Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Mar 24 - St Macartan of Clogher (d.506)
Summary: St Macartan, convert,A Tréanfhear (strongman) of St Patrick,became bishop of the Diocese of Clogher.
Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.
St Macartan (Aedh MacCairthinn) was a convert from paganism. He is said to have gone south from his home in the north to hear St Patrick preach and that their first meeting took place at Drumlease, near Dromahair, County Leitrim. Soon Patrick baptised him and Macartan became Patrick's companion and bodyguard. Because of this, he became known as the "strong man" (tréanfhear) of Patrick. When Patrick became worn out by his labours, Macartan would carry him on his broad shoulders across rivers and over rough ground.
Bishop of Clogher
An ancient life of St Macartan tells the story that as Patrick was crossing a stream at the druidic stronghold of Clogher, Macartan, his strong man, groaned exclaiming: "Ugh! Ugh!" "Upon my good word," said Patrick, "it has become usual with you now to be making that noise." "I am now old and infirm," said Macartan, "and all my early companions in mission-work you have settled down in their respective churches, while I am still travelling." "Found a church then," said Patrick, "that shall not be too near us (at Armagh) for familiarity, nor too far from us for communication."
And that is how Patrick made Macartan bishop of Clogher.
The Diocese
Macartan preached the gospel in Tyrone and Fermanagh. He died in the year 506 from natural causes and is thought to have been buried at Clogher, in Co Tyrone. There are two cathedrals of the Church of Ireland in the Clogher diocese - one in Clogher village and one in Enniskillen. In post-Emancipation times, a great Catholic cathedral designed by architect J. J. McCarthy was built high on a hill above Monaghan town between 1864 and 1892. The diocese of Clogher of which St Macartan is the patron, includes County Monaghan, most of County Fermanagh and portions of Counties Tyrone, Donegal, Louth and Cavan.
The Golden Stone (Cloch-Ór)
The Cloch-Ór (Golden Stone), from which this ancient diocese takes its name, may have been a ceremonial or oracle stone originally covered in gold sacred to the druids, and called the Cermand Cestach. It is said to have been given to Macartan by an old pagan noble, who had harassed him in every possible way until the saint's patient love won the local ruler to the faith. The stone is preserved till today inside the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Clogher village, Co Tyrone.
The Domhnach Airgid
Patrick is also reputed to have left a reliquary called the Great Shrine of St Macartan containing a fragment of the True Cross, known as the Domhnach Airgid. This is now preserved in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
'Fortis et Fidelis'
The spirituality of Macartan is evoked in the crest and motto of the diocesan secondary school for boys on the outskirts of Monaghan town. The crest is a cross and Celtic shield and, underneath, the motto of the college, 'Fortis et fidelis,' recalls St Paul's advice in 1 Cor 16:13: "Be firm in the faith, brave and strong". The words occur in one of the last letters of Father Cornelius Tierney, a former student and priest-teacher in St. Macartan's, and later a Columban missionary who died a prisoner of Communist guerillas in China in 1931.
Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.
St Macartan (Aedh MacCairthinn) was a convert from paganism. He is said to have gone south from his home in the north to hear St Patrick preach and that their first meeting took place at Drumlease, near Dromahair, County Leitrim. Soon Patrick baptised him and Macartan became Patrick's companion and bodyguard. Because of this, he became known as the "strong man" (tréanfhear) of Patrick. When Patrick became worn out by his labours, Macartan would carry him on his broad shoulders across rivers and over rough ground.
Bishop of Clogher
An ancient life of St Macartan tells the story that as Patrick was crossing a stream at the druidic stronghold of Clogher, Macartan, his strong man, groaned exclaiming: "Ugh! Ugh!" "Upon my good word," said Patrick, "it has become usual with you now to be making that noise." "I am now old and infirm," said Macartan, "and all my early companions in mission-work you have settled down in their respective churches, while I am still travelling." "Found a church then," said Patrick, "that shall not be too near us (at Armagh) for familiarity, nor too far from us for communication."
And that is how Patrick made Macartan bishop of Clogher.
The Diocese
Macartan preached the gospel in Tyrone and Fermanagh. He died in the year 506 from natural causes and is thought to have been buried at Clogher, in Co Tyrone. There are two cathedrals of the Church of Ireland in the Clogher diocese - one in Clogher village and one in Enniskillen. In post-Emancipation times, a great Catholic cathedral designed by architect J. J. McCarthy was built high on a hill above Monaghan town between 1864 and 1892. The diocese of Clogher of which St Macartan is the patron, includes County Monaghan, most of County Fermanagh and portions of Counties Tyrone, Donegal, Louth and Cavan.
The Golden Stone (Cloch-Ór)The Cloch-Ór (Golden Stone), from which this ancient diocese takes its name, may have been a ceremonial or oracle stone originally covered in gold sacred to the druids, and called the Cermand Cestach. It is said to have been given to Macartan by an old pagan noble, who had harassed him in every possible way until the saint's patient love won the local ruler to the faith. The stone is preserved till today inside the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Clogher village, Co Tyrone.
The Domhnach AirgidPatrick is also reputed to have left a reliquary called the Great Shrine of St Macartan containing a fragment of the True Cross, known as the Domhnach Airgid. This is now preserved in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
'Fortis et Fidelis'
The spirituality of Macartan is evoked in the crest and motto of the diocesan secondary school for boys on the outskirts of Monaghan town. The crest is a cross and Celtic shield and, underneath, the motto of the college, 'Fortis et fidelis,' recalls St Paul's advice in 1 Cor 16:13: "Be firm in the faith, brave and strong". The words occur in one of the last letters of Father Cornelius Tierney, a former student and priest-teacher in St. Macartan's, and later a Columban missionary who died a prisoner of Communist guerillas in China in 1931.
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Memorable Saying for Today
When we encounter suffering,
we can either lean in or look away.
Looking away is never really an option —
because love always leans in.”
~ Jimmy Mellado ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 24th March, 2026
Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Lent
Jesus lifted up on the cross and later in glory as a sign of God's love for us,
Saint of the Day : March 24th; St Macartan, convert, (strongman) of St Patrick, bishop of Clogher.
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Numbers 21:4-9
If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.
The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom.
On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, 'Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness?
For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.'
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses,
'We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you.
Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.'
Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him,
'Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.'
So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard,
and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 101: 2-3. 16-21. R/v 2
Response O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you.
1. O Lord, listen to my prayer and let my cry for help reach you.
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear towards me and answer me quickly when I call. Response
2. The nations shall fear the name of the Lord and all the earth's kings your glory,
when the Lord shall build up Zion again and appear in all his glory.
Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless; he will not despise their prayers. Response
3. Let this be written for ages to come that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;
for the Lord leaned down from his sanctuary on high. He looked down from heaven to the earth
that he might hear the groans of the prisoners and free those condemned to die. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 8:12
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Or
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 8:21-30 Glory to you, O Lord
When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He.
Jesus said to the Pharisees
'I am going away; you will look for me and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.'
The Jews said to one another, 'Will he kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, "Where I am going, you cannot come"?
Jesus went on:
'You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.I have told you already: You will die in your sins. Yes, if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.'
So they said to him, 'Who are you?'
Jesus answered: 'What I have told you from the outset.
About you I have much to say and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is truthful, and what I have learnt from him I declare to the world.'
They failed to understand that he was talking to them about the Father.
So Jesus said:
'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He
and that I do nothing of myself: what the Father has taught me is what I preach;
he who sent me is with me, and has not left me to myself, for I always do what pleases him.'
As he was saying this, many came to believe in him.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection Tuesday, Fifth Week of Lent John 8:21-30
We are getting ever closer to Holy Week. The gospel readings begin to look ahead to the final journey of Jesus in his passion and death. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks about him being lifted up. In John’s gospel, when Jesus speaks about being lifted up it is a reference both to his being lifted up on the cross and his being lifted up in glory, his resurrection. Jesus declares, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he’. Jesus is declaring there that it is his death and resurrection that reveals his full identity as God’s beloved Son, God in human form. Jesus reveals God most fully in his death and resurrection. In that moment when he is lifted up, he reveals God to be Love.
It is Jesus’ death and resurrection that allows us to say that God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. When we look upon Jesus lifted up, crucified and risen, we see the face of God as love. I like those images of Jesus on the cross that have a glorious element to them. The cross of San Damiano in Assisi is one example of such a depiction of Jesus on the cross. It is the cross before which Saint Francis was praying when he heard the Lord speak to him, calling him to rebuild his church. Like Saint Francis, we are invited to look upon the Lord lifted up on the cross and lifted up in glory. If we do so, he will speak to us too. He might even ask us to help us rebuild his church! We will certainly experience him as God’s love in human form.
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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 Reflections on the Weekday Readings : Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day : March 24th; St Macartan, convert, A Tréanfhear (a strongman) to St Patrick,
bishop of the Diocese of Clogher.
Patrick Duffy tells what is known about him.
St Macartan (Aedh MacCairthinn) was a convert from paganism. He is said to have gone south from his home in the north to hear St Patrick preach and that their first meeting took place at Drumlease, near Dromahair, County Leitrim. Soon Patrick baptised him and Macartan became Patrick's companion and bodyguard. Because of this, he became known as the "strong man" (tréanfhear) of Patrick. When Patrick became worn out by his labours, Macartan would carry him on his broad shoulders across rivers and over rough ground.
Bishop of Clogher
An ancient life of St Macartan tells the story that as Patrick was crossing a stream at the druidic stronghold of Clogher, Macartan, his strong man, groaned exclaiming: "Ugh! Ugh!"
"Upon my good word," said Patrick, "it has become usual with you now to be making that noise."
"I am now old and infirm," said Macartan, "and all my early companions in mission-work you have settled down in their respective churches, while I am still travelling."
"Found a church then," said Patrick, "that shall not be too near us (at Armagh) for familiarity, nor too far from us for communication." And that is how St Patrick made Macartan bishop of Clogher.
The Diocese
Macartan preached the gospel in Tyrone and Fermanagh. He died in the year 506 from natural causes and is thought to have been buried at Clogher, in Co Tyrone. There are two cathedrals of the Church of Ireland in the Clogher diocese - one in Clogher village and one in Enniskillen.
In post-Emancipation times, a great Catholic cathedral designed by architect J. J. McCarthy was built high on a hill above Monaghan town between 1864 and 1892. The diocese of Clogher of which St Macartan is the patron, includes County Monaghan, most of County Fermanagh and portions of Counties Tyrone, Donegal, Louth and Cavan.
The Golden Stone (Cloch-Ór)The Cloch-Ór (Golden Stone), from which this ancient diocese takes its name, may have been a ceremonial or oracle stone originally covered in gold sacred to the druids, and called the Cermand Cestach. It is said to have been given to Macartan by an old pagan noble, who had harassed him in every possible way until the saint's patient love won the local ruler to the faith. The stone is preserved till today inside the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Clogher village, Co Tyrone.
The Domhnach AirgidPatrick is also reputed to have left a reliquary called the Great Shrine of St Macartan containing a fragment of the True Cross, known as the Domhnach Airgid. This is now preserved in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
'Fortis et Fidelis'
The spirituality of Macartan is evoked in the crest and motto of the diocesan secondary school for boys on the outskirts of Monaghan town. The crest is a cross and Celtic shield and, underneath, the motto of the college, 'Fortis et fidelis,' recalls St Paul's advice in 1 Cor 16:13: "Be firm in the faith, brave and strong". The words occur in one of the last letters of Father Cornelius Tierney, a former student and priest-teacher in St. Macartan's, and later a Columban missionary who died a prisoner of Communist guerillas in China in 1931.
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Memorable Saying for Today
When we encounter suffering, we can either lean in or look away.
Looking away is never really an option — because love always leans in.”
~ Jimmy Mellado ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 24th March, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Uimhir 21:4-9
Má bheirtear greim ar éinne agus má fhéachann sé air mairfidh sé.
D'fhág na hIsráélítigh Sliabh Hor ar feadh bhealach Mhuir Shúf, ag gabháil timpeall chríocham Eadóm. Bhris ar an bhfoighne ag an bpobal ar an tslí. Labhraíodar in aghaidh Dé agus in aghaidh Mhaois:
“Cad ab áil libh dár dtabhairt amach as an Éigipt chun bás a fháil san fhásach?
Óir tá an áit seo gan arán, gan uisce, agus is gráin linn an bia gan mhaith seo.”
Ansin sheol Dia nathracha tintí i measc an phobail, agus chuireadar a gcealg sa phobal, agus fuair a lán in Iosrael bás. Tháinig an pobal go Maois agus dúradar:“Pheacaíomar lenár gcaint in aghaidh an Tiarna agus i d’aghaidhse.
Guigh chun an Tiarna á iarraidh air na nathracha a thógáil dínn.”
Ghuigh Maois ar son an phobail.
Dúirt an Tiarna le Maois:
“Déan nathair thintí agus cuir ar chuaille í, agus gach duine ina gcuirfear cealg, nuair a fhéachfaidh sé uirthi, mairfidh sé.”
Dhealbhaigh Maois nathair chré-umha dá bhrí sin agus chuir ar chuaille í, agus nuair a chuireadh nathair cealg i nduine, d’fhéachadh sé ar an nathair chré-umha agus mhaireadh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 101: 2-3. 16-21. R/v 2
Freagra A Thiarna, éist le mo ghuí; agus go dtaga mo ghlór ag triall ort.
1. A Thiarna, éist le mo ghuí; agus go dtaga mo ghlór ag triall ort.
Ná folaigh do ghnúis orm, a Thiarna, an uair a bhím do mo bhuaireamh.
Claon chugam do chluas nuair a ghlaoim ort; éist liom go luath agus freagair mé. Freagra
2. Beidh eagla ar na ciníocha roimh d’ainm, a Thiarna; agus ar ríthe uile an domhain roimh do ghlóir.
Nuair a athnuafaidh an Tiarna Síón, nuair a thaispeánfaidh sé a ghlóir,
claonfaidh sé ansin chun urnaithe na ndealbh; agus ní eiteoidh sé a n-achainíocha chuige. Freagra
3. Scríobhtar an ní seo le haghaidh na glúine atá le teacht; moladh pobal nár rugadh fós an Tiarna.
“D’fhéach an Tiarna anuas óna shanctóir in airde; bhreathnaigh sé ó neamh ar an talamh.
i dtreo go gcluinfeadh sé osnaí na mbraighdeanach; agus go saorfadh sé a ndaoradh chun báis” Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 8:21-30 Glóir duit, a Chríost.
Nuair a thógfaidh sibh in airde Mac an Duine, ansin beidh a fhios agaibh gur mise é.
San am sin dúirt Íosa leis na Fairisínigh:
“Tá mé ag imeacht agus beidh sibh ar mo lorg, agus gheobhaidh sibh bás in bhur bpeaca.
An áit ina bhfuilim ag dul, ní féidir daoibhse teacht.”
Chrom na Giúdaigh dá bhrí sin ar á rá:
“An amhlaidh go maróidh sé é féin ós rud é go ndúirt sé: ‘An áit ina bhfuilimse ag dul, ní féidir daoibhse teacht ann’?”
Lean sé air:
“Is ón áit thíos sibhse,is ón áit thuas mise. Is den saol seo sibhse, ní den saol seo mise. Uime sin a dúirt mé libh:
‘ Gheobhaidh sibh bás in bhur bpeacaí.’
Dúirt siad leis ansin: “Cé hé thú féin?”
Dúirt Íosa leo:
“Cén fáth a bhfuilim ag caint libh ar aon chor?
Tá a lán agam le rá agus le cáineadh agam in bhur dtaobh.
Ach is fíor é an té a chuir uaidh mé agus na nithe a chuala mé uaidh is iad a labhraím sa saol.”
Níor thuig siad go raibh sé ag tagairt don Athair sa chaint sin leo.
Dúirt Íosa leo ansin
“Nuair a thógfaidh sibh in airde Mac an Duine, ansin beidh a fhios agaibh gur mise é, agus nach ndéanaim aon ní uaim féin, ach gur mar a theagasc an tAthair dom a labhraím na nithe seo.
An té a chuir uaidh mé, tá sé in éineacht liom. Níor fhág sé i m’aonar mé, óir déanaim i gcónaí na nithe is taitneamhach leis.”
Chreid a lán ann agus na nithe sin á rá aige.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 29th March, 2026
( Sixth Sunday, Lent 🙂 PALM SUNDAY of the LORD's PASSION
The Procession Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
When they were near Jerusalem and had come in sight of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village facing you, and you will immediately find a tethered donkey and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, "The Master needs them and will send them back directly".'
This took place to fulfil the prophecy:
'Say to the daughter of Zion: Look, your king comes to you; he is humble,
he rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'
So the disciples went out and did as Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and the colt, then they laid their cloaks on their backs and he sat on them. Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path. The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting:'Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heavens!'
And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil. 'Who is this?' people asked,
and the crowds answered, 'This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee'.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Today's Mass Readings
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 50:4-7
I did not cover my face against insult-I know I shall not be shamed.
The Lord has given me a disciple's tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple.
The Lord has opened my ear.For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.
The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 21: 8-9. 17-20. 23.24. R/v 2
Response My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
1. All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads.
'He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend.' Response
2. Many dogs have surrounded me, a band of the wicked beset me.
They tear holes in my hands and my feet. I can count everyone of my bones. Response
3. They divide my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe.
O Lord, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me! Response
4. I will tell of your name to my brethren and praise you where they are assembled.
'You who fear the Lord give him praise; all sons of Jacob, give him glory.
Revere him, Israel's sons.' Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Philippians 2:6-11
He humbled himself, but God raised him high.
His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God
but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave,
and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death, death on a cross.
But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names
so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Phil 2: 8-9
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.
But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all names.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
according to Matthew (26:14-27:66)
One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,
'What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?'
They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him.
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus to say,
'Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the 'passover?'
'Go to so-and-so in the city' he replied 'and say to him,
The Master says: My time is near. It is at your house that I am keeping Passover with my disciples."'
The disciples did what Jesus told them and prepared the Passover.
When evening came he was at table with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating he said'I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me'
They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, 'Not I, Lord, surely?'
He answered, 'Someone who has dipped his hand into the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!
Better for that man if he had never been born!'
Judas, who was to betray him; asked in his turn, 'Not I, Rabbi, surely?'
'They are your own words' answered Jesus.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. 'Take it and eat;' he said 'this is my body.'
Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them.
'Drink all of you from this,' he said 'for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall not drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.'
After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them,
'You will all lose faith in me this night, for the scripture says: "I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered," but after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee".
At this, Peter said, 'Though all lose faith in you, I will never lose faith'.
Jesus answered him, 'I tell you solemnly, this very night, before the cock crows, you will have disowned me three times'. Peter said to him, 'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you'. And all the disciples said the same.
Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,
'Stay here while I go over there to pray'.
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them, 'My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.'
And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed.
'My Father,' he said 'if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.' He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, 'So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'
Again, a second time, he went away and prayed:
'My Father,' he said 'If this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!' And he came back again and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy. Leaving them there, he went away again and prayed for the third time, repeating the same words. Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, 'You can sleep on now and take your rest. Now the hour has come when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is already close at hand.'
He was still speaking when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.
Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them.'The one I kiss,' he had said 'he is the man. Take him in charge.' So he went straight up to Jesus and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi', and kissed him.
Jesus said to him, 'My friend, do what you are here for'.
Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge. At that, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck out at the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear.
Jesus then said, 'Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence? But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?'
It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds,
'Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me.'
Now all this happened to fulfil the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.
The men who had arrested Jesus led him off to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter followed him at a distance, and when he reached the high priest's palace, he went in and sat down with the attendants to see what the end would be. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might pass the death-sentence. But they could not find any, though several lying witnesses came forward. Eventually two stepped forward and made a statement,
'This man said, "I have power to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build it up."
'The high priest then stood up and said to him, 'Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?' But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, 'I put you on oath by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God'.
'The words are your own' answered Jesus. 'Moreover, I tell you that from this time onward you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.'
At this, the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have just heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?' They answered, 'He deserves to die'. Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him, 'Play the prophet, Christ! Who hit you then?'
Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, 'You too were with Jesus the Galilean'. But he denied it in front of them all. 'I do not know what you are talking about' he said. When he went out to the gateway another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, 'This man was with Jesus the Nazarene'. And again, with an oath, he denied it, 'I do not know the man'. A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, 'You are one of them for sure! Why, your accent gives you away.'
Then he started calling down curses on himself and swearing, 'I do not know the man'. At that moment the cock crew, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, 'Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times'. And he went outside and wept bitterly When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus. They had him bound, and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor.
When he found that Jesus had been condemned, Judas his betrayer was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders. 'I have sinned;' he said 'I have betrayed innocent blood' 'What is that to us?' they replied 'That is your concern.' And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off and hanged himself; The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, 'It is against the Law to put this into the treasury; it is blood-money'. So they discussed the matter and bought the potter's field with it as a graveyard for foreigners, and this is why the field is called the Field of Blood today. The words of the prophet Jeremiah were then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by children of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, just as the Lord directed me.
Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'
Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it'.
But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?' But to the governor's complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges. At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him'. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' they said, 'Barabbas'. 'But in that case,' Pilate said to them 'What am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Let him be crucified!' 'Why?' he asked 'What harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'
Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.' And the people, to a man, shouted back, 'His blood be on us and on our children!' Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified.
The governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.
On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews'. At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said, 'So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself! If you are God's son, come down from the cross!' The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way. 'He saved others;' they said 'he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, "I am the Son of God".' Even the robbers who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you deserted me?' When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, 'The man is calling on Elijah', and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink. 'Wait!' said the rest of them 'and see if Elijah will come to save him.' But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
(All kneel and pause a moment.)
At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said: 'In truth this was a son of God.'
And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimatbaea called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate thereupon ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.
Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a body to Pilate and said to him, 'Your Excellency, we recall that this impostor said, while he was still alive, "After three days I shall rise again." Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciples come and steal him away and tell the people, "He has risen from the dead." This last piece of fraud would be worse than what went before. Pilate said to them: You may have your guards. Go and make all as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.
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Shorter form of the Passion by St Mathew: 27:11-54
Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'
Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it'.
But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?' But to the governor's complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges. At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him'. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' they said, 'Barabbas'. 'But in that case,' Pilate said to them 'What am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Let him be crucified!' 'Why?' he asked 'What harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'
Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.' And the people, to a man, shouted back, 'His blood be on us and on our children!' Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified.
The governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.
On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews'. At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said, 'So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself! If you are God's son, come down from the cross!' The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way. 'He saved others;' they said 'he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, "I am the Son of God".' Even the robbers who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you deserted me?' When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, 'The man is calling on Elijah', and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink. 'Wait!' said the rest of them 'and see if Elijah will come to save him.' But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
(All kneel and pause a moment.)
At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said: 'In truth this was a son of God.'
And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimatbaea called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate thereupon ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.
Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a body to Pilate and said to him, 'Your Excellency, we recall that this impostor said, while he was still alive, "After three days I shall rise again." Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciples come and steal him away and tell the people, "He has risen from the dead." This last piece of fraud would be worse than what went before. Pilate said to them: You may have your guards. Go and make all as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 29th March, 2026
DOMHNAC NA PÁISE nó NA PAILME
Comóradh theacht ár dTiarna isteach i Iarúsalem
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 21:1-11
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna!
Nuair a bhí siad ag teacht i ngar do Iarúsailéim agus iad tagtha go Béatfaigé i dtreo Chnoc na nOlóg, chuir Íosa beirt dheisceabal uaidh ag rá leo: “Téigí isteach sa bhaile atá os bhur gcomhair, agus gheobhaidh sibh láir asail ceangailte agus searrach lena cois;m scaoiligí iad agus tugaigí chugam iad; agus má deir aon duine focal libh abraigí: ‘Tá gá ag an Tiarna leo, ach cuirfidh sé ar ais gan mhoill iad.’” Tharla an méid sin chun go gcomhlíonfaí a ndúradh tríd an bhfáidh: “Abraigí le hiníon Shíón: Féach, tá do rí ag teacht chugat, agus é go ceansa, ag marcaíocht ar asal, ar shearrach beithígh iompair.”
D’imigh na deisceabail agus rinne siad de réir mar bhí beartaithe ag Íosa dóibh: thug siad leo an láir asail agus an searrach.Chuir siad a mbrait anuas orthu ansin agus chuaigh Íosa ina shuí orthu. Agus rinne na daoine, slua an-mhór díobh, a mbrait a leathadh ar an mbóthar, agus bhí cuid eile acu ag baint craobhacha na gcrann le leathadh ar an mbóthar; agus na sluaite a bhí roimhe amach agus iad seo a bhí á leanúint, bhí na gártha acu á gcur suas:“Hósana do Mhac Dháiví!
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna! Hósana sna harda.”
Nuair a chuaigh sé isteach in Iarúsailéim, bhí an chathair go léir ar bís: “Cé hé seo?” deirtí.
Agus deireadh na sluaite: “Is é seo Íosa, an fáidh ó Nazarat sa Ghailíl.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
An tAifreann
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Íseáia, Ezícéal, Fáidh. 50:4-7
Níor cheil mé ma ghnúis ar mhasla, mar tá a fhios agam nach mbeidh mé meallta.
Thug an Tiarna Dia dom teanga an aos léinn.
Chun go mbeinn i riocht fóirithint ar an té atá traochta spreagann sé briathar ionam.
Maidin in aghaidh na maidine cuireann sé cluas orm chun go n-éiste mé ar nós an aos léinn.
An Tiarna Dia, is é a d’oscail mo chluas.
Maidir liom féin, níor chuir mé ina choinne, níor theann mé ar gcúl.Lig mé mo dhroim le lucht a bhuailte agus mo ghruanna leo siúd a bhí ag piocadh na féasóige asam; níor cheil mé mo ghnúis ar mhasla ná ar sheile.
Tá an Tiarna Dia ag teacht i gcabhair orm, is é sin an fáth nach mothaím an masla. Mar sin, chruaigh mé mo ghnúis mar an chloch ghlas, bhí a fhios agam nach mbeinn meallta.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 21
Freagra A Dhia liom, a Dhia liom, cad chuige ar thréig tú mé?
I. Gabhann a bhfeiceann mé ag fonóid fúm: cuireann siad cár orthu is croitheann a gceann.
'Bhí a mhuinín as an Tiarna aige: saoradh séisean é; fuasclaíodh seisean é, mas air atá a ghreann.' Freagra
2. Tá mórán madraí i mo thimpeall: tá mé crioslaithe ag paca bithiúnach.
Tollann siad mo lámha is mo chosa: is féidir liom mo chnámha uile a chomhaireamh. Freagra
3. Roinneann siad mo chuid éadaigh eat arthu agus caitheann siad crainn ar mo chóta.
Ná bíse i bhfad uaim, a Thiarna. Is tú mo chúnamh: brostaigh agus cuidigh liom. Freagra
4. Inseoidh mé d'ainm do mo bhráithre, molfaidh mé thú i lár na comhdhála:
molaigí an Tiarna, sibhse lerb eagal é;ceiliuraigí ‘e, a shliocht Iácób go léir;
tugaigí urraim dó, a shíol lsrael go léir. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as litir Naomh Pól chuig na Filipigh 2: 6-11
D‘ís1igh sé é féin, agus d’ardaigh Dia é os cionn cách.
An té úd a bhí i riocht Dé ó dhúchas,
níorbh éadáil Íosa bheith ar chomhchéim le Dia, Ach lom sé é féin.
Agus chuir áir riocht an sclábha agus tháinig chun bheith ina dhuine mar chách eile.
Agus ar theacht ann dó i gcló daonna, d’ísligh sé é féin agus bhí umhal go bás – go bás na croise féin.
Sin é an fáth ar ardaigh Dia thar na bearta é agus bhronn air an t-ainm úd atá os cionn gach ainm, i dtreo nuair a luafaí ainm Íosa go gcromfadh glúin gach neach dá bhfuil ar neamh agus ar talamh agus in ifreann agus go ndearbhódh gach teanga, in ómós do Dhia an tAthair, gurb é Íosa Críost an Tiarna.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Véarsa Fil 2:8-9
D'ísligh Críost é féin trí bheith umhal go bás, fiú go bás na croise.
Sin e an fáth ar ardaigh Dia é os cionn cách agus bhronn air ainm atá os cionn gach ainm.
PÁIS ÁR dTIARNA ÍOSA CRÍOST
de réir Naomh Matha (26:14-27:66)
Chuaigh duine den dáréag, arbh ainm dó Iúdás Isceiriót, go dtí uachtaráin na sagart agus dúirt:
“Cad ab áil libh a thabhairt dom agus tabharfaidh mé ar láimh daoibh é?” Chomhair siad amach chuige tríocha píosa d’airgead geal. Agus ón uair sin amach bhí sé ag faire ar a dheis chun é thabhairt ar láimh.
Ar an gcéad lá d’fhéile an tslimaráin, tháinig na deisceabail chun Íosa ag rá: “Cárbh áil leat go n-ullmhóimis an Cháisc duit le hithe?”
“Téigí isteach sa chathair,” ar seisean, “go dtí an duine seo áirithe agus abraigí leis: ‘Dúirt an Máistir a rá leat: tá m’uain in achmaireacht: is i do theachsa atáim chun an Cháisc a dhéanamh in éineacht le mo dheisceabail.’” Rinne na deisceabail de réir mar a bhí beartaithe ag Íosa dóibh, agus d’ullmhaigh siad an Cháisc.
Nuair a bhí an tráthnóna ann, shuigh sé chun boird in éineacht leis an dáréag deisceabal.
Agus le linn dóibh bheith ag ithe, dúirt
“Deirim libh go fírinneach, braithfidh duine agaibh mé.” Agus ó ba mhó é a mbuaireamh, thosaigh siad, gach duine acu, ag fiafraí de: “An mise é, a Thiarna?”
D’fhreagair sé: “Duine a thum a lámh sa mhias i mo theannta,” ar seisean, “sin é a dhéanfaidh mé a bhrath. Tá Mac an Duine ag imeacht, de réir mar atá scríofa mar gheall air, ach is mairg don duine úd trína mbraitear Mac an Duine. B’fhearr don duine sin nach mbéarfaí riamh é.” D’fhreagair Iúdás, fear a bhraite, agus dúirt: “An mise é, a Raibí?” Dúirt Íosa leis: “Tá sé ráite agat.”
Le linn dóibh bheith ag ithe, thóg Íosa arán, agus ar a bheannú dó, bhris, agus á thabhairt do na deisceabail dó, dúirt:“Tógaigí, ithigí: is é seo mo chorp.” Agus thóg sé cupa, agus ar altú dó, thug dóibh é ag rá:
“Ólaigí uile as seo, óir is í seo m’fhuilse an tiomna, atá le doirteadh ar son mórán chun peacaí a mhaitheamh. Deirim libh, ní ólfaidh mé as seo amach den sú seo na fíniúna go dtí an lá sin a n-ólfaidh mé ina fhíon nua libhse é i ríocht m’Athar.”
Tar éis dóibh an t-iomann a chanadh, chuaigh siad amach go dtí Cnoc na nOlóg. Ansin dúirt Íosa leo:
“Glacfaidh sibh uile scannal mar gheall ormsa anocht, óir tá scríofa: ‘Buailfidh mé an t-aoire agus beidh caoirigh an tréada arna scaipeadh.’ Ach tar éis dom éirí, rachaidh mé romhaibh go dtí an Ghailíl.”
Dúirt Peadar leis á fhreagairt: “Siúd is go nglacfaidh cách eile scannal mar gheall ort, ní ghlacfaidh mise scannal choíche.” Dúirt Íosa leis: “Deirim leat go fírinneach, roimh ghlaoch don choileach anocht féin, séanfaidh tú mé faoi thrí.” Dúirt Peadar leis: “Más ea féin go gcaithfidh mé bás a fháil in éineacht leat, ní shéanfaidh mé thú.” Agus na deisceabail eile chomh maith, dúirt siad an rud céanna.
Ansin tháinig Íosa leo go dtí áit ar a dtugtar Geitséamainí agus dúirt leis na deisceabail: “Fuirigí anseo go rachaidh mé anonn ansiúd ag guí.” Agus rug sé leis Peadar agus beirt mhac Zeibidé, agus thosaigh sé bheith buartha agus in anbhuain. Dúirt sé leo ansin: “Tá buaireamh mór ar m’anam go pointí báis. Fanaigí anseo agus bígí ag faire liom.” Chuaigh sé ar aghaidh tamall agus chaith é féin ar a bhéal agus é ag guí mar seo: “A Athair, más féidir é, gabhadh an cupa seo tharam, ach ní mar is toil liomsa ach mar is toil leatsa.” Tháinig sé chun na ndeisceabal agus fuair ina gcodladh iad, agus dúirt le Peadar: “An ea nár fhéad sibh, mar sin, faire aon uaire a dhéanamh liom? Bígí ag faire agus ag guí, ionas nach rachadh sibh i gcathú. Tá an spiorad fonnmhar ach tá an cholainn fann.”D’imigh sé uathu arís agus thosaigh ag guí den dara huair: “A Athair, mura féidir an cupa seo a ghabháil tharam gan mé á ól, do thoil go raibh déanta!” Tháinig sé arís agus fuair ina gcodladh iad, mar bhí a súile trom. D’fhág sé arís iad agus chuaigh ag guí den tríú huair ag rá na cainte céanna arís. Ansin tháinig sé chun na ndeisceabal agus dúirt leo:
“Codlaigí libh feasta agus glacaigí bhur suaimhneas. Seo! tá an t-am in achmaireacht agus Mac an Duine le tabhairt ar láimh do pheacaigh. Éirígí! bímis ag gluaiseacht! Seo chugainn fear mo bhraite.”
Sula raibh an focal as a bhéal, seo Iúdás, duine den dáréag, agus slua mór lena chois a raibh claimhte agus bataí acu, ag teacht ó uachtaráin na sagart agus ó sheanóirí an phobail. Bhí an comhartha ag fear a bhraite dóibh: “An duine a bpógfaidh mé é,” ar seisean, “sin é é: gabhaigí é.” Rinne sé anonn ar Íosa díreach gan stad, agus “Sé do bheatha, a Raibí!” ar seisean, agus phóg sé é. Dúirt Íosa leis: “A chara, déan an beart a thug anseo thú." Tháinig siad ar aghaidh ansin, leag siad a lámha ar Íosa agus ghabh siad é. Ach seo duine de chompánaigh Íosa a shín a lámh chun a chlaímh agus a tharraing, gur bhuail sé seirbhíseach an ardsagairt gur bhain an chluas de. Ach dúirt Íosa leis an uair sin: “Cuir do chlaíomh ar ais ina áit féin, óir gach duine a ghlacann an claíomh is leis an gclaíomh a thitfidh sé. Nó an é is dóigh leat nach féidir dom achainí a dhéanamh ar m’Athair, a chuirfeadh ar fáil dom anois féin níos mó ná dhá léigiún déag aingeal? Conas a chomhlíonfaí na scrioptúir, más ea, a deir gur mar seo nach foláir a bheith?”
An uair sin féin dúirt Íosa leis na buíonta: “An robálaí mé gur ghluais sibh amach mar seo le claimhte agus le bataí chun breith orm? Bhínn i mo shuí sa Teampall gach lá ag teagasc agus ní dhearna sibh mé a ghabháil.” Thit an méid sin go léir amach chun go gcomhlíonfaí scrioptúir na bhfáithe. Ansin thug na deisceabail uile a gcúl leis agus theith siad.
An dream a bhí tar éis Íosa a ghabháil, sheol siad leo é go teach Cháiafas, an t-ardsagart, agus is ann a bhí na scríobhaithe agus na seanóirí cruinnithe le chéile. Bhí Peadar á leanúint i bhfad uaidh chomh fada le cúirt an ardsagairt, agus ar dhul isteach ann dó, chuaigh ina shuí i measc na seirbhíseach d’fhonn go bhfeicfeadh críoch an scéil.
Bhí uachtaráin na sagart agus an tsainidrín ar fad ag lorg fianaise bréige in aghaidh Íosa d’fhonn é bhású, ach ní bhfuair siad í in ainneoin gur tháinig an-chuid d’fhinnéithe bréige i láthair. Sa deireadh, tháinig beirt i láthair agus b’é a scéal sin: “Dúirt an fear seo: ‘Is féidir liom Teampall Dé a leagan anuas agus é a atógáil i dtrí lá.’” D’éirigh an t-ardsagart ina sheasamh agus dúirt leis: “Nach bhfuil freagra ar bith agat? Cad tá acu seo á dhearbhú ort?” D’fhan Íosa ina thost. Dúirt an t-ardsagart leis: “Cuirim ort as ucht Dé bheo a insint dúinn an tú an Críost Mac Dé.”
Dúirt Íosa leis: “Tá sé ráite agat. Ach deirim libh, beidh Mac an Duine le feiceáil agaibh amach anseo, ina shuí ar dheis na cumhachta, agus é ag teacht ar scamaill na bhflaitheas.” Leis sin, stróic an t-ardsagart a chuid éadaigh: “Tá diamhasla déanta aige!” ar seisean; “cad is gá dúinn a thuilleadh finnéithe? Sin anois an diamhasla cloiste agaibh. Cad é bhur mbarúil?” Agus ba é an freagra a thug siad: “Tá an bás tuillte aige.” Ansin chaith siad seile san aghaidh air, agus ghabh siad de dhoirne air, agus bhí cuid acu a bhuail lena mbasa é ag rá: “Tairngir dúinn, a Chríost! Cé hé sin a bhuail thú?”
Bhí Peadar ina shuí amuigh, sa chúirt. Tháinig cailín aimsire chuige agus dúirt: “Bhí tusa freisin in éineacht le hÍosa an Gailíleach.” Ach shéan seisean é os comhair cách: “Níl a fhios agam cad tá tú a rá,” ar seisean. Ar dhul amach sa phóirse dó, chonaic cailín eile é agus dúirt sí leis na daoine a bhí ann: “Bhí sé seo in éineacht le hÍosa an Nazórach.” Agus shéan sé arís é le mionn: “Níl aithne agam ar an duine.” Tamall ina dhiaidh sin, tháinig na daoine a bhí i láthair agus dúirt siad le Peadar: “Go dearfa, is duine díobh sin tusa freisin, mar sceitheann do chaint ort.” Ansin a thosaigh sé ag eascaine agus ag tabhairt na mionn: “Níl aithne agam ar an duine.” Agus ghlaoigh an coileach láithreach. Agus ba chuimhin le Peadar an focal a dúirt Íosa “Roimh ghlaoch don choileach, séanfaidh tú mé faoi thrí.” Agus chuagh amach agus ghoil sé go goirt.
Nuair a bhí an mhaidin ann, rinne na hardsagairt go léir agus seanóirí an phobail comhairle le chéile in aghaidh Íosa d’fhonn é a bhású. Tar éis dóibh é a cheangal, sheol siad leo é á thabhairt ar láimh do Phioláit an gobharnóir.
Ansin, nuair a chonaic Iúdás, fear a bhraite, go raibh sé daortha, bhuail aiféala é, agus thug an tríocha píosa d’airgead geal ar ais d’uachtaráin na sagart agus do na seanóirí, ag rá: “Ba pheaca dom fuil neamhchiontach a bhrath.” Ach dúirt siad sin: “Cad é sin dúinne? Féach féin chuige.” Ach rad sé uaidh na píosaí airgid isteach sa sanctóir agus d’fhág an áit, d’imigh sé leis agus chroch é féin. Thóg na hardsagairt na píosaí airgid agus dúirt siad: “Ní dleathach iad do chur i gciste an Teampaill, mar is luach fola iad.” Tar éis dóibh an scéal a phlé, cheannaigh siad leis an airgead Gort an Chriadóra mar reilig do strainséirí. Sin é a d’fhág Gort na Fola mar ainm ar an ngort sin go dtí an lá inniu féin. Ansin a comhlíonadh a ndúradh trí Irimia fáidh: “Agus thóg siad an tríocha píosa d’airgead geal, luach an duine a measadh – ag cuid de chlann Iosrael a measadh é – agus thug ar Ghort an Chriadóra iad, de réir mar bheartaigh an Tiarna dom.”
Tugadh Íosa i láthair an ghobharnóra, agus d’fhiafraigh an gobharnóir de: “An tusa Rí na nGiúdach?”
Dúirt Íosa “Tá sé ráite agat.” Agus le linn a chiontaithe ag na hardsagairt agus ag na seanóirí, bhí sé gan aon fhreagra a thabhairt. Dúirt Pioláit leis ansin: “Nach gcluineann tú a bhfuil d’fhianaise acu á thabhairt i d’aghaidh?” Ach freagra níor thug sé ar phointe ar bith, rud a chuir ardionadh ar an ngobharnóir.
Ach ba ghnáthbhéas don ghobharnóir, i ngach féile, go scaoilfeadh sé saor chun an tslua cibé príosúnach ba rogha leo. Bhí príosúnach iomráiteach ar láimh an uair sin arbh ainm dó Barabas. Mar sin, nuair a bhí siad cruinnithe le chéile dúirt Pioláit leo: “Cé acu ba rogha libh mé a scaoileadh chugaibh, Barabas, nó Íosa ar a dtugtar an Críost?” – mar bhí a fhios aige gur formad faoi deara é thabhairt ar láimh. Ach le linn dó bheith ina shuí breithimh, chuir a bhean scéala chuige: “Scaoil tharat an fear cóir seo gan baint leis, óir ba mhór í m’fhulaingt i mbrionglóid inniu mar gheall air.” Ach d’áitigh na hardsagairt agus na seanóirí ar na sluaite Barabas a iarraidh agus Íosa a mhilleadh. Labhair an gobharnóir leo: “Cé acu den bheirt is rogha libh mé a scaoileadh chugaibh?” “Barabas!” ar siad. Dúirt Pioláit leo: “Más ea, cad a dhéanfaidh mé le hÍosa ar a dtugtar an Críost?” Dúirt siad: “Céastar é!” Dúirt seisean: “Ach cén t-olc a rinne sé?” Ach is ea ba mhó a bhí siad ag screadadh: “Céastar é!” Nuair a chonaic Pioláit nach raibh aon mhaith dó ann ach gur mhó a bhíothas ag dul chun calláin, fuair sé uisce agus nigh a lámha os comhair an tslua ag rá: “Nílimse freagrach i bhfuil an fhíréin seo: féachaigí sibhse chuige.” D’fhreagair an pobal ar fad: “Go raibh a chuid fola orainn féin agus ar ár gclann!” Scaoil sé Barabas chucu ansin, ach rinne sé Íosa a sciúrsáil agus a thabhairt suas chun go gcéasfaí é.
Ansin rug saighdiúirí an ghobharnóra Íosa leo isteach sa phréatóiriam, agus chuir siad tionól ar an gcathlán go léir chuige. Bhain siad de a chuid éadaigh agus ghléas siad i bhfallaing chraorag é: rinne siad coróin a fhí de dheilgneach agus í a bhualadh ar a cheann agus giolcach a chur ina láimh dheis, agus teacht ar a nglúine os a chomhair ag fonóid faoi ag rá: “Sé do bheatha, a Rí na nGiúdach!” Agus chaith siad seilí air agus bhí siad á bhualadh sa cheann leis an ngiolcach. Agus tar éis dóibh fonóid a dhéanamh faoi, bhain siad de an fhallaing, chuir siad a chuid éadaigh féin air agus sheol siad leo é chun a chéasta.
Sa tslí amach dóibh, casadh fear Cuiréanach orthu arbh ainm dó Síomón; chuir siad d’fhiacha air seo a chros a iompar. Agus ar theacht dóibh go dtí áit ar a dtugtar Golgotá – is é sin le rá, Áit an Chloiginn – thug siad le hól dó fíon a raibh domlas tríd, ach ar a bhlaiseadh dó, dhiúltaigh sé a ól. Tar éis dóibh é a chéasadh, roinn siad a chuid éadaigh eatarthu, á gcur ar chrainn, agus d’fhan siad ina suí ansiúd á ghardáil.
Cuireadh scríbhinn os a chionn ag insint cúis a dhaortha: “Is é seo Íosa Rí na nGiúdach.” Ansin céasadh mar aon leis beirt robálaithe, duine acu ar a dheis agus an duine eile ar a chlé. Bhí lucht an bhealaigh ag tabhairt achasáin dó, ag croitheadh a gceann agus ag rá: “Thusa, a leagfadh Teampall Dé anuas agus a thógfadh é i dtrí lá, saor thú féin, más tú Mac Dé, agus tar anuas ón gcros!” Bhí na hardsagairt freisin ag fonóid faoi, in éineacht leis na scríobhaithe agus na seanóirí, agus deiridís: “Shaor sé daoine eile, ní féidir leis é féin a shaoradh! Is é Rí Iosrael é: tagadh sé anuas ón gcros feasta agus creidfimid ann. As Dia a bhí a mhuinín; fuasclaíodh Dia anois é más gnaoi leis é, óir dúirt sé féin: ‘Is mé Mac Dé.’” Na robálaithe freisin a céasadh mar aon leis, bhí siad á aithisiú mar an gcéanna
Ón séú huair bhí dorchadas anuas ar an talamh go léir go dtí an naoú huair.
Agus timpeall an naoú huair, d’éigh Íosa de ghlór ard:
“Élí, Élí, lamá sabachtání?” is é sin le rá: “A Dhia, a Dhia, cén fáth ar thréig tú mé?”
Dúirt cuid díobh seo a bhí i láthair, ar a chloisteáil sin dóibh: “Ag glaoch ar Éilias atá sé seo,” agus leis sin rith duine acu chun spúinse a fháil, thum i bhfínéagar é, chuir ar bharr giolcaí é agus thug deoch dó. Ach dúirt an chuid eile: “Fan go bhfeicimid an dtiocfaidh Éilias á shaoradh.” Ach gháir Íosa amach arís de ghlór ard agus lig sé uaidh a spiorad.
Agus réabadh brat an Teampaill ina dhó ó bharr go bun, chrith an talamh agus réabadh na carraigeacha. D’oscail na tuamaí agus d’éirigh mórán de choirp na naomh a bhí ina suan: tháinig siad amach as na tuamaí tar éis d’Íosa aiséirí agus isteach sa chathair naofa agus taibhsíodh iad dá lán. An taoiseach céad, agus na fir a bhí ag gardáil Íosa in éineacht leis, nuair a chonaic siad an mhaidhm talún agus na nithe a tharla, bhí uamhan an-mhór orthu agus dúirt siad:“Go dearfa, ba é Mac Dé é seo.” Agus bhí mórán ban ann agus iad i bhfad uaidh ag breathnú, iad siúd a bhí tar éis Íosa a leanúint ón nGailíl chun bheith ag freastal air: Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana orthu, agus Máire máthair Shéamais agus Iósaef, agus máthair chlann Zeibidé.
Nuair a bhí an tráthnóna ann, tháinig fear saibhir as Aramatáia darbh ainm Iósaef, agus é féin freisin ina dheisceabal ag Íosa; chuaigh sé seo go dtí Pioláit agus d’iarr corp Íosa air. D’ordaigh Pioláit ansin é a thabhairt dó. Thóg Iósaef an corp, d’fhill I línéadach glan é agus chuir ina thuama nua féin é a bhí gearrtha sa charraig aige; agus tar éis dó cloch mhór a iompú le béal an tuama d’imigh sé leis. Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana ann agus an Mháire eile, agus iad ina suí os comhair na huaimhe.
Lá arna mhárach, is é sin le rá, an lá tar éis an ullmhaithe, chuaigh na hardsagairt agus na Fairisínigh i dteannta a chéile go dtí Pioláit agus dúirt siad: “A dhuine uasail, tá sé tar éis teacht chun ár gcuimhne go ndúirt an mealltóir úd agus é beo: ‘I gcionn trí lá, aiséireoidh mé.’ Ordaigh, dá bhrí sin, an uaimh a dhéanamh daingean go dtí an treas lá, le heagla go dtiocfadh a chuid deisceabal á fhuadach agus go ndéarfaidís leis an bpobal: ‘Tá sé éirithe ó mhairbh,’ agus ba mheasa an dul amú nua ná an chéad dul amú.”
Dúirt Pioláit leo: “Bíodh garda agaibh; seo libh, déanaigí daingean í mar is fearr is eolach sibh.”
D’imigh siad agus rinne siad an uaimh daingean, ag bualadh séala ar an gcloch agus ag ceapadh garda.
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
