Pictorial Thought for Today

Pictorial Thought for TodayPictorial Thought for Today

Mar 19 - St Joseph (early 1st century)

Summary: St Joseph, a carpenter, though born of the royal house of David, Joseph was an upright man who, as husband of the Virgin Mary, cared for Mary and the child Jesus. Venerated in the East after the fourth century, and his cult flowered in the West during the fifteenth century, following the development of medieval nativity plays, the Christmas crib, and increased devotion to Mary.

JosephThe feast of St Joseph was introduced into the Roman liturgy relatively late, in the fifteenth century, and extended to the universal Church mainly by missionaries in the sixteenth century.

Patrick Duffy looks at how St Joseph is seen in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and in the liturgy.

Jos Patron of ChurchDevotion spread by missionaries
A
fter the introduction of his feast into the Roman liturgy in the fifteenth century, devotion to Joseph was spread by the missionary religious orders of the Reformation. Pope Pius IX declared him patron of the universal Church in 1870. Pope Pius XII introduced the feast of St Joseph the Worker on 1st May 1955. In 1962 Pope John XXIII introduced Joseph's (the Pope's own baptismal) name into the Roman Canon (1st Eucharistic Prayer) of the Mass. Pope Francis declared 2021 as a year of special focus on St Joseph.

Matthew
Matthew's gospel traces Joseph's descent from Abraham and ends with the phrase "husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born". It seems here to decline quite deliberately from saying that he was the father of Jesus.

A man of Honour and Creativity
Matthew also describes Joseph as "a man of honour". When he learned of Mary's pregnancy, he had already chosen the option of mercy and compassion when he decided not to divorce her publicly, but following some kind of encounter with God ("the angel of the Lord") over the matter, he sensed God was asking him to take Mary into his home as wife, to treat the child as his own and to give him the divinely designated name, Jesus, thus indicating that "he would save his people from their sins" (Mt 1:18-21). Matthew's readers will understand this to mean that Jesus fulfils the function of the atonement sacrifices of the temple.

jm_200_NT1.pd-P7.tiff Matthew Ch 2 infers Joseph's protection of the child Jesus against Herod, the flight into Egypt and subsequent return to, and re-settling in Nazareth . Also in Mt 13:55, Jesus is referred to - somewhat with contempt - as "the carpenter's son", without naming his adoptive father, as if Jesus were someone who had risen above his station and as if carpentry were a somewhat dishonourable profession. Joseph was a man of insightful creativity

Luke: from Mary's point of view
L
uke's gospel, whose infancy narratives are written from Mary's point of view, records her as being perplexed at being told she is to conceive a son, even though she is described as engaged to Joseph. It does not mention Joseph's dilemma, but at the start of Jesus's public ministry it says: "He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph, son of Heli" (3:23).

The care of Joseph for Jesus
However, the care of Joseph for Jesus is the background of Luke's narrative (chapter 2) of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, his circumcision and naming, his presentation in the temple, the worry of the loss in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve and having to cope with Jesus saying he would be busy with his Father's affairs.

The Liturgy
A
ll this is beautifully expressed in the Preface of St Joseph in the Mass of his feast:

....He is that just man,
that wise and loyal servant,
whom you placed at the head of your family.
With a husband's love he cherished Mary,
the virgin Mother of God.
With fatherly care he watched over Jesus Christ your Son,
conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit....


Devotion
Catholic devotion has traditionally seen Joseph as the patron saint of a happy death.

(See also the feast of St Joseph the Worker, 1st May.)






For a longer reflection, see Redemptoris custos ("On the person and mission of St Joseph in the life of Christ and the Church" Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II 15-8-1989).
Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 19th March, 2024

03-19-St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary


 Joseph was a person of faith and  obedience to God's will and salvific plan for humanity,
He showed great fortitude in times of trial,  chaste spousal love of Mary and dutiful protector to Jesus.


FIRST READING  

A reading from the second book of Samuel             7:4-5. 12-14. 16
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David

The word of the Lord came to Nathan:
'Go and tell my servant David,
"Thus the Lord speaks:
Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? And when your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives.
"Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever."'

The Word of the Lord.         Thanks be to God


Responsorial Psalm       Ps 88:2-5, 27, 29
Response                            His dynasty shall last for ever.

1. I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens. Response

2. 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.'                                       Response

3. He will say to me: 'You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.'
I will keep my love for him always; for him my covenant shall endure.                                                     Response

SECOND READING   

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans          4:13. 16-18.22 
Though it seemed Abraham's hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed.

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham's descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us.

As scripture says:
I have made you the ancestor of many nations, Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.

Though it seemed Abraham's hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised:
' Your descendants will be as many as the stars.
This is the faith that was 'considered as justifying him.'

The Word of the Lord.                      Thanks be to God

Gospel Acclamation                    James 1 :21
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord, forever singing your praise.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

GOSPEL    

The Lord be with you.                                        And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew  1:16. 18-21. 24      Glory to you, O Lord
When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.

Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.'
When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.

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



Gospel Reflection          March 19th         Feast of Saint Joseph       Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

One of the gospel readings for the feast of Saint Joseph is the story of the birth of Jesus, according to Matthew. It is a little less familiar to us than the story of the birth of Jesus as we find it in Luke’s gospel and which we read on Christmas night. The gospel reading portrays Joseph at a moment of crisis. It could be termed a crisis of intimacy. Joseph tends to be depicted in religious art as an elderly man, more like Jesus’ grandfather than father. In reality, at the time of Jesus’ birth, he must have been a vigorous young man, perhaps still in his teens. The gospel reading describes him as betrothed to Mary. Betrothal is more than what we refer to as an ‘engagement’. As betrothed, he and Mary were legally husband and wife, but they would only live together as husband and wife after their marriage ceremony. The future happiness of this young man is suddenly clouded by an event of which he can make little sense, Mary’s pregnancy. What is he to do in this unexpected and confusing situation? The Jewish Law would have required him to take a course of action that went against all his natural feelings for Mary. In that moment of personal crisis, according to the gospel reading, Joseph experienced God as Emmanuel, God with him. God communicated with Joseph at this difficult time in his life and Joseph was open to hearing God’s word to him, a word that directed him beyond what the Law required, prompting him to marry his betrothed, to take her home as his wife. The story of Joseph reminds us that God continues to communicate with us in the challenging situations of our own lives, including crises of intimacy. There is no personal dilemma that need cut us off from God. God speaks a word of love and wisdom to us even in the most unpromising moments of our life’s journey. Jesus reveals God to be Emmanuel, God with us, and God is with us, guiding us and supporting us, especially in our own difficult family experiences. The gospel reading also suggests that Joseph was not only open to God’s presence but revealed God’s presence to Mary, showing her great care and sensitivity in a disturbing and unsettling moment. Joseph inspires us not only to be open to God’s presence in difficult family moments, but to reveal God’s loving and tender presence to each other, to look out for one another, when events come along that are disruptive and disturbing. Joseph’s care for the pregnant Mary, and later for Mary and his young son when faced with exile, is an inspiration to us all.

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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and 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 2021/ 2024: The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications 2022/23, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

 

__________________
Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 19th March, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHT     

Sliocht as an dara leabhar Samuél                 7:4-5. 12-14. 16
Bhéarfaidh an Tiarna Dia dó ríchathaoir Dháiví a athair.

T
háinig briathar an Tiarna go Nátán
Imigh leat agus abair le mo sheirbhíseach Dáiví:
Seo mar a labhraíonn an Tiarna: An amhlaidh gur mian leat teach a thógáil dom ina ndéanfaidh mé cónaí? Agus nuair a bheidh deireadh le do ré, agus go n-adhlacfar le do shinsir thú, cumhdóidh mé do shliocht i do dhiaidh, síol do choirp, agus daingneoidh mé a fhlaitheas.(Eisean a thógfaidh teach do m’ainmse, agus daingneoidh mé a chathaoir ríoga go deo.) Beidh mé i m’athair aige, agus eisean ina mhac agamsa; má dhéanann sé olc, tabharfaidh mé an tslat dó mar phionós, faoi mar dhéanann daoine, agus buillí mar a thugann an cine daonna.

Seasfaidh do theaghlach agus do fhlaitheas i gcónaí go daingean romham agus daingneofar do ríchathaoir go deo.’”

Briathar an Tiarna           Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra           Sm 88
Freagra                           Mairfidh a shlíocht go síoraí

1. Canfaidh mé de shíor faoi bhuanghrá an Tiarna, fógróidh mé do dhílseacht ó ghlúin go glúin.
Óir daingníodh do bhuanghrá go síoraí agus tá do dhílseacht chomh buan leis na flaithis.      Freagra

2.Cheangail mé conradh le m'fhear tofa. Dhearbhaigh mé do Dháiví, mo sheirbhíseach: '
Socróidh mé do shlíocht ar feadh na síoraíochta, agus bunóidh mé do ríchathaoir go síoraí.'  Freagra

3. Déarfaidh sé liom: Is tú m’athair, is tú mo Dhia agus carraig mo shlánaithe.’
Coinneoidh mé mo bhuanghrá go síoraí agus seasfaidh mo conradh leis go daingean.              Freagra


DARA LÉACHT

 Sliocht as litir Naomh Pól chuig na  Rómháigh          4:13.16-18.22
Agus gan aon ábhar dóchais aige, chreid Abráhám go dóchasach.

A
Bhráithre, ní mar gheall ar aon dlí a gealladh d’Abrahám ná dá shliocht go mbeadh sé ina oidhre ar an domhan ach mar gheall ar fhíréantacht chreidimh. Mar, más iad na daoine atá i dtaobh leis an dlí is oidhrí, tá an creideamh gan bhrí agus an gealltanas gan éifeacht.   Go deimhin déanann an dlí fearg a chothú, mar an áit nach mbíonn dlí ní bhíonn briseadh dlí ann ach oiread.   Is ó chreideamh é dá bhrí sin, ionas go mbeadh an gealltanas le fáil saor in aisce, agus go mbeadh éifeacht aige do shliocht iomlán Abrahám, ní amháin don chuid sin atá i dtaobh leis an dlí ach fós don chuid atá i dtaobh le creideamh Abrahám, an té is athair dúinn go léir   de réir an scrioptúir:
Tá tú ceaptha agam i d’athair ar mhórán náisiún,” i bhfianaise an Dé ar chreid sé ann, an té a bheonn na mairbh agus a ghlaonn ar bith na nithe nach raibh ann. Agus gan aon ábhar dóchais aige, chreid sé go dóchasach go mbeadh sé ina athair ar mhórán náisiún de réir mar a bhí ráite: “Amhlaidh sin a bheidh do shíol.”  

Níor lagaigh ar a chreideamh ag machnamh dó ar a chorp spíonta féin – bhí sé ag tarraingt ar an gcéad – agus ar bhroinn mharbh Shárá.   Ní raibh ceist ná amhras air mar gheall ar ghealltanas Dé; go deimhin is amhlaidh a neartaíodh ina chreideamh é agus thug sé glóir do Dhia   mar go raibh sé lánchinnte de go bhféadfadh Dia a raibh geallta aige a chur i gcrích.
Sin é an fáth ar “áiríodh a chreideamh mar fhíréantacht aige”.

Briathar an Tiarna                     Buíochas le Dia

Comhghair an tSoiscéil       Ps 83: 5 
Glóir duit, a Chríost: is tú Briathar De!
Is méanar dá ndéanann cónaí i do theach; beidh siad do do mholadh de shíor.
Glóir duit, a Chríost: is tú Briathar De!

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.                              Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh  Matha     1:16. 18-21. 24           Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Rinne Iósaef mar a d’ordaigh aingeal an Tiarna dó.


Ghin Iácób Iósaef, fear céile Mhuire ónar rugadh losa ar a dtugtar Críost.

Seo mar a tharla Íosa Críost a shaolú. Bhí Muire, a mháthair, luaite le Iósaef, agus sula ndearnadar aontíos, fuarthas torrach í ón Spiorad Naomh. Ba dhuine cóir a fear céile Iósaef, ach níorbh áil leis go dtabharfaí míchlú di, agus chinn sé í a scaoileadh uaidh os íseal. Ag machnamh ar an méid sin dó, áfach, thaispeáin aingeal ón Tiarna é féin do imbrionglóid agus dúirt:
A Iósaef, a mhic Dháiví, ná bíodh eagla ort do bhean chéile Muire a thabhairt abhaile leat, óir, an leanbh atá gafa aici, is ón Spiorad Naomh é. Béarfaidh sí mac, agus tabharfaidh tú Íosa mar ainm air, óir slánóidh sé a phobal óna bpeacaí.”

Dhúisigh Iósaef agus d’éirigh, agus rinne mar d’ordaigh aingeal an Tiarna dó.

Soiscéal an Tiarna.           Moladh duit, a Chriost



AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 24th March, 2024
Palm Sunday 1

Holy Week begins on this Sunday, which joins the foretelling of Christ’s regal triumph
and Holy Week 1the proclamation of the Passion.


The Lenten season lasts until the Thursday when the Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

 

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION

PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL   

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark   11:1-10     Glory to you, O Lord
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord.

iJesus enters JerusalemWhen they were approaching Jerusalem, in sight of Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them,
'Go off to the village facing you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, "What are you doing?" say, "The Master needs it and will send it back here directly."
They went off and found a colt tethered near a door in the open street. As they untied it, some men standing there said, 'What are you doing, untying that colt?' They gave the answer Jesus, had told them, and, the men let them go. Then they took the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on its back, and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, others greenery which they had cut in the fields. And those who went in front and those who followed were all shouting, Hosanna "Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heavens!'

THE MASS


FIRST READING                

A reading from 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.Jesus_with_cross
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
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 letter of St Paul to the Philippians     2: 6-11
He humbled himself, but God raised him high


His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with GodCross and resurrection
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 Mark       (14:1-15:47)


(N: Narrator.     J: Jesus     O: other single speaker     C:Crowd)


N It was two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death. For they said,
C It must not be during the festivities, or there will be a disturbance among the people.
N Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper; he was at dinner when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head. Some who were there said to one another indignantly,
C Why this waste of ointment? Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor;
N and they were angry with her. But Jesus said,
J Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done
for me is one of the good works. You have the poor with you always and you can be kind to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me. She has done what was in her power to do; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. I tell you solemnly, wherever throughout all the world the Good News is proclaimed, what she has done will be told also, in remembrance of her.
N Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached the chief priests with an offer to hand Jesus over to them. They were delighted to hear it, and promised to give him money; and he looked for a way of betraying him when the opportunity should occur. On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to him,
C Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the passover?
N So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
J Go "into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, 'The Master says: Where is my dining room in which I can eat the passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there.
N The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover. When evening came he arrived with the Twelve. And while they were at table eating, Jesus said,
J I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me, one of you eating with me.N They were distressed and asked him, one after another,
Not I, surely?
N He said to them,
J It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping into the same dish with me. Yes, 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!
N And as they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
J Take it; this is my body.
N Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to
them, and all drank from it, and he said to them,
J This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.

N After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them,\
J You will all lose faith, for the scripture says, 'I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered'. However after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee.
N Peter said,|
O Even if all lose faith, I will not.
N And Jesus said to him,
J I tell you solemnly, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.
N But he repeated still more earnestly,
If I have to die with you, I will never disown you.'
N And they all said the same. They came to a small estate called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, J Stay here while 'I pray.
N Then he took Peter and James and John with him. And a sudden fear came over him, and great distress. And he said to them,
J My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here, and keep awake.
N And going on a little further he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him. by. He said,
J Abba (Father)! Everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it.
N He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter,
J Simon, are you asleep? Had you not the strength to keep awake one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is 'weak.

N Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came back and found them sleeping, their, yes were so heavy; and they could find no answer for him. He came back a third time and said to them,
J  You can sleep on now and take your rest. It is all over. The hour has come. Now the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is close at hand already.
N Even while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up with a number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the traitor had arranged a signal with them. He had said,
O 'The one I kiss, he is the man. Take him in charge, and see he is well guarded when you lead him away.'
N So when the traitor came, he went straight up to Jesus and said, O Rabbi!

N and kissed him. The others seized him and took him in charge. Then one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck out at the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear.
Then Jesus spoke,
J Am I a brigand that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? 1 was among you teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me. But this is to fulfil the scriptures.

N And they all deserted him and ran away. A young man who followed him had nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked. They led Jesus off to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes assembled there. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the high priest's palace, and was sitting with the attendants warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus on which they might pass the death sentence. But they could not find any. Several, indeed, brought false evidence against him, but their evidence was conflicting. Some stood up and submitted this false evidence against him,
C We heard him say, 'I am going to destroy this Temple made by human hands, and in three days build another, not made by human hands'.
N But even on this point their evidence was conflicting. The high priest then stood up before the whole assembly and put this question to Jesus,
O Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?
N But he was silent and made no answer at all. The high priest put a
second question to him,
O  Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed One?
N Jesus said,
J I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.
N The high priest tore his robes, and said,
O  What need of witnesses have we now? You heard the blasphemy. What is your finding?
N And they all gave their verdict: he deserved to die. Some of them started spitting at him and, blindfolding him, began hitting him with their fists and shouting,
C Play the prophet!
N And the attendants rained blows on him. While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the high-priest's servant-girls came up. She saw Peter warming himself there, stared at him and said
O You too were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.
N But he denied it, saying O I do not know, I do not understand what you are talking about. N And he went out into the forecourt. The servant-girl saw him and again started telling the bystanders,
O This fellow is one of them.
N But he again denied it. A little later the bystanders themselves said to Peter,
C You are one of them for sure! Why, you are a Galilean.
N But he started calling curses on himself and swearing,
O I do not know the man you speak of.
N At that moment the cock crew for the second time, and Peter
recalled how Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times'. And he burst into tears.

First thing in the morning, the chief priest together with the elders and scribes, in short the whole Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him,
O Are you the king of the Jews?
N He answered,
J It is you who say it
N And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. Pilate questioned him again,
O Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!
N But to Pilate's amazement, Jesus made no further reply. At festival time Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone they asked for. Now a man called Barabbas was then in prison with the rioters who had committed murder during the uprising. When the crowd went up and began to ask Pilate the customary favour, Pilate answered them,
O Do you want me to release~ for you the king of the Jews?
N For he realised it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. The chief priests, however, had incited the crowd to demand that he should release Barabbas for them instead. Then Pilate spoke again.
O  But in that case, what am I to do with the man you call king of the Jews?
N They shouted back.
C Crucify him!
N Pilate asked them,
O Why? What harm has he done?
N But they shouted all the louder,
C Crucify him!

N
So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and, having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away to the inner part of the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and called the whole cohort together. They dressed him up in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on him. And they began saluting him,
C Hail, king of the Jews!
N They struck is head with a reed and spat' on him; and-they went down on their knees to do him homage. And when they had finished making fun of him, they. took off the purple and dressed him in his own clothes. They led him out to crucify him. They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull.
They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he refused it. Then they crucified him, and shared out his clothing, casting lots to decide what each should get. It was the third h1mr when they crucified him. The inscription giving the charge against him read: 'The King of the Jews.' And they crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said,
C Aha! So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself: come down from the cross!
N The chief priests and the scribes mocked him among themselves in the same way. They said,
C He saved others, he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, for us to see it and believe.
N Even those who were crucified with him taunted him. When the sixth hour came there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
J Eloi, Eloi, lama, sabachthani?
N This means 'My God, my God, why have you deserted me?'
N When some of those who stood by heard this, they said,
C Listen, he is calling on Elijah.
N Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink, saying,
O  Wait and see if Elijah will come to take him down.
N But Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

(All kneel and pause a moment.)

N And the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said,
O In truth this man was a son of God.
N There were some women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary who was the mother of James the younger, and Joset, and Salome. These used to follow him and look after him when he was in Galilee. And there were many other women there who had come up to Jerusalem with him

Jesus in tombIt was now evening, and since it was Preparation Day (that is the vigil of the sabbath), there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself lived in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God, and he boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate, astonished that he should have died so soon, summoned the centurion and enquired if he was already dead. Having been assured of this by the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph who brought a shroud, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the shroud and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset were watching and took note of where he was laid.

_________________________________________________________

Shorter Form 

               The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark       (15: 1:39)


First thing in the morning, the chief priest together with the elders and scribes, in short the whole Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him,

O Are you the king of the Jews?

N He answered,

J It is you who say it

N And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. Pilate questioned him again,

O Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!

N But to Pilate's amazement, Jesus made no further reply. At festival time Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone they asked for. Now a man called Barabbas was then in prison with the rioters who had committed murder during the uprising. When the crowd went up and began to ask Pilate the customary favour, Pilate answered them,

O Do you want me to release~ for you the king of the Jews?

N For he realised it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. The chief priests, however, had incited the crowd to demand that he should release Barabbas for them instead. Then Pilate spoke again.

O  But in that case, what am I to do with the man you call king of the Jews?

N They shouted back.

C Crucify him!

N Pilate asked them,

O Why? What harm has he done?

N But they shouted all the louder,

C Crucify him!

N So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and, having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away to the inner part of the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and called the whole cohort together. They dressed him up in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on him. And they began saluting him,

C Hail, king of the Jews!

N They struck is head with a reed and spat' on him; and-they went down on their knees to do him homage. And when they had finished making fun of him, they. took off the purple and dressed him in his own clothes. They led him out to crucify him. They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull.

They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he refused it. Then they crucified him, and shared out his clothing, casting lots to decide what each should get. It was the third h1mr when they crucified him. The inscription giving the charge against him read: 'The King of the Jews.' And they crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said,

C Aha! So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself: come down from the cross!

N The chief priests and the scribes mocked him among themselves in the same way. They said,

C He saved others, he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, for us to see it and believe.

N Even those who were crucified with him taunted him. When the sixth hour came there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

J Eloi, Eloi, lama,sabachthani?

N This means 'My God, my God, why have you deserted me?'
When some of those who stood by heard this, they said,

C Listen, he is calling on Elijah.

N Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink, saying,

O  Wait and see if Elijah will come to take him down.

N But Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

(All kneel and pause a moment.)

N And the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said,
O In truth this man was a son of God.

________________________________

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, 24th March, 2024

DOMNACH NA PÁISE nó NA PAILME


SOISCÉAL       

Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas                11:1-10
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna!

iJesus enters JerusalemNuair a bhí siad ag teacht i ngar do Iarúsailéim, agus iad chomh fada le Béatfaigé agus Béatáine i dtreo Chnoc na nOlóg, chuir sé beirt dá dheisceabail uaidh, agus  dúirt sé leo: “Téigí isteach sa bhaile atá os bhur gcomhair agus láithreach ag dul isteach ann daoibh, gheobhaidh sibh searrach ceangailte nach raibh duine ar bith riamh ar a mhuin. Scaoiligí é agus tugaigí libh é. Agus má deir aon duine libh: ‘Cad atá sibh a dhéanamh?’ abraigí: ‘Tá gá ag an Tiarna leis. Ach cuirfidh sé ar ais anseo gan mhoill é.’” D’imigh siad leo agus fuair an searrach ceangailte ag doras, lasmuigh ar an tsráid agus scaoil siad é. Agus dúirt cuid dá raibh ina seasamh ansiúd leo: “Cad ab áil libh ag scaoileadh an tsearraigh?” D’fhreagair siad faoi mar a dúirt Íosa leo, agus scaoil siad leo. Agus thug siad leo an searrach go dtí Íosa agus chuir siad a mbrait anuas air agus chuaigh sé ina shuí air. Leath a lán daoine a mbrait ar an mbóthar, a thuilleadh craobhacha a bhain siad sna goirt; agus na daoine a bhí roimhe amach, agus iad siúd a bhí á leanuint, bhí na gártha acu á gcur suas:
“Hósana!
Is beannaithe an té atá ag teacht in ainm an Tiarna!
Is beannaithe ag teacht í, Ríocht ár nAthar, Dáiví!
Hósana sna harda!”

An Aifreann



CÉAD LÉACHT   

Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, Fáidh            50:4-7
Níor cheil mé mo ghnúis ar mhasla-bhí a fhios agam nach mbeinn meallta.

Jesus_with_crossThug 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, más 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 eatarthu 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; ceiliúraigí é, a shliocht Iácób go léir;
tugaigí urraim dó, a shíol lsráél go léir.                                                                                                             Freagra


DARA LÉACT           

Sliocht as litir Naomh Pól chuig na Filipigh      2: 6-11
An té úd a bhí i riocht Dé ó dhúchas, níorbh éadáil Íosa bheith ar chomhchéim le Dia,
Ach lom sé é féin.
ACross and resurrectiongus 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

Comhgháir 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 Marcas
14:1-15: 47


Bhí an Cháisc agus féile an tSlimaráin faoi cheann dhá lá, agus bhí uachtaráin na sagart agus na scríobhaithe ag cuardach, féachaint conas a dhéanfaidís Íosa a ghabháil trí cheilg agus é a chur chun báis; óir deiridís: “Ní ar an bhféile é, le heagla go
dtógfaí callán i measc an phobail.”


Nuair a bhí Íosa i mBeátáine, i dteach Shíomóin, an lobhar, agus é ag bord, tháinig bean le próicín alabastair d’ola nard dhílis mhórluaigh; bhris sí an próicín alabastair, agus dhoirt sí an ola ar a cheann. Bhí daoine ann a raibh mícheádfa acu agus dúirt siad le chéile: “Cén fáth an diomailt ola seo? Ba fhéidir an ola seo a dhíol ar bhreis agus trí chéad déanar agus an t-airgead a thabhairt do na boicht.” Agus bhí siad ag casaoid léi. Ach dúirt Íosa: “Ligigí di! Cén fáth a bhfuil sibh ag déanamh cros di? Óir is dea-obair í sin atá déanta aici orm; óir bíonn na boicht in bhur measc agaibh i gcónaí, agus féadann sibh maith a dhéanamh dóibh nuair is áil libh; ach nílimse le bheith agaibh i gcónaí. A raibh ar a cumas, rinne sí é; chuir sí ola roimh ré ar mo chorp chun a adhlactha. Deirim libh go fírinneach, cibé áit ina gcraobhscaoilfear an soiscéal seo ar fud an domhain go léir, déanfar trácht ar a ndearna sise freisin mar chuimhneamh uirthi.”

Agus chuaigh Iúdás Isceiriót, duine den dáréag, go dtí uachtaráin na sagart chun é a thabhairt ar láimh dóibh. Nuair a d’airigh siad é bhí áthas orthu agus gheall siad airgead a thabhairt dó; agus bhí sé ag faire ar dheis chun é a thabhairt ar láimh.

Ar an gcéad lá d’fhéile an tSlimaráin, nuair ba ghnách leo an cháisc a íobairt, dúirt a dheisceabail leis: “Cárbh áil leat go rachaimis agus ullmhú duit chun an cháisc a ithe?” Chuir sé uaidh beirt dá dheisceabail agus dúirt sé leo: “Téigí isteach sa chathair, agus buailfidh fear libh agus próca uisce aige á bhreith leis. Leanaigí é agus cibé áit a dtéann sé isteach, abraigí le fear an tí ‘Deir an máistir: Cá bhfuil mo sheomra aíochta go n-ithinn an cháisc in éineacht le mo dheisceabail?’ Agus taispeánfaidh sé daoibh seomra mór in airde staighre, é feistithe ullamh. Déanaigí an réiteach ansiúd dúinn.” D’imigh na deisceabail leo agus tháinig siad isteach sa chathair, agus fuair siad mar a dúirt sé leo, agus d’ullmhaigh siad an cháisc.

Nuair a bhí an tráthnóna ann, tháinig sé leis an dáréag. Agus nuair a bhí siad ina suí ag ithe, dúirt Íosa: “Deirim libh go fírinneach: tá duine agaibh atá ag ithe in éineacht liom a bhraithfidh mé.” Tháinig buaireamh orthu agus thosaigh siad ar a fhiafraí de, ina nduine is ina nduine: “An mise é?” Dúirt sé leo: “Duine den dáréag é, duine a thumann a lámh sa mhias i mo theannta. Sea, 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.”

Le linn dóibh a bheith ag ithe, thóg Íosa arán, agus ar a bheannú dó, bhris agus thug dóibh é agus dúirt: “Tógaigí; is é seo mo chorp.” Agus thóg sé an cupa, agus ar altú dó, thug dóibh é, agus d’ól siad go léir as. Agus dúirt sé leo: “Is í seo m’fhuilse an tiomna, atá le doirteadh ar son a lán. Deirim libh go fírinneach, nach n-ólfaidh mé den sú seo na fíniúna a thuilleadh go dtí an lá sin nuair a ólfaidh mé ina fhíon nua é i ríocht Dé.”

Tar éis dóibh an t-iomann a chanadh, chuaigh siad amach go Cnoc na nOlóg. Agus dúirt Íosa leo: “Glacfaidh sibh uile scannal, óir tá scríofa: ‘Buailfidh mé an t-aoire agus scaipfear na caoirigh.’ Ach tar éis dom éirí, rachaidh mé romhaibh go dtí an Ghailíl.” Ach dúirt Peadar leis: “Siúd is go nglacfaidh cách scannal, ní ghlacfaidh mise.” Agus dúirt Íosa leis: “Deirim leat go fírinneach, sa lá seo againn, anocht féin, roimh ghlaoch don choileach faoi dhó, séanfaidh tú mé faoi thrí.” Ach is mar sin is déine a labhair sé: “Más ea féin go gcaithfidh mé bás a fháil in éineacht leat, ní shéanfaidh mé thú.” Agus dúirt siad uile an rud céanna.

Tháinig siad go dtí áit ar a dtugtar Geitséamainí agus dúirt sé lena dheisceabail: “Fuirígí anseo fad a bheidh mé ag guí.” Rug sé leis Peadar agus Séamas agus Eoin agus thosaigh sé ar bheith go critheaglach agus in anbhuain. Agus dúirt sé leo: “Tá buaireamh mór ar m’anam go pointí báis. Fanaigí anseo agus bígí ag faire.” Chuaigh sé ar aghaidh tamall agus chaith é féin ar an talamh, agus ghuigh go ngabhfadh an uair thairis, dá mb’fhéidir é, agus dúirt sé: “Abba, a Athair, tá gach ní ar do chumas. Tóg an cupa seo uaim. Ach ná bíodh mar is toil liomsa ach mar is toil leatsa.” Agus tháinig sé agus fuair ina gcodladh iad, agus dúirt sé le Peadar: “A Shíomóin, an i do chodladh atá tú? Nár fhéad tú faire aon uaire a dhéanamh? Bígí ag faire agus ag guí ionas nach rachadh sibh i gcathú. Tá an spiorad fonnmhar ach tá an cholainn fann.” Agus d’imigh sé arís agus ghuigh sé ag rá na bhfocal céanna. Tháinig sé arís agus fuair ina gcodladh iad mar bhí a súile trom; agus ní raibh a fhios acu cén freagra a thabharfaidís air. Tháinig sé den tríú huair agus dúirt leo: “Codlaígí libh feasta, agus glacaigí bhur suaimhneas. Ní beag sin! Tá an t-am tagtha. Féach, tá 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, tháinig Iúdás, duine den dáréag agus slua lena chois a raibh claimhte agus bataí acu, ag teacht ó uachtaráin na sagart, agus ó na scríobhaithe, agus ó na seanóirí. Bhí an comhartha ag fear a bhraite dóibh. “An duine a bpógfaidh mé é,” ar seisean leo, “sin é é. Gabhaigí é, agus tugaigí libh é go haireach.” Tháinig sé agus rinne anonn ar Íosa gan stad; “A Raibí,” ar seisean leis, agus phóg sé é. Leag siad siúd a lámha air agus ghabh siad é. Ach duine dá raibh ina sheasamh ansiúd, tharraing sé a chlaíomh, agus bhuail seirbhíseach an ardsagairt agus bhain an chluas de. Dúirt Íosa leo á bhfreagairt: “An robálaí mé gur ghluais sibh amach mar seo le claimhte agus le bataí chun breith orm? Bhínn in bhur measc gach lá ag teagasc sa Teampall agus ní dhearna sibh mé a ghabháil. Ach is chun go gcomhlíonfaí na scrioptúir é.” Agus thug siad uile a gcúl leis agus theith. Fear óg a bhí á leanúint, ní raibh air ach brat línéadaigh. Rug siad air, ach lig sé an brat leo agus rith uathu agus é nocht.

Sheol siad Íosa leo go dtí an t-ardsagart, agus chruinnigh uachtaráin na sagart agus na seanóirí agus na scríobhaithe le chéile ansiúd. Lean Peadar é, i bhfad uaidh, isteach I gcúirt an ardsagairt, agus bhí sé ina shuí i measc na seirbhíseach, agus é á théamh féin leis an tine.

Agus bhí uachtaráin na sagart agus an tsainidrín uile ag lorg fianaise in aghaidh Íosa d’fhonn é chur chun báis, ach ní fhuair siad. Óir bhí a lán ag tabhairt fianaise bhréige ina choinne, ach ní raibh a bhfianaise ag réiteach. Agus d’éirigh daoine éigin agus thug siad fianaise bhréige ina aghaidh á rá: “Chualamarna é á rá: ‘An teampall seo a rinneadh le lámha daonna, leagfaidh mé é, agus faoi chionn trí lá tógfaidh mé ceann eile nach le lámha daoine a dhéanfar.’” Ach níor réitigh a bhfianáise fiú sa mhéid sin. Agus d’éirigh an t-ardsagart i lár baill agus chuir sé ceist chun Íosa, á rá: “Nach bhfuil aon fhreagra ar bith agat? Cad atá acu seo á dhearbhú ort?” Ach d’fhan sé ina thost agus níor thug sé aon fhreagra. Chuir an t-ardsagart ceist chuige arís agus dúirt sé leis: “An tú an Críost, Mac an Bheannaithe?” Dúirt Íosa leis: “Is mé; agus feicfidh sibh Mac an Duine ina shuí ar dheis na Cumhachta agus é ag teacht le scamaill na bhflaitheas.” Stróic an t-ardsagart a róbaí: “Cad is gá dúinn a thuilleadh d’fhinnéithe?” ar sé, “chuala sibh an diamhasla. Cad é bhur mbarúil?” Agus thug siad go léir de dhaorbhreith air go raibh an bás tuillte aige. Agus thosaigh cuid acu ar sheilí a chaitheamh air, agus ar dhallóg a chur ar a aghaidh, agus é a bhualadh, agus a rá leis: “Bí ag tairngreacht!” Agus ghabh na seirbhísigh de bhuillí air.

Nuair a bhí Peadar laistíos sa chúirt, tháinig duine de chailíní aimsire an ardsagairt, agus nuair a chonaic sí Peadar á théamh féin, d’fhéach sí go géar air agus dúirt leis: “Bhí tusa freisin in éineacht le hÍosa an Nazairéanach.” Ach shéan sé é, á rá: “Ní eol dom, ní thuigim cad a deir tú.” Agus d’imigh sé amach sa réamhchúirt agus ghlaoigh an coileach. Chonaic an cailín aimsire é agus thosaigh ar a rá arís leis na daoine a bhí ina seasamh timpeall: “Is duine díobh é seo.” Ach shéan sé arís. Tar éis tamaill bhig dúirt na daoine a bhí ina seasamh timpeall arís le Peadar: “Go dearfa is duine díobh sin tusa, mar is Gailíleach tú ar ndóigh.” Ach thosaigh sé ag eascaine agus ag tabhairt na mionn: “Níl aithne agam ar an duine seo a deir sibh.” Agus láithreach ghlaoigh an coileach den dara huair; agus ba chuimhin le Peadar an focal a dúirt Íosa leis: “Roimh ghlaoch don choileach faoi dhó, séanfaidh tú mé faoi thrí.” Agus bhris an gol air.

Ar maidin bhí a gcomhairle ullamh gan mhoill ag uachtaráin na sagart fara na seanóirí agus na scríobhaithe – an tsainidrín uile. Tar éis dóibh Íosa a cheangal, thug siad leo é agus thug ar láimh é do Phioláit. D’fhiafraigh Pioláit de: “An tusa Rí na nGiúdach?” Dúirt sé leis á fhreagairt: “Tá sé ráite agat.” Agus chuir uachtaráin na sagart a lán ina leith. D’fhiafraigh Pioláit de arís: “Nach bhfuil aon fhreagra agat á thabhairt? Féach a bhfuil acu á gcur i do leith!” Ach níor thug Íosa freagra ar bith eile, rud a chuir ionadh ar Phioláit.

Le linn na féile ba bhéas leis príosúnach, an té a lorgaídís, a scaoileadh saor. Agus bhí fear darbh ainm Barabas ar láimh an uair sin leis an lucht ceannairce, dream a raibh dúnmharú déanta acu sa cheannairc. Chuaigh an slua suas dá bhrí sin agus thosaigh siad ar a iarraidh air déanamh dóibh mar ba ghnách. D’fhreagair Pioláit iad á rá: “An mian libh go scaoilfinn saor chugaibh Rí na nGiúdach?” Óir bhí fhios aige gur formad faoi deara do uachtaráin na sagart é a thabhairt ar láimh. Ach spreag uachtaráin na sagart an slua chun gurbh é Barabas seachas eisean a scaoilfeadh sé saor chucu. Agus dúirt Pioláit leo arís á bhfreagairt: “Más ea, cad a dhéanfaidh mé leis an té ar a dtugann sibh Rí na nGiúdach?” Scread siad arís: “Céas é!” Dúirt Pioláit leo: “Ach, cén t-olc a rinne sé?” Ach is ea ba mhó a scread siad: “Céas é!” Agus chun an slua a shásamh, scaoil sé Barabas saor chucu ach rinne sé Íosa a sciúrsáil agus a thabhairt suas chun go gcéasfaí é.

Rug na saighdiúirí leo é isteach sa taobh istigh den chúirt, is é sin an préatóiriam, agus ghlaoigh siad an cathlán go léir le chéile. Chuir siad brat corcra uime, agus rinne siad coróin dheilgneach a fhí agus a chur air. Agus thosaigh siad ar bheannú dó: “Sé do bheatha, a Rí na nGiúdach!” Agus bhí siad á bhualadh sa cheann le giolcach agus ag caitheamh seilí air, agus ag teacht ar a nglúine ag déanamh ómóis dó. Agus tar éis dóibh fonóid a dhéanamh faoi, bhain siad de an brat corcra, agus chuir siad a chuid éadaigh féin air.

Agus sheol siad amach é chun é a chéasadh. Agus duine a bhí ag gabháil an bhóthair, ag teacht ón tuath, Síomón, Cuiréanach, athair Alastair agus Rufus, chuir siad d’fhiacha air a chros a iompar. Agus rug siad leo é go dtí an áit Golgotá – a chiallaíonn Áit an Chloiginn. Agus bhí fíon, a raibh miorr tríd, á thabhairt acu dó, ach níor ghlac sé é. Chéas siad é agus roinn siad a chuid éadaigh eatarthu, á gcur ar chrainn féachaint cén balla bhéarfadh gach duine. Ba é an tríú huair é nuair a chéas siad é. Agus bhí inscríbhinn a chúise scríofa: “Rí na nGiúdach.” Agus chéas siad beirt robálaithe mar aon leis, duine acu ar a dheis agus duine acu ar a chlé. Agus comhlíonadh an scrioptúr a deir: “Cuireadh ar aon bhuíon leis na mallaitheoirí é.” Bhí lucht an bhealaigh ag tabhairt achasáin dó, ag croitheadh a gceann agus ag rá: “Ahá! Tusa a leagfadh Teampall Dé agus a thógfadh é i dtrí lá!

Saor thú féin! tar anuas ón gcros!” Bhí uachtaráin na sagart ag fonóid faoi sa tslí chéanna eatarthu féin, in éineacht leis na scríobhaithe. “Shaor sé daoine eile,” a deiridís, “ní féidir leis é féin a shaoradh. Tagadh an Críost, Rí Iosrael, anuas ón gcros feasta chun go bhfeicfimis agus go gcreidfimis.” Iad seo a bhí á gcéasadh mar aon leis, bhí siad á aithisiú freisin.

Nuair a tháinig an séú huair, luigh dorchadas ar an talamh go léir go dtí an naoú huair. Agus ar an naoú huair d’éigh Íosa de ghlór ard: “Elóí, Elóí, lamá sabachthaní?” a chiallaíonn: “A Dhia, a Dhia, cén fáth ar threig tú mé?” Dúirt cuid dá raibh ina seasamh timpeall ar a chloisteáil sin dóibh: “Feach, tá sé ag glaoch ar Éilias.” Rith duine agus thum sé spúinse i bhfínéagar, chuir ar bharr giolcaí é agus thug deoch dó ag rá: “Fanaigí go bhfeicfimid an dtiocfaidh Éilias chun é thógáil anuas.” Ach ghlaoigh Íosa de ghuth ard agus shíothlaigh sé.

Agus réabadh brat an Teampaill ina dhó ó bhun go barr. An taoiseach céad a bhí ina sheasamh os a chomhair, chonaic sé mar a shíothlaigh sé amhlaidh sin agus dúirt sé: “Go dearfa ba é Mac Dé an duine sin.” Bhí mná ann agus iad i bhfad uaidh ag breathnú. Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana orthu, agus Máire máthair Shéamais Bhig agus Iósaef, agus Salómae. Bhídís seo á leanuint agus ag freastal air nuair a bhí sé sa Ghailíl. Agus bhí a lán ban eile ann a bhí tagtha suas go Iarúsailéim in éineacht leis.

Jesus in tombAgus nuair a bhí an tráthnóna cheana féin ann, ós rud é gurb é Lá an Ullmhaithe é (is é sin an lá roimh an tsabóid) tháinig Iósaef ó Aramatáia, ball creidiúnach den chomhairle, fear a bhí, é féin, ag súil le ríocht Dé; agus chuaigh sé isteach go dána go dtí Pioláit agus d’iarr corp Íosa air. Bhí ionadh ar Phioláit é a bheith marbh cheana féin, agus ghlaoigh sé chuige an taoiseach céad agus d’fhiafraigh de an raibh sé marbh cheana féin. Nuair a bhí a fhios sin aige ón taoiseach céad, cheadaigh sé an corp a thabhairt do Iósaef. Cheannaigh Iósaef línéadach agus thóg anuas den chrois é agus d’fhill sa línéadach é agus chuir é i dtuama a bhí gearrtha as carraig, agus d’iompaigh cloch mhór le béal an tuama. Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana, agus Máire máthair Iósaef ag breathnú ar cár cuireadh é.

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Páis Gearr

PÁIS ÁR dTIARNA ÍOSA CRÍOST de réir Marcas     15:1-39


Ar maidin bhí a gcomhairle ullamh gan mhoill ag uachtaráin na sagart fara na seanóirí agus na scríobhaithe – an tsainidrín uile. Tar éis dóibh Íosa a cheangal, thug siad leo é agus thug ar láimh é do Phioláit. D’fhiafraigh Pioláit de: “An tusa Rí na nGiúdach?” Dúirt sé leis á fhreagairt: “Tá sé ráite agat.” Agus chuir uachtaráin na sagart a lán ina leith. D’fhiafraigh Pioláit de arís: “Nach bhfuil aon fhreagra agat á thabhairt? Féach a bhfuil acu á gcur i do leith!” Ach níor thug Íosa freagra ar bith eile, rud a chuir ionadh ar Phioláit.

Le linn na féile ba bhéas leis príosúnach, an té a lorgaídís, a scaoileadh saor. Agus bhí fear darbh ainm Barabas ar láimh an uair sin leis an lucht ceannairce, dream a raibh dúnmharú déanta acu sa cheannairc. Chuaigh an slua suas dá bhrí sin agus thosaigh siad ar a iarraidh air déanamh dóibh mar ba ghnách. D’fhreagair Pioláit iad á rá: “An mian libh go scaoilfinn saor chugaibh Rí na nGiúdach?” Óir bhí fhios aige gur formad faoi deara do uachtaráin na sagart é a thabhairt ar láimh. Ach spreag uachtaráin na sagart an slua chun gurbh é Barabas seachas eisean a scaoilfeadh sé saor chucu. Agus dúirt Pioláit leo arís á bhfreagairt: “Más ea, cad a dhéanfaidh mé leis an té ar a dtugann sibh Rí na nGiúdach?” Scread siad arís: “Céas é!” Dúirt Pioláit leo: “Ach, cén t-olc a rinne sé?” Ach is ea ba mhó a scread siad: “Céas é!” Agus chun an slua a shásamh, scaoil sé Barabas saor chucu ach rinne sé Íosa a sciúrsáil agus a thabhairt suas chun go gcéasfaí é.

Rug na saighdiúirí leo é isteach sa taobh istigh den chúirt, is é sin an préatóiriam, agus ghlaoigh siad an cathlán go léir le chéile. Chuir siad brat corcra uime, agus rinne siad coróin dheilgneach a fhí agus a chur air. Agus thosaigh siad ar bheannú dó: “Sé do bheatha, a Rí na nGiúdach!” Agus bhí siad á bhualadh sa cheann le giolcach agus ag caitheamh seilí air, agus ag teacht ar a nglúine ag déanamh ómóis dó. Agus tar éis dóibh fonóid a dhéanamh faoi, bhain siad de an brat corcra, agus chuir siad a chuid éadaigh féin air.

Agus sheol siad amach é chun é a chéasadh. Agus duine a bhí ag gabháil an bhóthair, ag teacht ón tuath, Síomón, Cuiréanach, athair Alastair agus Rufus, chuir siad d’fhiacha air a chros a iompar. Agus rug siad leo é go dtí an áit Golgotá – a chiallaíonn Áit an Chloiginn. Agus bhí fíon, a raibh miorr tríd, á thabhairt acu dó, ach níor ghlac sé é. Chéas siad é agus roinn siad a chuid éadaigh eatarthu, á gcur ar chrainn féachaint cén balla bhéarfadh gach duine. Ba é an tríú huair é nuair a chéas siad é. Agus bhí inscríbhinn a chúise scríofa: “Rí na nGiúdach.” Agus chéas siad beirt robálaithe mar aon leis, duine acu ar a dheis agus duine acu ar a chlé. Agus comhlíonadh an scrioptúr a deir: “Cuireadh ar aon bhuíon leis na mallaitheoirí é.” Bhí lucht an bhealaigh ag tabhairt achasáin dó, ag croitheadh a gceann agus ag rá: “Ahá! Tusa a leagfadh Teampall Dé agus a thógfadh é i dtrí lá!

Saor thú féin! tar anuas ón gcros!” Bhí uachtaráin na sagart ag fonóid faoi sa tslí chéanna eatarthu féin, in éineacht leis na scríobhaithe. “Shaor sé daoine eile,” a deiridís, “ní féidir leis é féin a shaoradh. Tagadh an Críost, Rí Iosrael, anuas ón gcros feasta chun go bhfeicfimis agus go gcreidfimis.” Iad seo a bhí á gcéasadh mar aon leis, bhí siad á aithisiú freisin.

Nuair a tháinig an séú huair, luigh dorchadas ar an talamh go léir go dtí an naoú huair. Agus ar an naoú huair d’éigh Íosa de ghlór ard: “Elóí, Elóí, lamá sabachthaní?” a chiallaíonn: “A Dhia, a Dhia, cén fáth ar threig tú mé?” Dúirt cuid dá raibh ina seasamh timpeall ar a chloisteáil sin dóibh: “Feach, tá sé ag glaoch ar Éilias.” Rith duine agus thum sé spúinse i bhfínéagar, chuir ar bharr giolcaí é agus thug deoch dó ag rá: “Fanaigí go bhfeicfimid an dtiocfaidh Éilias chun é thógáil anuas.” Ach ghlaoigh Íosa de ghuth ard agus shíothlaigh sé.

Agus réabadh brat an Teampaill ina dhó ó bhun go barr. An taoiseach céad a bhí ina sheasamh os a chomhair, chonaic sé mar a shíothlaigh sé amhlaidh sin agus dúirt sé: “Go dearfa ba é Mac Dé an duine sin.” Bhí mná ann agus iad i bhfad uaidh ag breathnú. Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana orthu, agus Máire máthair Shéamais Bhig agus Iósaef, agus Salómae. Bhídís seo á leanuint agus ag freastal air nuair a bhí sé sa Ghailíl. Agus bhí a lán ban eile ann a bhí tagtha suas go Iarúsailéim in éineacht leis.

Jesus in tombAgus nuair a bhí an tráthnóna cheana féin ann, ós rud é gurb é Lá an Ullmhaithe é (is é sin an lá roimh an tsabóid) tháinig Iósaef ó Aramatáia, ball creidiúnach den chomhairle, fear a bhí, é féin, ag súil le ríocht Dé; agus chuaigh sé isteach go dána go dtí Pioláit agus d’iarr corp Íosa air. Bhí ionadh ar Phioláit é a bheith marbh cheana féin, agus ghlaoigh sé chuige an taoiseach céad agus d’fhiafraigh de an raibh sé marbh cheana féin. Nuair a bhí a fhios sin aige ón taoiseach céad, cheadaigh sé an corp a thabhairt do Iósaef. Cheannaigh Iósaef línéadach agus thóg anuas den chrois é agus d’fhill sa línéadach é agus chuir é i dtuama a bhí gearrtha as carraig, agus d’iompaigh cloch mhór le béal an tuama. Bhí Máire Mhaigdiléana, agus Máire máthair Iósaef ag breathnú ar cár cuireadh é.



AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh  Paisean ár dTiarna.

Ba é ár n-ualach a d’iompaigh sé

"Bhí sé brónach agus bhí sé gortaithe, ach níor oscail sé a bhéal. Cosúil le huan a thugtar ar an marú, agus mar chaorach sula ndéantar a mhuintir balbh, níor oscail sé a bhéal". Don Chríostaí dílis, léiríonn an téacs seo de chuid Isaiah an méid a d’fhulaing Íosa, agus conas a fuair sé bás ar ár son. Dar le briathar Naomh Peadar, "gan é a bheith feicthe agat, tá tú tar éis teacht chun a chreidiúint ann, agus mar sin tá tú lán d’áthas chomh glórmhar nach féidir cur síos air." Gan grá ó chroí le Críost, ní lucht leanúna fíor sinn. Ní féidir linn a rá go bhfuil grá againn go hiomlán dó, go dtí go mbeimid buíoch as an méid a d'fhulaing sé ar ár son.

Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp,
Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
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