Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
May 2 - St Athanasius (295-373)
St Athanasius Bishop and doctor of the Church: Born in 295. Buried on this day in 373 at Alexandria (Egypt). Attended the first ecumenical council of Nicaea as a deacon. Later, as bishop of Alexandria, he upheld that council’s doctrine in the face of opposition from Arians, including several emperors. Sent into exile a number of times. Venerated as the "Father of Orthodoxy" for championing the true and equal divinity of the incarnate Son of God.
Seen in the West as defender of orthodox doctrine about Jesus and the Trinity, St Athanasius is valued in the East more for his ascetic and mystical writings. A friend of the hermits Ss Antony and of Pachomius who first organised monks to live in common, Athanasius was himself exiled four times, but died peacefully at Alexandria the age of seventy seven in the year 373.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Patriarch at 32
Born in Alexandria, while still a deacon Athanasius had been secretary and companion to his predecessor, Alexander, at the Council of Nicea 325, when the Arian heresy was condemned. When Alexander died in 328, Athanasius became patriarch in Alexandria. Some extremist followers of Athanasius attacked and killed some Arian dissenters in the city. Although not personally involved, Athanasius was exiled by the Emperor Constantine to Trier (in Germany).
Often in exile
It wasn't until after Constantine's death in 337 that Athanasius was able to return to Alexandria, and even then he had a lot of opposition to contend with. He made extensive pastoral visits through his patriarchate, striving to improve the spiritual life of his people through preaching and spiritual writing. Monks and nuns were many. But in 356 there was a fresh outbreak of Arianism supported by Constantius, Constantine's son, and Athanasius had to flee Alexandria for three further periods - from 339-346 in Rome and twice (356-61, 362-3) in country districts near Alexandria. Only for the last seven years of his life did he have peaceful charge of his church.
His writings
Athanasius's basic theological works are Against the Arians and On the Incarnation. His Against the Arians is a work of controversial theology. His Life of St Antony had a great influence on western monasticism and became a model of hagiography in the Middle Ages. His Festal Letters, directed to his community to prepare them for Easter, were discovered in a Syrian translation in Egypt in the mid 19th century. The 39th Festal Letter is the earliest source we have for what came to be known as the Canon of Scripture, that is, the books the Church regards as inspired and canonical and so authoritative.
Death and influence
Athanasius's emblem shows a stole draped over a triangle symbolising his office as bishop and his defence of orthodox doctrine on the Trinity. His ascetical writings promoted the ideals of monasticism and virginity as effective means of restoring the divine image in fallen humanity. Despite having spent so much of his life in exile, he died peacefully at Alexandria in 373. With Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen and John Chryostom he is invoked and honoured in iconography as one of the four doctors of the Eastern Church.
Seen in the West as defender of orthodox doctrine about Jesus and the Trinity, St Athanasius is valued in the East more for his ascetic and mystical writings. A friend of the hermits Ss Antony and of Pachomius who first organised monks to live in common, Athanasius was himself exiled four times, but died peacefully at Alexandria the age of seventy seven in the year 373.Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Patriarch at 32
Born in Alexandria, while still a deacon Athanasius had been secretary and companion to his predecessor, Alexander, at the Council of Nicea 325, when the Arian heresy was condemned. When Alexander died in 328, Athanasius became patriarch in Alexandria. Some extremist followers of Athanasius attacked and killed some Arian dissenters in the city. Although not personally involved, Athanasius was exiled by the Emperor Constantine to Trier (in Germany).
Often in exile
It wasn't until after Constantine's death in 337 that Athanasius was able to return to Alexandria, and even then he had a lot of opposition to contend with. He made extensive pastoral visits through his patriarchate, striving to improve the spiritual life of his people through preaching and spiritual writing. Monks and nuns were many. But in 356 there was a fresh outbreak of Arianism supported by Constantius, Constantine's son, and Athanasius had to flee Alexandria for three further periods - from 339-346 in Rome and twice (356-61, 362-3) in country districts near Alexandria. Only for the last seven years of his life did he have peaceful charge of his church.His writings
Athanasius's basic theological works are Against the Arians and On the Incarnation. His Against the Arians is a work of controversial theology. His Life of St Antony had a great influence on western monasticism and became a model of hagiography in the Middle Ages. His Festal Letters, directed to his community to prepare them for Easter, were discovered in a Syrian translation in Egypt in the mid 19th century. The 39th Festal Letter is the earliest source we have for what came to be known as the Canon of Scripture, that is, the books the Church regards as inspired and canonical and so authoritative.
Death and influence
Athanasius's emblem shows a stole draped over a triangle symbolising his office as bishop and his defence of orthodox doctrine on the Trinity. His ascetical writings promoted the ideals of monasticism and virginity as effective means of restoring the divine image in fallen humanity. Despite having spent so much of his life in exile, he died peacefully at Alexandria in 373. With Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen and John Chryostom he is invoked and honoured in iconography as one of the four doctors of the Eastern Church.
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Memorable Saying for Today
We cannot all do great things,
but we can do small things with great love.”
~ Mother Teresa ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 2nd May, 2026
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Prayer in the name of Jesus draws us closer to his ways, thoughts and desires.
Saint of the Day: 2 May ; St Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church
C/f A short life of be this saint can found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13:44-52
We must turn to the nations.
The next sabbath almost the whole town of Antioch assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly.
'We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said: I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth."
It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 97: 1-4. r/v 3
Response All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Or Alleluia!
1. Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation. Response
2. The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel. Response
3. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy. Response
Gospel Acclamation Rom 6:9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again.
Death has no power over him any more.
Alleluia!
or Jn 8:31.32
Alleluia, alleluia!
If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples,
and you will learn the truth, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
reading from the holy Gospel according to John 14:7-14 Glory to you, O Lord
To have seen me is to have seen the Father.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.'
Philip said, 'Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.'
'Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him 'and you still do not know me?'
'To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, "Let us see the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
'I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Reflection Saturday, Fourth Week of Easter John 14:7-14
You often hear parents say to children, ‘you are never satisfied’. There is a sense in which that is probably true of all of us. We are never satisfied. Saint Augustine said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. In today’s gospel reading, Philip is clearly not satisfied. He says to Jesus, ‘Lord, let us see the Father, and then we shall be satisfied’. He understood that it is only in seeing God that all the longings of his heart would be satisfied. Jesus replies to Philip’s words with the statement, ‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father’. Jesus reveals the Father; he is the way to the Father.
We won’t see God the Father in this life, but God has sent us his Son. Although we cannot see Jesus in the way Philip and the other disciples saw him, we can see him with the eyes of faith in this life. We can see him in his Word, in the Eucharist, in the other Sacraments, and in each other. Such ‘seeing’ of the Lord won’t fully satisfy us but it gives us a glimpse of what awaits us. As we journey towards our seeing of the Lord ‘face to face’, we try to heed the invitation of the letter to the Hebrews, ‘let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith’.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day: 2 May ; St Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church
Athanasius was born in 295 and buried on this day in 373 at Alexandria (Egypt). Attended the first ecumenical council of Nicaea as a deacon. Later, as bishop of Alexandria, he upheld that council’s doctrine in the face of opposition from Arians, including several emperors. Sent into exile a number of times. Venerated as the "Father of Orthodoxy" for championing the true and equal divinity of the incarnate Son of God.
Seen in the West as defender of orthodox doctrine about Jesus and the Trinity, St Athanasius is valued in the East more for his ascetic and mystical writings. A friend of the hermits Ss Antony and of Pachomius who first organised monks to live in common, Athanasius was himself exiled four times, but died peacefully at Alexandria the age of seventy seven in the year 373.Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Patriarch at 32
Born in Alexandria, while still a deacon Athanasius had been secretary and companion to his predecessor, Alexander, at the Council of Nicea 325, when the Arian heresy was condemned. When Alexander died in 328, Athanasius became patriarch in Alexandria. Some extremist followers of Athanasius attacked and killed some Arian dissenters in the city. Although not personally involved, Athanasius was exiled by the Emperor Constantine to Trier (in Germany).
Often in exile
It wasn't until after Constantine's death in 337 that Athanasius was able to return to Alexandria and even then he had a lot of opposition to contend with. He made extensive pastoral visits through his patriarchate, striving to improve the spiritual life of his people through preaching and spiritual writing. Monks and nuns were many. But in 356 there was a fresh outbreak of Arianism supported by Constantius, Constantine's son, and Athanasius had to flee Alexandria for three further periods - from 339-346 in Rome and twice (356-61, 362-3) in country districts near Alexandria. Only for the last seven years of his life did he have peaceful charge of his church.His writings
Athanasius's basic theological works are Against the Arians and On the Incarnation.
His 'Against the Arians' is a work of controversial theology.
His 'Life of St Antony' had a great influence on western monasticism and became a model of hagiography in the Middle Ages.
His 'Festal Letters', directed to his community to prepare them for Easter, were discovered in a Syrian translation in Egypt in the mid 19th century. The 39th 'Festal Lette' is the earliest source we have for what came to be known as the Canon of Scripture, that is, the books the Church regards as inspired and canonical and so authoritative.
Death and Influence
Athanasius's emblem shows a stole draped over a triangle symbolising his office as bishop and his defence of orthodox doctrine on the Trinity. His ascetical writings promoted the ideals of monasticism and virginity as effective means of restoring the divine image in fallen humanity. Despite having spent so much of his life in exile, he died peacefully at Alexandria in 373.
With Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen and John Chryostom he is invoked and honoured in iconography as one of the four doctors of the Eastern Church.
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Memorable Saying for Today
We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
~ Mother Teresa ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 2nd May, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 13:44-52
Táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach.
Ar an tsabóid dár gcionn tháinig an chathair ar fad beagnach le chéile ag éisteacht le briathar Dé. Nuair a chonaic na Giúdaigh na sluaite daoine, bhí siad lán d’fhormad agus bhréagnaigh siad go tarcaisniúil gach a raibh á rá ag Pól. Ach dúirt Pól agus Barnabas leo go neamhbhalbh:
“Is daoibhse ab éigean briathar Dé a labhairt ar dtús; ach ós rud é go bhfuil sibh ag cur suas de agus gur dóigh libh féin nach fiú sibh an bheatha shíoraí a bheith agaibh, táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach. Mar sin é an t-ordú atá faighte ón Tiarna againn: ‘Tá tú ceaptha agam le bheith i do sholas do na náisiúin, ionas go mbeidh tú i d’ábhar slánaithe go himeall an domhain.’”
Bhí áthas ar na págánaigh an méid sin a chloisteáil agus bhí ardmholadh acu ar bhriathar an Tiarna; agus an méid acu a bhí réamhcheaptha don bheatha shíoraí, ghlac siad an creideamh, agus bhí briathar Dé á fhógairt go forleathan ar fud na tíre go léir.Ach rinne na Giúdaigh séideadh faoi mhná uaisle diaganta na cathrach agus faoi na cinn urra, thosaigh siad ar ghéarleanúint a dhéanamh ar Phól agus ar Bharnabas agus thiomáin amach as an dúiche iad. Chroith siadsan an deannach dá gcosa orthu agus as go brách leo go hIocoiniam. Agus bhí na deisceabail lán d’áthas agus den Spiorad Naomh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 97: 1-4. r/v 3
Freagra Chonaic críocha uile na cruinneslánú ár nDé.
Malairt freagra Alleluia!
1. Canaigí amhrán úr don Tiarna, óir rinne sé éachtaí.
Le neart a dheasláimhe is a chuisle naofa, rug sé bua dó féin. Freagra
2. D’fhoilsigh an Tiarna a shlánú; nocht sé a fhíréantacht do na náisiúin.
Chuimhnigh sé ar a bhuanghrá agus a dhílse do theaghlach Iosrael. Freagra
3. Chonaic críocha uile na cruinne slánú ár nDé.
Gairdigí sa Tiarna a thíortha uile, agus nochtaigí bhur n-áthas dó. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14:7-14 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Dá mbeadh aithne agaibh ormsa, d’aithneodh sibh m’Athair chomh maith.
Tá aithne agaibh air feasta, agus tá radharc faighte agaibh air.”
Dúirt Pilib leis: “A Thiarna, taispeáin dúinn an tAthair agus is leor dúinn sin.”
Dúirt Íosa leis: “An bhfuilim an fad sin aimsire, a Philib, in bhur measc agus gan aithne agat orm?
An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair.
Conas, mar sin, a deir tú: ‘Taispeáin dúinn an tAthair’?
Nach gcreideann tú go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa?
Na briathra a labhraímse libh, ní uaim féin a labhraím iad,
ach an tAthair atá ina chónaí ionamsa, eisean a dhéanann na hoibreacha.
Creidigí uaimse é go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa.
Nó murab é sin, creidigí mar gheall ar na hoibreacha féin.
Amen, Amen, a deirim libh, an té a chreideann ionamsa, na hoibreacha a dhéanaimse, déanfaidh seisean iad chomh maith,agus déanfaidh sé oibreacha is mó ná iad; mar táimse ag dul chun an Athar. Cibé ní a iarrfaidh sibh i m’ainm déanfaidh mé é, i dtreo go dtabharfaí glóir don Athair tríd an Mac. Má iarrann sibh aon ní orm i m’ainm, déanfaidh mé é.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 3rd May, 2026
Fifth Sunday of Easter
No one can come to the Father except through Christ. Working together in love,
all God’s people can build up the kingdom in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our high priest.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7
They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit
About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution t
heir own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them,'It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food. You, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word'.
The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 32: 1-2. 4-5, 18-19. R/v 22
Response May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you.
Or Alleluia!
1. Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp, with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. Response
2. For the word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love. Response
3. The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 2:4-9
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood
He is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood
that offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God, may be living stones making a spiritual house. As scripture says: See how I lay in Zion a precious cornerstone that I have chosen and the man who rests his trust on it will not be disappointed. That means that for you who are believers, it is precious; but for unbelievers, the stone rejected by the builders has proved to be the keystone, a stone to stumble over, a rock to bring men down. They stumble over it because they do not believe in the word; it was the fate in store for them.But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 6
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said: 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to John 14:1-12
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus said to his disciples
'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.'Thomas said, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'
Jesus said:
'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.'Philip said, 'Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied'. 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him 'and you still do not know me? ' 'To have seen me is to have seen the, Father, so how can you say, "Let us see the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
'I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 3rd May, 2026
An Cúigiú Domhnach den Cháisc
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 6:1-7
Thogh siad seacht bhfear a bhí lán den Spiorad Naomh.
Sna laethanta sin, mar go raib líon na ndeisceabal ag méadú, thosaigh na Heilléanaigh ag casaoid ar na hEabhraigh faoi go raibh faillí á dhéanamh ar a mbaintreacha féin sa fhriothálamh laethúil. Dá chionn sin ghlaoigh an dáréag chucu na deisceabail go léir in éineacht agus labhair leo:“Ní dóigh linn,” ar siad, “go mba cheart dúinne briathar Dé a fhágáil chun dul ag freastal ag boird. Dá bhrí sin, a bhráithre, déanaigí seachtar fear creidiúnach agaibh féin a thoghadh, fir a bheidh lán den Spiorad agus den eagna, go gcuirfimis i mbun an chúraim seo. Agus leanfaimidne den urnaí agus de sheirbhís an bhriathair.”
Bhí an slua iomlán sásta leis an moladh sin agus roghnaigh siad na daoine seo a leanas: Stiofán, fear a bhí lán de chreideamh agus den Spiorad Naomh, Pilib agus Prochonór, Níocanór agus Tiomón, Parmanas agus Nioclás, léivíteach ó Aintíoch. Thug siad i láthair na n-aspal iad, agus tar éis dóibh sin urnaí a dhéanamh leag siad a lámha orthu.
De réir mar a leath briathar Dé, chuaigh líon na ndeisceabal in Iarúsailéim i méad as cuimse, agus ghlac buíon mhór de na sagairt féin leis an gcreideamh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 32: 1-2. 4-5, 18-19. R/v 22
Freagra Tabhair dúinn do bhuanghrá, a Thiarna,
de réir an dóchais a chuirimid ionat.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia,
I. Déanaigí gairdeas sa Tiarna, a fhíréana; is cóir go molfadh daoine dílse é.
Molaigí an Tiarna ar an gcruit, ceolaigí dó ar an gcláirseach dheichthéadach. Freagra
2. Óir is dílis é briathar an Tiarna, agus is iontaofa a obair uile.
Is ionúin leis an chóir is an ceart; tá an talamh lán de bhuanghrá an Tiarna. Freagra
3. Féach, tá súile an Tiarna ar lucht a eaglaithe, orthu sin a chuireann a ndóchas ina bhuanghrá,
chun go bhfuadódh sé a n-anamacha ón mbás, is go gcothódh sé iad in am an ghorta. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Peadar 2:4-9
Is cine tofa sibh, sagartacht ríoga.
A clann ionúin, druidigí ina aice, os é an chloch bheo é dár dhiúltaigh daoine, ach ar tofa luachmhar i láthair Dé í; agus tógtar sibhse féin, faoi
mar ba bheochlocha sibh, in bhur n-áras spioradálta, le bheith in bhur sagartacht naofa le híobairtí spioradálta taitneamhacha a ofráil do Dhia trí Íosa Críost. Uime sin tá seo sa scrioptúr:“Féach, tá cloch á leagan agam i Síón, cloch chúinne thofa luachmhar. An té a chreidfidh inti, ní chuirfear díomá air.” Daoibhse dá bhrí sin a chreideann, is luachmhar í, ach dóibh siúd nach gcreideann: “An chloch dár dhiúltaigh na saoir, rinneadh ceann an chúinne di,” agus “ceap tuisle agus carraig scannail.” Baintear tuisle astu mar nach ngéilleann siad don bhriathar; agus is mar sin a bhí ceaptha dóibh.
Ach is cine tofa sibhse, sagartacht ríoga, muintir naofa, pobal a cuireadh ar leithrigh, le go bhfógródh sibh éachtaí an té sin a ghlaoigh as an dorchadas amach oraibh chun a sholais iontaigh féin.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 14: 6
Alleluia, alleluia!
'Is mise an tSlí, an Fhírinne agus an Bheatha,' a deir an Tiarna:
'Ní thagann aon duine go dtí an tAthair ach tríomsa.'
Alleluia! alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14:1-12 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is cine tofa sibh, sagartacht ríoga.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Ná bíodh buaireamh ar bhur gcroí:
creideann sibh i nDia; creidigí ionamsa leis. Is iomaí áras i dteach m’Athar. Mura mbeadh, d’inseoinn daoibh é.Óir táim ag dul ag cur áite i gcóir daoibh,
agus má théim agus áit a chur i gcóir daoibh,
tiocfaidh mé arís agus tógfaidh mé sibh chugam féin;
i dtreo, an áit ina mbeidh mise, go mbeidh sibhse chomh maith.
Tá eolas na slí agaibh mar a bhfuilim ag dul.”
Dúirt Tomás leis: “A Thiarna, ní eol dúinn cá bhfuil tú ag dul agus cén chaoi is féidir
dúinn eolas na slí a bheith againn?”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
“Is mise an tslí, an fhírinne agus an bheatha. Ní thagann aon duine go dtí an tAthair ach tríomsa. Dá mbeadh aithne agaibh ormsa, d’aithneodh sibh m’Athair chomh maith.
Tá aithne agaibh air feasta, agus tá radharc faighte agaibh air.”
Dúirt Pilib leis: “A Thiarna, taispeáin dúinn an tAthair agus is leor dúinn sin.”
Dúirt Íosa leis: “An bhfuilim an fad sin aimsire, a Philib, in bhur measc agus gan aithne agat orm? An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair. Conas, mar sin, a deir tú:‘ Taispeáin dúinn an tAthair’?
Nach gcreideann tú go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa?
Na briathra a labhraímse libh, ní uaim féin a labhraím iad, ach an tAthair atá ina chónaí ionamsa, eisean a dhéanann na hoibreacha. Creidigí uaimse é go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa. Nó murab é sin, creidigí mar gheall ar na hoibreacha féin.
Amen, Amen, a deirim libh, an té a chreideann ionamsa, na hoibreacha a dhéanaimse, déanfaidh seisean iad chomh maith, agus déanfaidh sé oibreacha is mó ná iad; mar táimse ag dul chun an Athar.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
