavam a sós: “Porque não conseguimos expulsar aquele demónio?”
20“Por causa da vossa pouca fé. É realmente como vos digo: se tivessem fé como um grão de mostarda, poderiam dizer a este monte: ‘Sai daqui!’, e ela sairia. Nada vos seria impossível. 21Porém, esta casta de demónios não sai senão à força de oração e jejum.”
Jesus fala outra vez da sua morte e ressurreição
(Mc 9.30-32; Lc 9.43-45)
22Um dia, estavam ainda na Galileia, Jesus disse-lhes: “O Filho do Homem vai ser entregue nas mãos dos homens, 23hão de matá-lo mas, ao terceiro dia, ressuscitará.” E os discípulos encheram-se de tristeza.
O imposto do templo
24Ao chegarem a Cafarnaum, os cobradores de impostos do templo procuraram Pedro e perguntaram-lhe: “O vosso mestre não paga impostos?” 25Ele respondeu: “Claro que paga!”
Entrando em casa para discutir o assunto com Jesus, antes que Pedro começasse a falar, Jesus perguntou-lhe: “Que achas, Simão? Os reis lançam impostos sobre o seu povo ou sobre os estrangeiros?” 26Pedro respondeu: “Sobre os estrangeiros.”
Jesus continuou: “Se assim é, os nacionais não têm de pagar. 27Contudo, não vamos contrariá-los. Vai ao mar, lança a linha e abre a boca do primeiro peixe que apanhares. Encontrarás uma moeda que vale o bastante para pagar o imposto por ambos; leva-a e paga-lhes.”
Jesus’ Appearance Is Changed
1After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James with him. He led them up a high mountain. They were all alone. 2There in front of them his appearance was changed. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then Moses and Elijah appeared in front of them. Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus.
4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!”
6When the disciples heard this, they were terrified. They fell with their faces to the ground. 7But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9They came down the mountain. On the way down, Jesus told them what to do. “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen,” he said. “Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10The disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?”
11Jesus replied, “That’s right. Elijah is supposed to come and make all things new again. 12But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People didn’t recognize him. They have done to him everything they wanted to do. In the same way, they are going to make the Son of Man suffer.” 13Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Boy Who Is Controlled by a Demon
14When they came near the crowd, a man approached Jesus. He got on his knees in front of him. 15“Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son. He shakes wildly and suffers a great deal. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16I brought him to your disciples. But they couldn’t heal him.”
17“You unbelieving and evil people!” Jesus replied. “How long do I have to stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18Jesus ordered the demon to leave the boy, and it came out of him. He was healed at that moment.
19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private. They asked, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?”
20-21He replied, “Because your faith is much too small. What I’m about to tell you is true. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough. You can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there.’ And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus Speaks a Second Time About His Coming Death
22They came together in Galilee. Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men. 23They will kill him. On the third day he will rise from the dead.” Then the disciples were filled with deep sadness.
Jesus Pays the Temple Tax
24Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum. There the people who collect the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25“Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “Who do the kings of the earth collect taxes and fees from? Do they collect them from their own children or from others?”
26“From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children don’t have to pay,” Jesus said to him. 27“But we don’t want to make them angry. So go to the lake and throw out your fishing line. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth. There you will find the exact coin you need. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
