Churches of the Day

Apr 15 - St Damian the Leper (1840-89)

Summary: St Damian, the Leper: a Missionary of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary from Belgium, went to the leper colony island of Molokai near Hawaii and died there in 1889.

Patrick Duffy tells his story.

A Pious Belgian Farming Family
Joseph De Veuster was born in Belgium into a pious farming family. Two of his sisters became nuns and one brother a priest. Joseph followed his brother into the Order of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He joined their community at Louvain and took the religious name of Damian. At first he was considered too uneducated to go for the priesthood, but his brother taught him Latin and that decision was reversed. His brother was due to go on mission to Hawaii, but became ill and Damian offered to go in his place.

To Honolulu and Molokai
The sea-voyage to Honolulu took five months and Damian was ordained shortly after he arrived. He worked in two mission stations on the islands for nine years and then volunteered to go to the leper colony on Molokai where there were 800 lepers. The bishop planned to rotate the priests on the island every three months to minimise the risk of infection. But Damian said he would go and stay.

No Cure for Leprosy Then
There was no cure for leprosy at that time and it was thought to spread mainly through sexual contact. There was little to engage the lepers on the colony: they just sat and drank. While there was a hospital and occasional visits from a government doctor, Damian tried to improve living conditions, begging clothes and insisting on ordinary hygiene. His work received publicity and support and from 1878 he received help from another priest.

"The Happiest Missionary in the World"
Like many pioneers he met with disapproval which he partly brought on himself, since he thought he knew best and had become somewhat autocratic. There was also envy in government and church circles at the amount of money he was receiving. He had worked with the lepers for twelve years when he himself was diagnosed with the disease. This brought accusations of sexual impropriety, humiliating medical tests and he was forbidden to leave the island. Visitors stopped coming and he was deprived of the opportunity of confession. For a while he was in desolation, but soon became reconciled and described himself as "the happiest missionary in the world".

Damian died on 15th April 1889 aged forty-nine.

Gradual Change in Attitude Towards Him
Attitudes towards Damian gradually changed. He was allowed to spend a week in Honolulu where the king, the prime minister and the bishop visited him. More assistants joined him, including a layman, Joseph Dutton, who stayed for forty years. Eventually the leprosy progressed and Damian died on 15th April 1889, aged forty-nine.

Canonisation
In 1936 Damian's remains were taken to the Church of the Sacred Hearts in Louvain, the year he was beatified. Pope Benedict XVI canonised him on 11th October 2009.

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Memorable Saying for Today

You may not always have a comfortable life
and solve all of the problems at once.
History has shown that courage can be contagious
and hope take on a life of it's own

~ Michelle Obama ~

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English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 15th April, 2026

Wednesday of Second Week of Easter

God's love calls for a response of faith in Jesus. This in turn demands truth from us.

FIRST READING

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 5:17-26
The men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.

The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol. But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, 'Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.'

They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach.

When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin - this was the full Senate of Israel - and sent to the gaol for them to be brought. But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, 'We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.'

When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what this could mean. Then a man arrived with fresh news.
'At this very moment' he said 'the men you imprisoned are in the Temple.
They are standing there preaching to the people.'
The captain went with his men and fetched them. They were afraid to use force in case the people stoned them.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm            Ps 33: 2-9. R/v 7
Response     This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
Or                                             Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

1. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. Response

2. Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free. Response

3. Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. Response

4. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him. Response

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Christ has risen and shone upon us whom he redeemed with his blood.
Alleluia!

or Jn 3: 16
Alleluia, Alleluia!
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son;
everyone who believes in him has eternal life.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 3:16-21 Glory to you, O Lord
God sent his Son into the world so that through him the world might be saved.

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
'God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.

For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned; but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already, because he has refused to believe in the name of God's only Son.

On these grounds is sentence pronounced: that though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil.
And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.'

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Reflection Wednesday. Second Week of Easter John 3:16-21

The first reading suggests that no human power can block the preaching of the gospel, not even the imprisonment of the apostles, Jesus’ closest associates. The risen Lord will always find a way for the gospel to be proclaimed, in spite of people’s best efforts to silence it. That is because, in the words of today’s gospel reading, ‘God so loved the world’. God sent his Son into the world so that everyone may have eternal life.
For God, it is a matter of the greatest urgency that the gospel that was proclaimed and lived by his Son, now risen Lord, be announced to as many people as possible. God will stop at nothing to ensure that the world of humanity hears the gospel of God’s saving love for all. The light of God’s love shines through the gospel and God passionately desires that this light would shine upon all, in every time and place, just as the earthly sun shines on all.

Yet, the gospel reading also states that people need to be open to this light, to come out into the light, to love the light of God’s enduring love. In the words of today’s psalm, we need to look towards the light so that we can be radiant. Nothing we do or fail to do will prevent the light of the gospel of God’s love from shining upon us, but we can chose to turn away from the light, to block it out, just as, at the last supper, Judas went out into the night. The good news is that even when we turn from the light and chose darkness, the light shines in the darkness and, if there is even the smallest opening in us to the light, the darkness will not overcome it.

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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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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 15th April, 2026

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 5:17-26
Na fir úd a chuir sibh i bpríosún, tá siad ina seasamh sa Teampall ag teagasc an phobail.

Ansin chuir an t-ardsagart chun oibre, é féin agus a pháirtithe go léir d’aicme na Sadúcach. Le teann éada rinne said na haspail a ghabháil agus a chur sa phríosún poiblí. Ach i rith na hoíche d’oscail aingeal an Tiarna geataí an phríosúin agus lig amach iad, á rá leo 'imeacht agus seasamh sa Teampall agus faisnéis iomlán a thabhairt don phobal ar an mbeatha seo.' Rinne siad rud air: chuaigh siad isteach sa Teampall le breacadh an lae agus chrom ar theagasc.

Tháinig an t-ardsagart agus a bhuíon, thionóil siad an tsainidrín – is é sin, seanad iomlán chlann Iosrael – agus chuir siad scéala chun an phríosúin na haspail a thabhairt i láthair. Ach nuair a shroich na feidhmeannaigh an príosún ní bhfuair siad ann iad, agus ar dhul ar ais dóibh, d’inis siad an scéal: “Fuaireamar an príosún go daingean faoi ghlas,” ar siad, “bhí gardaí ina seasamh ag na geataí ach ar oscailt na ngeataí dúinn, ní bhfuaireamar duine ar bith istigh.”
Nuair a chuala ceannfort an Teampaill agus na hardsagairt an scéal seo, ní fhéadfaidís a thuiscint cad a bhí tite amach dóibh. Leis sin tháinig duine ar an láthair le scéala:
“Feach,” ar seisean, “na fir úd a chuir sibh i bpríosún, tá siad ina seasamh sa Teampall ag teagasc an phobail.”
Ansin d’imigh an ceannfort agus a chuid giollaí agus thug siad leo iad, gan aon lámh láidir, áfach, mar bhí eagla orthu roimh an bpobal, go gclochfaidís iad.

Briathar an Tiarna   Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra                   Sm 33: 2-9. R/v 7
Freagra   Nuair a scairt an t-ainniseoir seo d’éist an Tiarna.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia

1. Beannóidh mé an Tiarna i dtólamh beidh a mholadh i mo bhéal i gcónaí.
Bíonn m’anam ag déanamh mórtais as an Tiarna: éistfidh daoine ísle agus beidh áthas orthu.     Freagra

2. Móraigí an Tiarna mar aon liom: tugaimis adhradh dá ainm in éineacht.
Bhí mé ag lorg an Tiarna agus d’éist sé liom agus d’fhuascail sé ó m’eagla go léir mé.    Freagra

3. Féachaigí chuige agus loinnir oraibh ’s na bíodh luisne na náire in bhur leicne.
Nuair a scairt an t-ainniseoir seo d’éist an Tiarna, agus shaor sé óna chúngaigh go léir é.   Freagra

4. Bíonn aingeal an Tiarna i gcampa thart ar lucht a eaglaithe, á bhfuascailt.
Blaisigí is féachaigí a fheabhas atá an Tiarna: is aoibhinn dá dtagann faoina dhídean.     Freagra

SOISCÉAL

Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin   3:16-21
Chuir Dia a Mhac uaidh ar an saol chun go slánófaí an saol tríd.

San am sin dúirt Íosa le Nícodémas:
Óir ghráigh Dia an domhan chomh mór sin gur thug sé a Aonghin Mic uaidh i dtreo,
gach duine a chreideann ann,nach gcaillfí é ach go mbeadh an bheatha shioraí aige.
Óir ní chun daorbhreith a thabhairt ar an saol

a chuir Dia a Mhac uaidh ar an saol ach chun go slánófaí an saol tríd.
An té a chreideann ann ní thabharfar daorbhreith air, ach an té nach gcreideann ann, tá daorbhreith tugtha air cheana féin, mar nár chreid sé in ainm Mhac Dé, a Aonghin.
Agus an daorbhreith, is mar seo í: mar gur tháinig an solas isteach sa saol, agus gur rogha leis na daoine an dorchadas thar an solas de bhrí gurbh olc iad a ngníomhartha.

Óir gach duine a bhíonn ag déanamh an oilc, bíonn fuath aige don solas agus seachnaíonn sé an solas, le heagla go gcáinfí a ghníomhartha.
Ach an té a dhéanann an fhírinne, tagann sé chun an tsolais, chun go dtaispeáinfí gur i nDia a rinneadh a ghníomhartha.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 19th April, 2026

Third Sunday of Easter, Year A

Jesus, after walking and sharing his reflections is fully recognised in his breaking and sharing the bread and wine of the Eucharist as a celebration of his Risen Lordship.

FIRST READING

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-33
It was impossible for him to be held in its power of Hades.

On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice:
'Men of Judaea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to what I say. Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:
"I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.
So my heart was glad and my tongue cried out with joy;
my body, too, will rest in the hope that you will not abandon my soul to Hades
nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.
You have made known the way of life to me, you will fill me with gladness through your presence."

'Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, 'what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.'

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm   Ps 15:1-211. 5. 7-11. R/v 11
Response   Show us, Lord, the path of life.
or Alleluia!

1. Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: 'You are my God.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize.'      Response

2. I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart.
    I keep the Lord ever in my sight:since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.      Response

3. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety.
    For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay. Response

4. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence,
    at your right hand happiness for ever. Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the first letter of St Peter   1:17-21
Your ransom was paid in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ.

If you are acknowledging as your Father one who has no favourites and judges everyone according to what he has done, you must be scrupulously careful as long as you are living away from your home.

Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake.

Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very reason - so that you would have faith and hope in God.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Lk 24:32
Alleluia, alleluia!
Lord Jesus, explain the scriptures to us.
Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 24:13-35 Glory to you O Lord
They recognised him at the breaking of bread.

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, 'What matters are you discussing as you walk along?' They stopped short, their faces downcast.

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him,

'You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days'.
'What things?' he asked.
'All about Jesus of Nazareth' they answered 'who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.'

Then he said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?'
Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.

When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. 'It is nearly evening' they said 'and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them.

Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?'
They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem.

There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, 'Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.'
Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 19th April, 2026

An Tríú Domhnach den Cháisc, Blian A

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as an Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 2:14, 22-33
Níorbh fhéidir go gcoinneodh an bás faoina smacht é.

Lá Cincise d’éirigh Peadar ina sheasamh i gcuideachta an Aon Duine Dhéag agus labhair leo de ghuth ard:
“A fheara Iosrael, éistigí leis na briathra seo: Fear ab ea Íosa Nazórach ar thug Dia féin teastas daoibh air leis na míorúiltí agus na héachtaí agus na fearta a rinne Dia tríd fad a bhí sé in bhur measc, mar is eol daoibh féin. Nuair a tugadh suas daoibh é de réir chomhairle cinnte agus réamheolas Dé, chuir sibh chun báis é, á thairneáil ar an gcrois trí lámha mallaitheoirí. Ach thóg Dia ó na mairbh é agus d’fhuascail ó arraingeacha an bháis é, mar níorbh fhéidir go gcoinneodh an bás faoina smacht é. Mar is é a deir Dáiví faoi:

“Choinnigh mé mo shúile ar an Tiarna de shíor.
Tá sé ar mo dheasláimh, i dtreo nach suaithfear mé.
Tá gliondar ar mo chroí dá chionn agus tá meidhir ar mo theanga.
Tá mo cholainn féin faoi shuaimhneas le dóchas,
mar ní fhágfaidh tú mé i riocht na marbh
ná ní ligfidh tú do do neach naofa an meathlú a fhulaingt.
Thaispeáin tú dom bóthar na beatha agus líonfaidh tú mé le háthas i do láthair.

“Ní miste a rá libh go neamhbhalbh, a bhráithre, go bhfuair ár n-ardathair Dáiví bás, gur adhlacadh é agus go bhfuil a thuama anseo againn go dtí an lá inniu.Ach ó tharla gurbh fháidh é agus a fhios aige gur mhionnaigh Dia dó go gcuirfeadh sé duine dá shliocht ar a ríchathaoir,is ag cur síos a bhí sé, as a réamheolas, ar aiséirí Chríost mar ‘níor fágadh I riocht na marbh é agus níor fhulaing a cholainn an meathlú’. Thóg Dia an Íosa seo ó mhairbh, rud a bhfuilimidne go léir inár bhfinnéithe air. Agus tar éis a ardaithe ar dheis Dé, fuair sé óna Athair an Spiorad a bhí geallta agus dhoirt amach orainne é agus is é sin atá á fheiceáil agus á chloisteáil agaibhse.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra Sm 15:1-211. 5. 7-11. R/v 11
Freagra Taispeáin dúinn slí na beatha, a Thiarna.
Malairt freagra Alleluia

1. Caomhnaigh mé, a Thiarna, is ortsa a thriallaim. Deirim leis an Tiarna: 'Is tú mo Dhia.
Is é an Tiarna is rogha liom: mo chuid de réir oidhreachta, agus cuid mo chailíse; is ort atá mo sheasamh!' Freagra

2. Beannaím an Tiarna as ucht comhairle a thabhairt dom,agus teagasc a thabhairt do mo chroí san oíche.
Coimeádaim an Tiarna de shíor os mo choinne:agus é ar mo dheasláimh ní chorrófar me choíche. Freagra

3. Tá gairdeas ar mo chroí agus áthas ar m'anam, agus mairfidh mo cholainn faoi shuaimhneas freisin.
Óir ní fhágfaidh tú m'anam i measc na marbh, ná ní ligfidh tú do do mhuirneach truailliú a fheiceáil Freagra

4. Taispeáin tú slí na beatha dom, agus iomlán lúcháire i d'fhianaise,
agus aoibhneas ar do dheasláimh go brách. Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Peadar 1:17-21
Óir is feasach sibh le fuil luachmhar Chríost, amhail fuil uain gan mháchail gan cháim.

A clann ionúin, má thugann sibh Athair ar an té sin a thugann breith gan leathchuma ar gach duine de réir a bhirt, ní foláir daoibh sibh féin a iompar go heaglach le linn bhur ndeoraíochta. Óir is feasach sibh nach le nithe sothruaillithe mar ór nó airgead a fuasclaíodh sibh ó bhur n-iompar baoth a fuair sibh mar oidhreacht ó bhur n-aithreacha, ach le fuil luachmhar Chríost, amhail fuil uain gan mháchail gan cháim. Bhí aithne air cheana féin roimh chruthú an domhain, ach foilsíodh é i ndeireadh ré ar bhur sonsa a chreideann trídsean i nDia, a thóg ó mhairbh é, agus a thug glóir dó, le go mbeadh creideamh agus dóchas agaibhse i nDia.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Alleluia Véarsa Lc 24: 32
Alleluia, alleluia!
A Thiaina Íosa, nocht na scrioptúir dúinn;
cuir ár gcroí ar Iasadh ionainn Ie linn duit bheith ag labhairt linn.
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL

Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 24:13-35
Thóg Íosa an t-arán agus bheannaigh, bhris sé ansin agus thug dóibh é. Osclaíodh a súile agus d’aithin siad é.

An lá sin féin, bhí beirt de na deisceabail ag dul go dtí baile darbh ainm Eamáus a bhí céad staid seascad ó Iarúsailéim, agus bhí siad ag comhrá le chéile faoi na nithe seo uile a bhí tar éis titim amach. Agus sa chomhrá dóibh agus sa chur trí chéile, dhruid Íosa féin leo agus shiúil lena gcois; ach bhí a súile coinnithe chun nach n-aithneoidís é. Dúirt sé leo: “Cad iad na scéala iad seo atá sibh a reic le chéile sa tslí?” Agus stad siad suas agus iad go gruama.

Dúirt duine acu leis á fhreagairt – Cleopas ab ainm dó: “An tusa an t-aon duine amháin atá ag cur fút in Iarúsailéim atá in ainbhios ar na nithe a tharla ann sna laethanta seo?”
Dúirt sé leo: “Cad iad na nithe?”
Dúirt siad leis: “Mar gheall ar Íosa – Nazairéanach, duine a bhí ina fháidh éifeachtach ó ghníomh agus ó bhriathar i bhfianaise Dé agus an phobail uile; mar a thug ár n-ardsagairt agus ár gcinn urra ar láimh é lena dhaoradh chun báis, agus mar a chéas siad é. Agus sinne ag súil leis gurbh eisean a bhí chun Iosrael a fhuascailt! Ach chomh maith leis an méid sin uile, tá an treas lá inniu ann ó thit na nithe sin amach. Agus go deimhin, tá mná dár muintir tar éis alltacht a chur orainn. Ar dhul go dtí an tuama dóibh go moch ar maidin, nuair nach raibh a chorp le fáil acu ann, tháinig siad agus scéala acu, fiú amháin, gur thaispeáin aingil iad féin dóibh a dúirt go bhfuil sé beo. Chuaigh cuid dár gcompánaigh go dtí an tuama ansin, agus fuair gurbh amhlaidh a bhí mar a dúirt na mná, ach ní fhaca siad é féin.”

Ansin dúirt sé féin leo:
“A dhaoine gan tuiscint atá dúr ó chroí chun a bhfuil ráite ag na fáithe a chreidiúint! Nárbh fholáir go bhfulaingeodh an Críost na nithe úd chun go dtiocfadh sé isteach ina ghlóir?”
Agus ag tosú dó ó Mhaois agus ó na fáithe uile, mhínigh sé dóibh na nithe a bhí sna scrioptúir uile mar gheall air féin.

Nuair a bhí siad I ngar don bhaile ar a raibh a dtriall, bhí de chuma air féin go raibh sé ag dul níos faide, agus rinne siad tathant air á rá:
“Fan againn, óir tá sé i mbéal tráthnóna agus an lá siar síos cheana féin.”
Chuaigh sé isteach dá réir sin chun fanacht acu. Agus ansin, nuair a bhí sé ag bord in éineacht leo, thóg sé an t-arán agus bheannaigh, bhris sé ansin agus thug dóibh é. Osclaíodh a súile agus d’aithin siad é; ach chuaigh sé ar neamhní uathu. Agus dúirt siad le chéile: “Nach raibh ár gcroí ar lasadh ionainn le linn dó bheith ag labhairt linn feadh na slí, agus é ag nochtadh na scrioptúr dúinn?”

Chuir siad chun bóthair an uair sin féin agus chuaigh ar ais go Iarúsailéim. Fuair siad an t-aon duine déag agus a gcompánaigh bailithe le chéile agus é de scéal acu: “Tá an Tiarna éirithe go deimhin agus chonacthas do Shíomón é.” Agus rinne siad féin ar tharla sa tslí a aithris, agus mar a d’aithin siad é i mbriseadh an aráin.

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

Churches of the Day

Pictorial Thought for Today

Apr 15 - St Damian the Leper (1840-89)