Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Apr 27 - St Zita (1212-72)
Summary: St Zita, patron saint of domestic servants and those engaged in household chores. Many miracles are associated both during her lifetime and for those who have had recourse to her after she died. She is specially honoured in the Basilica of St Frediano (reputedly an Irish saint, possibly could be Finiano) in Lucca in northern Italy.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
A Domestic Servant in Lucca
Zita was born at Montsegradi, a village near Lucca, Italy, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Her mother raised her in the love and fear of the Lord. Her older sister became a Cistercian nun and her uncle Graziano was a hermit whom the local people regarded as a saint. At an early age, (about 12 years) Zita went to work as a domestic servant for a rich family called Fatinelli in Lucca. Each morning she would awaken early and pray before attending Mass.
Diligent and Trustworthy
Because she worked so hard, Zita's fellow servants thought she was trying to shame them. They became very jealous of her and were mean to her at every opportunity. But they soon found that Zita was not mean-spirited as they were, but a genuine saint. The Fatinelli family put her in charge of the household and made her the governess of their children.
Angels Watch over her baked bread while she prays
One day after putting some bread in the oven to bake, Zita went up to her "chapel" in the attic to pray. The sweetness of being with God was so delightful that Zita lost all track of the time. When she came to her senses, she rushed back to the kitchen, sure that the bread would be burned and the kitchen full of smoke. But instead she found the beautifully smelling freshly-baked bread laid out on the kitchen table. Were the angels watching over her baking while she talked with God?
Generous to a Fault
Zita was generous to a fault even with what did not belong to her. She shared her own food with whoever came to the Fatinelli household door and sometimes would even give food from the pantry to the many hungry beggars who came looking for help. When Signor Fatinelli became aware of this, he became enraged. One day when he found that Zita had given away the entire store of dried beans from the pantry, he dragged her into the pantry to show her what she had done. Miraculously, though, and to his shock, when they got to the pantry, the full store of the dried beans was replenished.
The Fur Mantle and the Angel Door
Another story tells of Signor Fatinelli finding Zita heading off to Mass on a cold Christmas morning without a coat. He gave her his own fur mantle and wrapped it around her as she went out, but said, "Remember, I want that back." At Mass Zita met a poor beggar and giving him the mantle said, "This will keep you warm for now." After Mass she went to get the mantle, but the beggar had gone. One can imagine Signor Fatinelli's rage when Zita returned home from Mass to explain why she had no mantle. But the day after Christmas, a stranger came to the Fatinelli's door with the fine fur mantle, good as new. Neighbours recognised that this was no ordinary beggar, but an angel come to test the compassion of the local Christians. The door where Zita gave the mantle to the beggar is still to this day called the Angel Door.
Her Death and Veneration
Zita died on the 27th April in the year 1272, aged sixty. She had served the Fatinelli family for forty-eight years. A judicial process has approved one hundred and fifty miracles that were wrought in behalf of those who had recourse to her intercession.
Body preserved
In 1580 Zita's body was found, whole and entire, and it is kept with great respect richly enshrined in St. Frediano’s Church in Lucca, Italy, next to the Fatinelli house where she worked. Her face and hands, uncovered, can be viewed through the crystal glass. Pope Leo X granted an office in her honour, and the city of Lucca pays special veneration to her memory.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
A Domestic Servant in Lucca
Zita was born at Montsegradi, a village near Lucca, Italy, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Her mother raised her in the love and fear of the Lord. Her older sister became a Cistercian nun and her uncle Graziano was a hermit whom the local people regarded as a saint. At an early age, (about 12 years) Zita went to work as a domestic servant for a rich family called Fatinelli in Lucca. Each morning she would awaken early and pray before attending Mass.Diligent and Trustworthy
Because she worked so hard, Zita's fellow servants thought she was trying to shame them. They became very jealous of her and were mean to her at every opportunity. But they soon found that Zita was not mean-spirited as they were, but a genuine saint. The Fatinelli family put her in charge of the household and made her the governess of their children.
Angels Watch over her baked bread while she prays
One day after putting some bread in the oven to bake, Zita went up to her "chapel" in the attic to pray. The sweetness of being with God was so delightful that Zita lost all track of the time. When she came to her senses, she rushed back to the kitchen, sure that the bread would be burned and the kitchen full of smoke. But instead she found the beautifully smelling freshly-baked bread laid out on the kitchen table. Were the angels watching over her baking while she talked with God?
Generous to a Fault
Zita was generous to a fault even with what did not belong to her. She shared her own food with whoever came to the Fatinelli household door and sometimes would even give food from the pantry to the many hungry beggars who came looking for help. When Signor Fatinelli became aware of this, he became enraged. One day when he found that Zita had given away the entire store of dried beans from the pantry, he dragged her into the pantry to show her what she had done. Miraculously, though, and to his shock, when they got to the pantry, the full store of the dried beans was replenished.The Fur Mantle and the Angel Door
Another story tells of Signor Fatinelli finding Zita heading off to Mass on a cold Christmas morning without a coat. He gave her his own fur mantle and wrapped it around her as she went out, but said, "Remember, I want that back." At Mass Zita met a poor beggar and giving him the mantle said, "This will keep you warm for now." After Mass she went to get the mantle, but the beggar had gone. One can imagine Signor Fatinelli's rage when Zita returned home from Mass to explain why she had no mantle. But the day after Christmas, a stranger came to the Fatinelli's door with the fine fur mantle, good as new. Neighbours recognised that this was no ordinary beggar, but an angel come to test the compassion of the local Christians. The door where Zita gave the mantle to the beggar is still to this day called the Angel Door.
Her Death and Veneration
Zita died on the 27th April in the year 1272, aged sixty. She had served the Fatinelli family for forty-eight years. A judicial process has approved one hundred and fifty miracles that were wrought in behalf of those who had recourse to her intercession.
Body preserved
In 1580 Zita's body was found, whole and entire, and it is kept with great respect richly enshrined in St. Frediano’s Church in Lucca, Italy, next to the Fatinelli house where she worked. Her face and hands, uncovered, can be viewed through the crystal glass. Pope Leo X granted an office in her honour, and the city of Lucca pays special veneration to her memory.
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 27th April, 2024
Prayer in the name of Jesus draws us closer to his ways.
Optional memorial of St Asicus, bishop
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13:44-52
We must turn to the nations.
The next sabbath almost the whole town of Antioch assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. 'We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:
"I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth."
It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 97
Response All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Or Alleluia!
1. Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation. Response
2. The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel. Response
3. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy. Response
Gospel Acclamation Rom 6:9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again.
Death has no power over him any more.
Alleluia!
or Jn 8:31.32
Alleluia, alleluia!
If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples,
and you will learn the truth, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
reading from the holy Gospel according to John 14:7-14 Glory to you, O Lord
To have seen me is to have seen the Father.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.'
Philip said, 'Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.'
'Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him 'and you still do not know me?'
'To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, "Let us see the Father"?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:
it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.
You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;
believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
'I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
*****************
Reflection Saturday, Fourth Week of Easter John 14:7-14
You often hear parents say to children, ‘you are never satisfied’. There is a sense in which that is probably true of all of us. We are never satisfied. Saint Augustine said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. In today’s gospel reading, Philip is clearly not satisfied. He says to Jesus, ‘Lord, let us see the Father, and then we shall be satisfied’. He understood that it is only in seeing God that all the longings of his heart would be satisfied. Jesus replies to Philip’s words with the statement, ‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father’. Jesus reveals the Father; he is the way to the Father.
We won’t see God the Father in this life, but God has sent us his Son. Although we cannot see Jesus in the way Philip and the other disciples saw him, we can see him with the eyes of faith in this life. We can see him in his Word, in the Eucharist, in the other Sacraments, in each other. Such ‘seeing’ of the Lord won’t fully satisfy us but it gives us a glimpse of what awaits us. As we journey towards our seeing of the Lord ‘face to face’, we try to heed the invitation of the letter to the Hebrews, ‘let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith’.
_______________
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 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: Saturday, 27th April, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Gníomhartha na nAspal 13:44-52
Táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach.
Ar an tsabóid dár gcionn tháinig an chathair ar fad beagnach le chéile ag éisteacht le briathar Dé. Nuair a chonaic na Giúdaigh na sluaite daoine, bhí siad lán d’fhormad agus bhréagnaigh siad go tarcaisniúil gach a raibh á rá ag Pól. Ach dúirt Pól agus Barnabas leo go neamhbhalbh: “Is daoibhse ab éigean briathar Dé a labhairt ar dtús; ach ós rud é go bhfuil sibh ag cur suas de agus gur dóigh libh féin nach fiú sibh an bheatha shíoraí a bheith agaibh, táimidne ag iompú chun na bpágánach. Mar sin é an t-ordú atá faighte ón Tiarna againn: ‘ Tá tú ceaptha agam le bheith i do sholas do na náisiúin, ionas go mbeidh tú i d’ábhar slánaithe go himeall an domhain.’”
Bhí áthas ar na págánaigh an méid sin a chloisteáil agus bhí ardmholadh acu ar bhriathar an Tiarna; agus an méid acu a bhí réamhcheaptha don bheatha shíoraí, ghlac siad an creideamh, agus bhí briathar Dé á fhógairt go forleathan ar fud na tíre go léir.Ach rinne na Giúdaigh séideadh faoi mhná uaisle diaganta na cathrach agus faoi na cinn urra, thosaigh siad ar ghéarleanúint a dhéanamh ar Phól agus ar Bharnabas agus thiomáin amach as an dúiche iad. Chroith siadsan an deannach dá gcosa orthu agus as go brách leo go hIocoiniam.
Agus bhí na deisceabail lán d’áthas agus den Spiorad Naomh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 97
Freagra Chonaic críocha uile na cruinneslánú ár nDé.
Malairt freagra Alleluia!
1. Canaigí amhrán úr don Tiarna, óir rinne sé éachtaí.
Le neart a dheasláimhe is a chuisle naofa, rug sé bua dó féin. Freagra
2. D’fhoilsigh an Tiarna a shlánú; nocht sé a fhíréantacht do na náisiúin.
Chuimhnigh sé ar a bhuanghrá agus a dhílse do theaghlach Iosrael. Freagra
3. Chonaic críocha uile na cruinne slánú ár nDé.
Gairdigí sa Tiarna a thíortha uile, agus nochtaigí bhur n-áthas dó. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 14:7-14 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Dá mbeadh aithne agaibh ormsa, d’aithneodh sibh m’Athair chomh maith.
Tá aithne agaibh air feasta, agus tá radharc faighte agaibh air.”
Dúirt Pilib leis: “A Thiarna, taispeáin dúinn an tAthair agus is leor dúinn sin.”
Dúirt Íosa leis: “An bhfuilim an fad sin aimsire, a Philib, in bhur measc agus gan aithne agat orm?
An té a chonaic mise, chonaic sé an tAthair.
Conas, mar sin, a deir tú: ‘Taispeáin dúinn an tAthair’?
Nach gcreideann tú go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa?
Na briathra a labhraímse libh, ní uaim féin a labhraím iad,
ach an tAthair atá ina chónaí ionamsa, eisean a dhéanann na hoibreacha.
Creidigí uaimse é go bhfuilimse san Athair agus an tAthair ionamsa.
Nó murab é sin, creidigí mar gheall ar na hoibreacha féin.
Amen, Amen, a deirim libh,
an té a chreideann ionamsa, na hoibreacha a dhéanaimse, déanfaidh seisean iad chomh maith,
agus déanfaidh sé oibreacha is mó ná iad; mar táimse ag dul chun an Athar.
Cibé ní a iarrfaidh sibh i m’ainm déanfaidh mé é, i dtreo go dtabharfaí glóir don Athair tríd an Mac.
Má iarrann sibh aon ní orm i m’ainm, déanfaidh mé é.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 28th April, 2024
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
The Church grows in the fear of the Lord, filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
The Father watches over the growth of the vine that it may bear more fruit.
Faith, love and obedience to the commandments give life.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book Acts of the Apostles 9:26-31
Barnabas explained how the Lord had appeared to Saul and spoken to him on his journey.
When Saul got to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him: they could not believe he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, took charge of him, introduced him to the apostles, and explained how the Lord had appeared to Saul and spoken to him on his journey, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.Saul now started to go round with them in Jerusalem, preaching fearlessly in the name of the Lord. But after he had spoken to the Hellenists, and argued with them, they became determined to kill him. When the brothers knew, they took him to Caesarea, and sent him off from there to Tarsus.
The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria were now left in peace, building themselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, and filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 21
Response You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.
Or Alleluia!
1. My vows I will pay before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and shall have their fill.
They shall praise the Lord, those who seek him. May their hearts live for ever and ever! Response
2. All the earth shall remember and return to the Lord, all families of the nations worship before him.
They shall worship him, all the mighty of the earth; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust. Response
3. And my soul shall live for him, my children serve him. They shall tell of the Lord to generations yet to come,
declare his faithfulness to peoples yet unborn: 'These things the Lord has done.' Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St John 3:18-24
His commandments are these:
that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another.
My children,
our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active;
only by this can we be certain that we are the children of the truth
and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence,
whatever accusations it may raise against us, because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.
My dear people, if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience,
we need not be afraid in God's presence, and whatever we ask him, we shall receive, because we keep his commandments and live the kind of life that he wants.
His commandments are these:
that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ
and that we love one another as he told us to.
Whoever keeps his commandments lives in God and God lives in him.
We know that he lives in us by the Spirit that he has given us.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Jn 14: 10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. Whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:10 Glory to you, O Lord
Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away - he withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.'
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, 28th April, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 6:26-31
D'inis Barnabas do na haspail mar a chonaic Sól an Tiarna ar an tslí.
Ar theacht dó go Iarúsailéim rinne sé iarracht ar dhul i bpáirt leis na deisceabail ach bhí eagla orthu go léir roimhe mar ní chreidfidís gur dheisceabal é. Ansin thóg Barnabas faoina chúram é agus thug i láthair na n-aspal é, ag aithris dóibh conas mar a chonaic sé an Tiarna ar an mbóthar agus mar a rinne sé comhrá leis agus mar a labhair sé go teann in ainm Íosa i nDamaisc. D’fhan Sól in éineacht leo in Iarúsailéim gan chosc gan cheangal air ach é ag labhairt go dána in ainm an Tiarna. Bhíodh sé ag caint agus ag conspóid leis na Giúdaigh Heilléanacha freisin. Rinne siadsan iarracht ar é a mharú ach nuair a fuair na bráithre amach é, thóg siad Sól leo go Céasaráia agus chuir as sin go Tarsas é. Mar sin bhí síocháin ag an Eaglais ar fud Iúdáia go léir agus na Gailíle agus na Samáire. Lean sí á tógáil féin agus ag dul chun cinn faoi eagla an Tiarna agus ag dul i méid le cabhair an Spioraid Naoimh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 21
Freagra Is tú mo mholadh sa mhórthionól, a Thiarna.
Malairt Freagra Alleluia!
I. Comhlíonfaidh mé mo mhóideanna i láthair na droinge ar a mbíonn a eagla.
Íosfaidh na bochtáin agus beidh a sáith acu. Molfaidh lucht a iarrtha an Tiarna.
Go maire a gcroíthe go brách na breithe. Freagra
2. Cuimhneoidh an domhan uile agus casfaidh ar an Tiarna, agus adhrfaidh na ciníocha uile ina fhianaise.
Adhrfaidh maithe móra an talaimh ina fhianaise. Cromfaidh ina láthair a ngabhann síos sa luaithreach. Freagra
3. Mairfidh m'anam ar a shon; déanfaidh mo chlann fónamh dó. Tabharfaidh tuairisc an Tiarna do ghlúin atá le teacht.
Foilseoidh siad a dhílseacht do phobal nár saolaíodh fós: 'Sin iad na nithe a rinne an Tiarna.' Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as an chéad Litir Naomh Eoin 3:18-24
Seo í an aithne a thug sé: go gcreidfimis in ainm a Mhic Íosa Críost agus go dtabharfaimis grá dá chéile.
A chlann liom, ná tugaimis grá briathair ná cainte amháin, ach grá gnímh agus fírinne. Is mar sin a aithneoimid gur de chlann na fírinne sinn, agus is mar sin a shuaimhneoimid ár gcoinsias ina láthairsean, má chiontaíonn ár gcroí sinn. Óir gur treise é Dia ná ár gcroí-ne agus is feasach dó an uile ní.A chairde cléibh, mura gciontaíonn ár gcroí sinn táimid lánmhuiníneach as Dia. Agus cibé ní a agraímid air, gheobhaimid uaidh é, ó tharla go gcoinnímid a aitheanta agus go ndéanaimid beart de réir a thaitnimh. Agus seo í an aithne a thug sé: go gcreidfimis in ainm a Mhic Íosa Críost agus go dtabharfaimis grá dá chéile, de réir mar a d’ordaigh seisean dúinn. An té a choinníonn a aitheanta, maireann i nDia, agus maireann seisean ann. Agus is mar seo a aithnímid go maireann sé ionainn, tríd an Spiorad a thug sé dúinn.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 15: 4-5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
'Fanaigí ionamsa, agus mise ionaibh,' a deir an Tiarna.
'An té a fhanann ionamsa, tugann sé toradh mór uaidh.'
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 15:1-8 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
An té a fhanann ionamsa, agu mise ann, tugann sé toradh mór uaidh
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Mise an fhíniúin fhíor, agus is é m’Athair an saothraí.
Gach géag ionam nach dtugann toradh, bainfidh sé í;
agus gach géag a thugann toradh, ionas go dtabharfaidh sí breis toraidh.
Tá sibhse bearrtha de bharr an bhriathair a labhair mé libh.
Fanaigí ionamsa, agus mise ionaibh. Faoi mar nach féidir don ghéag
toradh a thabhairt uaithi féin, mura bhfanann sí san fhíniúin,sin mar nach féidir daoibhse, mura bhfanann sibh ionamsa.
Mise an fhíniúin, sibhse na géaga; an té a fhanann ionamsa, agus mise ann,
tugann seisean toradh mór uaidh; óir gan mise, ní féidir daoibh aon ní a dhéanamh.
Cibé nach bhfanfaidh ionamsa, caithfear amach é mar ghéag, agus feofaidh sé;
agus tógfar agus caithfear sa tine iad, agus dófar iad.
Má fhanann sibh ionamsa agus má fhanann mo bhriathra ionaibh,
iarrfaidh sibh cibé ní is mian libh agus déanfar daoibh é.
Tugadh glóir do m’Athair sa mhéid go dtugann sibhse toradh mór uaibh,
agus go mbeidh sibh in bhur ndeisceabail agamsa.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
************************************
Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia 5ú Domhnach na Cásca
Cén fáth go bhfuil gá le bearradh
Tá fhios ag na daoine a chothaionn rósanna go gcaithfear na plandaí a bearradh gach blian más mian leo fás maith a bheith iontu. Is fíor sin don chuid is mó de plandaí mar an chéanna; cabhraíonn an bhearradh leis an shaol nua. Tagraíonn Íosa le bearradh sa soiscéal inniú. Tugann sé le fios go ndéanann Dia bearradh ar ár saol ó am go h’am, chun iad a dhéanamh níos fiúnta ná mar atá siad faoi láthair. Tá roinnt rudaí ann a gur chóir a dhíbirt, má’s mian linn bheith cóir i láthair Dé. Thárlódh sé go mba thairfí an rud é scaoileadh le rudaí áirithe , cé gur leasg linn ag an am, a cabhródh linn cur len ár gcaidreamh le Dia agus le daoine eile. Nuair a déantar an bearradh seo is giorra dúinn bíonn an Tiarna, i bhfocail an tsoiscéil, déanann sé cónái linn. Ní gá dúinn a bheith ag brath ar ár neart féin. Nuair a bhíonn an Tiarna ag cur faoi ionainn bíonn Sé taobh linn, rud a thugann saol nua níos torthúla dúinn. Ach chun go dtarlódh seo ní mór dúinn fanacht in a láthair mar a fhanann sé linne.
Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp,
Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
********************************************
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
