Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Feb 9 - St Miguel Febres Cordero (1854-1910)
Summary: St Miguel Febres Cordero : a precocious child from the Andes of Ecuador, who became a De La Salle brother. After some years working in Europe, he died in Barcelona, Spain in 1910.
Miguel was a precocious child from the Andes of Ecuador, who became a De La Salle brother. He trained himself to be both an accomplished educator and a holy man. After some years in Europe, he died in Barcelona, Spain in 1910. In 1937 his body was returned to Ecuador. Pope John Paul II canonised him in the year 1984.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Crippled but Precocious Child
Francisco Febres Cordero Muòoz was born in the city of Cuenca, 7,000 ft high in the Andes, in Ecuador. His grandfather had been active in Ecuador's struggle for independence in 1822. His father taught English and French in the seminary in Cuenca. His mother was a devout woman who was active in works of charity.
Francisco was crippled in both legs from birth. His mother took great care of him and educated him at home until he was nine. He then attended the De La Salle Brothers school in Cuenca where he was quite a precocious student. He was chosen to give the address of welcome to President Garcia Moreno when he came to visit the school.
De la Salle Brothers
A
t fourteen Francisco decided to join the De la Salle Brothers and though his father at first made strong objections, he finally consented. Miguel, as he was now called, began teaching in Quito at fifteen and distinguished himself as a teacher of religion and Spanish. At twenty, he was producing textbooks that were used countrywide.
Miguel was chosen by the Brothers to attend the beatification of John-Baptist de la Salle in Rome in 1887. On his return he continued his work as a teacher of Spanish language and literature. He became the director of novices from 1896 to 1905 and was then appointed principal of Sagrada Familia school, but was soon relieved of the post as he wasn't a great administrator.
Working in Belgium and Spain
On request from the order's headquarters at Lembecq-lez-Hal in Belgium, Miguel was seconded there to translate French books into Spanish. He was homesick and the climate did not suit him. He transferred to Barcelona, but here a general strike broke out and churches were being burned. The Brothers were evacuated and Miguel managed to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar at Zaragoza.
Death and Influence
The experience at Barcelona took its toll on his health; he caught pneumonia and died on 7 February 1910. When news of his death reached Ecuador, the country felt a great sense of loss and the conviction grew that he should he should be recognised as the country's first saint. In 1937, partly due to the desecrations that were taking place in the Spanish Civil War, his remains were returned from Spain to Quito in Ecuador.
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Miguel was a precocious child from the Andes of Ecuador, who became a De La Salle brother. He trained himself to be both an accomplished educator and a holy man. After some years in Europe, he died in Barcelona, Spain in 1910. In 1937 his body was returned to Ecuador. Pope John Paul II canonised him in the year 1984.Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A Crippled but Precocious Child
Francisco Febres Cordero Muòoz was born in the city of Cuenca, 7,000 ft high in the Andes, in Ecuador. His grandfather had been active in Ecuador's struggle for independence in 1822. His father taught English and French in the seminary in Cuenca. His mother was a devout woman who was active in works of charity.
Francisco was crippled in both legs from birth. His mother took great care of him and educated him at home until he was nine. He then attended the De La Salle Brothers school in Cuenca where he was quite a precocious student. He was chosen to give the address of welcome to President Garcia Moreno when he came to visit the school.
De la Salle Brothers
A
t fourteen Francisco decided to join the De la Salle Brothers and though his father at first made strong objections, he finally consented. Miguel, as he was now called, began teaching in Quito at fifteen and distinguished himself as a teacher of religion and Spanish. At twenty, he was producing textbooks that were used countrywide.Miguel was chosen by the Brothers to attend the beatification of John-Baptist de la Salle in Rome in 1887. On his return he continued his work as a teacher of Spanish language and literature. He became the director of novices from 1896 to 1905 and was then appointed principal of Sagrada Familia school, but was soon relieved of the post as he wasn't a great administrator.
Working in Belgium and Spain
On request from the order's headquarters at Lembecq-lez-Hal in Belgium, Miguel was seconded there to translate French books into Spanish. He was homesick and the climate did not suit him. He transferred to Barcelona, but here a general strike broke out and churches were being burned. The Brothers were evacuated and Miguel managed to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar at Zaragoza.
Death and Influence
The experience at Barcelona took its toll on his health; he caught pneumonia and died on 7 February 1910. When news of his death reached Ecuador, the country felt a great sense of loss and the conviction grew that he should he should be recognised as the country's first saint. In 1937, partly due to the desecrations that were taking place in the Spanish Civil War, his remains were returned from Spain to Quito in Ecuador.
Beatification and Canonisation
In 1977 Pope Paul VI beatified Miguel and in 1984 Pope John Paul II canonised him. He is a saint, not because of his precocity or his intellectual ability, but because the warmth of his prayer life overflowed in generosity and service to others.
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Memorable Saying for today
No one has ever become poor by giving.
~ The Diary of Anne Frank ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 9th February, 2026
Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Putting ourselves in the presence of God
FIRST READING
A reading from the first book of Kings 8:1-7, 9-13
They brought the ark of the covenant into the Holy of Holies, and the cloud filled the Temple.
Solomon called the elders of Israel together in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord up from the Citadel of David, which is Zion. All the men of Israel assembled round King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, at the time of the feast (that is, the seventh month), and the priests took up the ark and the Tent of Meeting with all the sacred vessels that were in it. In the presence of the ark, King Solomon and all Israel sacrificed sheep and oxen, countless, innumerable. The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the Debir of the Temple, that is, in the Holy of Holies, under the cherubs' wings. For there where the ark was placed the cherubs spread out their wings and sheltered the ark and its shafts. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed in it at Horeb, the tablets of the covenant which the Lord had made with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt; they are still there today.
Now when the priests came out of the sanctuary, the cloud filled the Temple of the Lord, and because of the cloud the priests could no longer perform their duties: the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's Temple.
Then Solomon said:
'The Lord has chosen to dwell in the thick cloud.
Yes, I have built you a dwelling, a place for you to live in for ever.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 131: 6-7, 8-10
Response Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!
1. At Ephrata we heard of the ark; we found it in the plains of Yearim.
'Let us go to the place of his dwelling; let us go to kneel at his footstool.' Response
2. Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your strength.
Your priests shall be clothed with holiness; your faithful shall ring out their joy.
For the sake of David your servant do not reject your anointed. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 8: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
anyone who follows me will have the light of life .
Alleluia!
or Mt 4: 23
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom
and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 6: 53-56 Glory to you, O Lord
All those who touched him were cured.
Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up. No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was.And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Monday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Mark 6:53-56
I chose Andrew as my Confirmation name. I am not sure why, but I knew he was one of the first people that Jesus called to follow him and that he was the brother of Simon Peter. The brothers were fishermen who made a good living by catching fish on the Sea of Galilee and selling the fish on to locals. It always struck me as interesting that Jesus called two sets of brothers when he began to form a group around himself, Peter and Andrew, and James and John.
Peter and Andrew must have been a support to one another as they left one way of life that was familiar to them and started a whole new way of life that was very unfamiliar to them. From now on it is people they would be catching for Jesus rather than catching fish. Jesus needed people like Peter and Andrew, James and John, and many others, women and men, to bring his compassionate, healing, presence to others. The Lord wants to work through us all to make him present to others.
None of us go to the Lord on our own. We need others to bring us to the Lord. We might reflect today on those who brought us to the Lord. In my case, I think of my parents, some teachers I had at school, the local priests in the parish, friends I made who were people of faith. We all came to the Lord through others, and the Lord wants to bring others to himself through each one of us. According to the gospel of John, it was Andrew who met Jesus first, and it was Andrew who brought his brother Peter to Jesus. We can all be an Andrew to someone. We ask Saint Andrew today to grant us something of his willingness to bring others to the Lord, by sharing our faith in whatever way we can. We might also thank the Lord for all the ‘Andrews’ in our life who have brought us to him.
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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: Monday, 9th February, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an céad leabhar Ríthe. 8: 1-7, 9-14
D’iompair siad áirc chonradh an Tiarna go dtí san áit shárnaofa agus bhí Teampall an Tiarna líonta de ghlóir an Tiarna.
Chruinnigh Solamh seanóirí Iosrael le chéile in Iarúsailéim chun go dtabharfaidís áirc chonradh an Tiarna aníos ó Shíón, Dúnfort Dháiví. Bhailigh fir Iosrael ar fad timpeall an rí Solamh i mí Éatáiním le linn na féile (an seachtú mí, sé sin) agus thug na sagairt an áirc suas leo, agus Both na Teagmhála, mar aon leis na soithí naofa go léir a bhí istigh ann. D’ofráil an rí Solamh agus Iosrael ar fad íobairtí os comhair na háirce, caoirigh agus daimh gan áireamh gan chuimse.D’iompair na sagairt áirc chonradh an Tiarna go dtí a hionad i sanctóir an Teampaill, is é sin san áit shárnaofa, faoi sciatháin na gceiribíní. San áit inar cuireadh an áirc bhí sciatháin na gceiribíní spréite amach mar scáth os cionn na háirce agus a pollaí. Ní raibh rud ar bith san áirc ach an dá thábla chloiche a chuir Maois inti i Horaeb, táblaí an chonartha a rinne an Tiarna le clann Iosrael nuair a tháinig siad amach as tír na hÉigipte. Tá siad ansin fós go dtí an lá inniu.
Nuair a tháinig na sagairt amach as an sanctóir, líonadh Teampall an Tiarna leis an néal. De bharr an néil níor fhéad na sagairt leanúint níos faide dá ndualgais freastail; bhí Teampall an Tiarna líonta de ghlóir an Tiarna.
Dúirt Solamh ansin:
“Chinn an Tiarna go lonnódh sé sa néal tiubh.
Is ea go deimhin, tá áit chónaithe tógtha agam duit, it duit chun cónaí ann go brách.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 131: 6-7, 8-10
Freagra Gabh isteach in áit do shuaimhnis, a Thiarna.
1. Chualamar trácht air, féach, in Eafrát; agus fuaireamar é ar mhachairí Iár.
“Téimis isteach ina áras; agus adhraimis ag stóilín a chos.” Freagra
2. Gabh isteach in áit do shuaimhnis, a Thiarna, tú féin agus áirc do mhaorgachta.
Go raibh éadaí na fíréantachta ar do shagairt; go raibh do naoimh ag canadh go meidhreach.
Ar mhaithe le Dáiví do sheirbhíseach, ná diúltaigh don té a d’ung tú. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marc 6: 53-56
mBainfidís le scothóg a bhrait fiú amháin, agus a mbaineadh, shlánaítí iad.
Ar dhul trasna dóibh, bhuail siad talamh ag Geinéasaireit agus tháinig chun leaba ancaire. Agus ar theacht as an mbád dóibh, d’aithin na daoine é agus rith siad ar fud an cheantair sin ar fad, agus thosaigh siad ag breith na ndaoine a bhí tinn ar a gcuid sráideog chun na háite ar chuala siad é bheith. Agus cibé áit a dtéadh sé; sna bailte, sna cathracha, sna feirmeacha, chuiridís lucht tinnis ina luí sna háiteanna poiblí agus dhéanaidís achainí air go mbainfidís le scothóg a bhrait fiú amháin, agus a mbaineadh, shlánaítí iad.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th February, 2026
-15-2-2026-
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
We have been give the freedom to obey God's will.
Christ calls to choose love as our way of fulfilling God's will and fullness of life but....
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus ( Ben Sirach) 15:15-20
He never commanded anyone to be godless.
If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power. He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.
For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and all-seeing.
His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every action of man.
He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Response They are happy who follow God's law!
1. They are happy whose life is blameless, who follow God's law!
They are happy those who do his will, seeking him with all their hearts. Response
2. You have laid down your precepts to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm to obey your statutes. Response
3. Bless your servant and I shall live and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may consider the wonders of your law. Response
4. Teach me the demands of your statutes and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law, to keep it with my heart. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 2:6-10
God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began.
We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden
wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: The things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3:9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
or Mt 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5:17-37 Glory to you, O Lord
You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.
I have come not to abolish them but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.
‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:
You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.
But I say this to you: Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire.
So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.
‘You have learnt how it was said:
You must not commit adultery.
But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.
‘It has also been said:
Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal.
But I say this to you: Everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:
You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord.
But I say this to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black.
All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’
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/
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Shorter Gospel form
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5:20-22.
Theme: You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you....
Jesus said to his disciples:
'Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to complete them.
I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.
'For I tell you,if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will never get into the kingdom of heaven
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/
The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th February, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Shíorach 15:15-20
Níor ordaigh sé d’aon duine ríamh bheith aindiaga.
Más áil leat é, is féidir duit na haitheanta a choimeád,agus ort féin atá sé ag brath a bheith dílis.
Tá tine agus uisce curtha aige os do chomhair;
sín amach do lámh chuig cibé acu is rogha leat.
Tá an bás agus an bheatha os comhair an duine,
agus tabharfar dó cibé acu is mian leis.
Óir is fairsing í eagna an Tiarna; Is mór í a chumhacht agus feiceann sé an uile ní.
Bíonn a shúile ar na daoine a bhfuil eagla orthu roimhe,
agus is eol dó gach beart dá ndéanann an duine.
Níor ordaigh sé d’aon duine riamh a bheith aindiaga,
ná níor thug sé cead d’aon duine riamh peaca a dhéanamh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 118: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Freagra Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a chomhlíonann dlí an Tiarna.
I. Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a bhfuil a slí gan locht, a chomhlíonann dlí an Tiarna.
Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a dhéanann de réir a thola, a iarrann é óna gcroí go hiomlán. Freagra
2. Thug tú do phroiceapta chun go gcomhlíonfaí iad go beacht.
Á, dá mbeadh mo slite socraithe go daingean chun do reachtanna uile a choimeád. Freagra
3. Bí go maith le do ghiolla, go maire mé, agus go gcoimeáda me do bhriathra.
Oscail mo shúile chun go bhfeice mé íontais do dhlí. Freagra
4. Múin dom, a Thiarna, slí do reachtanna, agus coimeádfaidh mé go beacht iad.
Déan mo theagasc chun do dhlí a chomhlíonadh ionas go gcoimeádainn ó chroí é. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 2:6-10
Cheap Dia an eagna roimh thús aimsire chun glóir a thabhairt dúinn.
A bhráithre, labhraimidne eagna i measc na muintire atá tagtha in inmhe, ach
ní hí eagna an tsaoil seo í ná eagna lucht ceannais an tsaoil seo, dream atá ag imeacht as. Is í eagna rúnda Dé atá i gceist againne, an eagna a bhí folaithe ó dhaoine ach a bhí ceaptha ag Dia roimh thús aimsire chun glóir a thabhairt dúinne. Ní raibh fios na heagna seo ag duine ar bith de cheannairí an tsaoil seo mar dá mbeadh a fhios acu í ní chéasfaidís Tiarna na glóire ar an gcrois. Mar atá scríofa:“Nithe nach bhfaca súil iad agus nár chuala cluas iad, nithe nár smaoinigh an duine orthu ina aigne,
is iad atá ullamh ag Dia dóibh siúd a bheir grá dó.”
Is dúinne a nocht Dia [na nithe seo] le cabhair an Spioraid.Scrúdaíonn an Spiorad gach uile ní, fiú duibheagáin Dé féin.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 6: 63, 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,an uile dhuine a ghlac é,
thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 5:17-37 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Sin mar a dúradh leis na sinsir; ach is é seo a deirimse libh.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
“Ná bígí ag ceapadh gur chun an dlí agus na fáithe a chur ar ceal a tháinig mé.
Ní á gcur ar ceal a tháinig mé ach á gcur i gcrích.Óir deirim libh go fírinneach, is túisce a imeoidh neamh agus talamh ná mar a imeoidh aon litir ná aon ghiota den dlí gan gach aon ní a bheith tagtha i gcrích. Dá bhrí sin, an té a chuirfidh aon aithne ar ceal den chuid is lú de na haitheanta seo, agus a mhúinfidh do dhaoine eile an rud céanna a dhéanamh, measfar é sin ar an té is lú i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Ach an té a choimeádfaidh iad agus a mhúinfidh, measfar eisean ina dhuine mór i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
“Chuala sibh go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná déan marú; agus má dhéanann duine marú beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: duine ar bith a bhíonn i bhfeirg lena bhráthair, beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas, agus má deir aon duine lena bhráthair ‘Ceann baoth’, beidh air freagairt ann don tsainidrín; agus má deir sé ‘Amadán’ leis, beidh air freagairt ann i dtine ifrinn. Dá réir sin, má bhíonn tú ag tabhairt d’ofrála chun na haltóra agus go gcuimhneoidh tú ansin go bhfuil cúis ghearáin éigin ag do bhráthair ort, fág d’ofráil ansiúd os comhair na haltóra, imigh leat ar dtús agus déan síocháin le do bhráthair, agus tar ansin ag déanamh na hofrála. An duine a chúisíonn thú, tar chun réitigh leis gan mhoill agus tú ag gabháil na slí leis, le heagla go dtabharfadh fear do chúisithe suas don bhreitheamh thú, agus an breitheamh don phóilín, agus go gcuirfí i bpriosún thú. Deirim leat go fírinneach, ní thiocfaidh tú amach as sin go mbeidh an cianóigín deireanach díolta agat.
“Chuala sibh go ndúradh: ‘Ná déan adhaltranas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: duine ar bith a bhreathnaíonn ar bhean le dúil inti, tá adhaltranas déanta aige léi cheana féin ina chroí. Más siocair pheaca duit do shúil dheas, srac amach í agus caith uait í, óir is fearr duit ball de do chorp a chailleadh ná do chorp ar fad a chaitheamh isteach in ifreann. Agus más siocair pheaca duit do lámh dheas, gearr anuas í agus caith uait í, óir is fearr duit ball de do chorp a chailleadh ná go rachadh do chorp ar fad isteach in ifreann.
“Dúradh fós: ‘Má scaoileann duine a bhean uaidh tugadh sé litir idirscartha di.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: gach aon duine a scaoileann uaidh a bhean, taobh amuigh de chás an striapachais, ligeann sé le hadhaltranas í, agus duine ar bith a phósann bean a scaoileadh, déanann sé adhaltranas.
“Chuala sibh freisin go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná sáraigh do mhionn; déan do mhionna a chomhlíonadh don Tiarna.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh, gan mionn ar bith a thabhairt: gan a thabhairt dar neamh, óir is é ríchathaoir Dé é; ná dar an talamh, óir is é stól a chos é; ná dar Iarúsailéim, óir is í cathair an Rí mhóir í; ná mionnaigh dar do cheann ach chomh beag, mar ní féidir duit aon ribe amháin de a dhéanamh geal ná dubh. Is é amháin is ráite daoibh: ‘Is ea, is ea.’ ‘Ní hea, ní hea.’ Focal thar an méid sin, is ón Olc é!
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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Soiscéal gearr
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 5:20-22,
Sin mar a dúradh leis na sinsir; ach is é seo a deirimse libh.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
“Ná bígí ag ceapadh gur chun an dlí agus
fáithe a chur ar ceal a tháinig mé. Ní á gcur ar ceal a tháinig mé ach á gcur i gcrích.Óir deirim libh go fírinneach, is túisce a imeoidh neamh agus talamh ná mar a imeoidh aon litir ná aon ghiota den dlí gan gach aon ní a bheith tagtha i gcrích. Dá bhrí sin, an té a chuirfidh aon aithne ar ceal den chuid is lú de na haitheanta seo, agus a mhúinfidh do dhaoine eile an rud céanna a dhéanamh, measfar é sin ar an té is lú i ríocht na bhflaitheas. Ach an té a choimeádfaidh iad agus a mhúinfidh, measfar eisean ina dhuine mór i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
