Pictorial Thought for Today

Pictorial Thought for TodayPictorial Thought for Today

Mar 18 - St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386)

Summary: Cyril of Jerusalem is most famous as the author of the Mystagogic Catecheses, that is, sermons given to newly initiated adults to enable them reach a full understanding of the "mysteries" or "sacraments" they received. He also wrote a defence of orthodox doctrine about Jesus against Arianism.

Patrick Duffy tells his story and gives two significant quotes from his work on how we ought receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Early life
cyril of jerusCyril was ordained deacon, in 335, by Bishop Makarios, and priest, in 345, by Bishop Maximus. He became a bishop three years later. Initially he was supported by the Arian bishop, Acacius of Caesarea, who was his metropolitan.

Accusations
H
owever, Bishop Acacius of Caesarea brought accusations against Cyril that he sold gifts the emperor had given to the Church to raise funds to feed the poor; some of the vestments the emperor gave were reported seen as clothing for actors!

Exile
It was also seen that, contrary to what had been thought, Cyril was not on the side of the Arians, but of orthodox doctrine. Acacius and his Arian bishops summoned a council to which Cyril did not come, condemned him and had him exiled from Jerusalem. Even though he was later re-instated, he was exiled once again by the Arian-sympathising emperor Valens.

Attended the Council of Constantinople 381
Cyril of Jer2Finally, however, under the orthodox Catholic emperor Theodosius,  Cyril was recalled in 379 and attended the Council of Constantinople, which further condemned Arianism and strengthened orthodox doctrine.

Influence
Pope Leo XIII named Cyril of Jerusalem a doctor of the Church in 1883. His Mystagogical Catecheses have had considerable influence in drawing up the revised Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) after the Second Vatican Council and promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1972. Below are two extracts from Mystagogical Catechesis V, one on receiving the Body of Christ, the other on receiving the Cup of His Blood. These extracts inspired the restoration of the practice of the faithful receiving Communion in the hand and partaking of the Blood of Christ from the chalice.

Receive the Body of Christ: Amen
"A
pproaching, therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers open; but make your left hand as if a throne for your right, which is on the eve of receiving the King. And having hallowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying after it, Amen. Then after you have with carefulness hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake thereof; giving heed lest you lose any of it; for what you lose is a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you gold dust, would you not with all precaution keep it fast, being on your guard against losing any of it, and suffering loss?  How much more cautiously then will you observe that not a crumb falls from you, of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?" (MC V, 21)

Approach also to the Cup of His Blood: Amen
"T
hen after having partaken of the Body of Christ, approach also to the Cup of His Blood; not stretching forth your hands, but bending and saying in the way of worship and reverence, 'Amen, be hallowed by partaking also of the blood of Christ.' And while the moisture is upon your lips, touching it with your hands, hallow both your eyes and brow and the other senses. then wait for the prayer, and give thanks unto God, who has accounted you worthy of so great mysteries." (MC V, 22)
Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 19th March, 2024

Monday of the Fifth Week in Lent


Optional memorial of St Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor of the Church


 


Both women in the reading today suffered condemnation. Their liberation comes as an act of God's mercy and promise of help.

FIRST READING (Longer Reading) 

A reading from the book of the Prophet Daniel            13:1-9. 15-17.19-30.33-62
Have I to die innocent as I am ?

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim. He had married Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and she was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses. Joakim was a very rich man, and had a garden attached to his house; the Jews would often visit him since he was held in greater respect than any other man. Two elderly men had been selected from the people that year to act as judges.
Of such the Lord said, 'Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.'

These men were often at Joakim's house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come to them. At midday, when everyone had gone, Susanna used to take a walk in her husband's garden. The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradually began to desire her. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and forgetting its demands of virtue. So they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual, accompanied only by two young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted to bathe in the garden. There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place. She said to the servants, 'Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.'

Hardly were the servants gone than the two elders were there after her.
'Look,' they said 'the garden door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in and let us!
Refuse, and we will both give evidence that a young man was with you and that was why you sent your maids away.'
Susanna sighed. 'I am trapped,' she said 'whatever I do. If I agree, that means my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you. But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.'
Then she cried out as loud as she could.
The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame on her, and one of them ran to open the garden door. The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what was happening; once the elders had told their story the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of this sort had ever been said of Susanna.

Next day a meeting was held at the house of her husband Joakim. The two elders arrived, in their vindictiveness determined to have her put to death. They addressed the company: 'Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim'. She was sent for, and came accompanied by her parents, her children and all her relations. All her own people were weeping, and so were all the others who saw her. The two elders stood up, with all the people round them, and laid their hands on the woman's head. Tearfully she turned her eyes to heaven, her heart confident in God. The elders then spoke.

'While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this woman arrived with two servants. She shut the garden door and then dismissed the servants. A young man who had been hiding went over to her and they lay down together. From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towards them. Though we saw them together we were unable to catch the man: he was too strong for us; he opened the door and took to his heels. We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was. She refused to tell us. That is our evidence.'

Since they were elders of the people, and judges, the assembly took their word: Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, 'Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?'

The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, 'I am innocent of this woman's death!'
At which all the people turned to him and asked, 'What do you mean by these words?' Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, 'Are you so stupid, sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.' All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, 'Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.'
Daniel said, 'Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.'

When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him.
'You have grown old in wickedness,' he said 'and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, "You must not put the innocent and the just to death." Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?'
He replied, 'Under a mastic tree.'
Daniel said, 'True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.'
He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him,
'Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?' He replied, 'Under a holm oak.'
Daniel said, 'True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.'

Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.

The Word of the Lord.                    Thanks be to God
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Alternative First Reading (Shorter Form)        Dan 13:41-62
Have I to die innocent as I am ?

Susanna was condemned to death by the whole assembly. She cried out as loud as she could,
‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’

The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, ‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’
At which all the people turned to him and asked, ‘What do you mean by these words?' ~
Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, ‘Are you so stupid sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.’
All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel,
Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.’
Daniel said, ‘Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.’

When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘
You have grown old in wickedness,’ he said, ‘and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, “You must not put the innocent and the just to death.” Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?’
He replied, ‘Under a mastic tree.
Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.’

He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’
He replied, ‘Under a holm oak.’
Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.’

Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour.
They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.

The Word of the Lord.             Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm           Ps 22
Response                                If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.

1. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.                                Response

2. He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort.   Response

3. You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.                                   Response

4. Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life:
In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.                                            Response

Gospel  Acclamation            2 Cor 6: 2
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

GOSPEL                       

A reading from the Gospel according to John           8:1-11
If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus,
'Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?' They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said,
'If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'

Then be bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said,
'
Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'
'No one, sir' she replied.
'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus 'go away, and don't sin any more.'

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



Gospel Reflection              Mon. 24 March,                 Fifth Week of Lent     John           8:1-11

The story of Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery is one of those gospel stories that we find ourselves drawn to. The portrayal of Jesus in the story is one that stays with us. We are struck by the contrast between the way the scribes and the Pharisees relate to the woman and the way that Jesus relates to her. The religious leaders have condemned her of a serious breach of the Jewish Law, one that is worthy of the prescribed punishment, death by stoning. Jesus, however, refuses to condemn her; ‘I do not condemn you’. As the evangelist, John, says a little earlier in his gospel, ‘God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him’. Rather than condemning her, Jesus pardons her and calls her to a way of life more in keeping with God’s purpose for her life. We may not have sinned in the way the woman sinned, but we are all sinners. We all come before the Lord as people who have not lived in accordance with God’s will and purpose for our lives. The reading assures us that when we come before the Lord in our sinfulness, we will not hear a word of condemnation, but a word of forgiveness. ‘I do not condemn you’, and also an invitation, ‘Do not sin anymore’. Condemnation comes easily to human nature. Thankfully, it is not in the nature of Jesus or of the God whom he reveals. Forgiveness for our past and empowerment through the Spirit to live more loving lives are the Lord’s gifts to us.

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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/
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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 19th March, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHT  (fada)

Sliocht as Leabhar Dainéil, fáidh               13:1-9. 15-17. 19-30. 33-62
Seo mé anois ag dul chun báis! cé nach ndearna mé aon cheann de na nithe seo.

Bhí fear darbh ainm Ióicím ina chónaí sa Bhablóin Bhí sé pósta le bean darbh ainm Súsanna, iníon Hilciá, bean rósciamhach ar a raibh eagla Dé, mar bhí a tuismitheoirí fíréanta agus bhí a n-iníon oilte acu de réir dhlí Mhaois. Bhí Ióicím an-saibhir agus bhí gairdín fairsing aige in aice a thí agus thagadh na Giúdaigh ina sluaite chuige mar bhí meas air thar cách. An bhliain sin bhí beirt sheanóir den phobal ceaptha ina mbreithiúna. Ina dtaobh seo bhí ráite ag an Tiarna: “Sceith an t-olc ón mBablóin amach ó sheanóirí breithiún a measadh a bhí ag rialú an phobail.” Ghnáthaíodh na daoine seo teach Ióicím agus cách a raibh cúis dlí aige, thagaidís chucu. Nuair a bhíodh na daoine bailithe leo um meán lae théadh Súsanna isteach i ngairdín a céile chun spaisteoireachta.D’fheiceadh an bheirt sheanóir í gach lá ag dul isteach agus ag spaisteoireacht agus chrom siad ar líonadh le hainmhian inti. Chlaon siad a n-aigne agus d’iompaigh siad a súile chun nach mbreathnóidís suas chun na bhFlaitheas agus nár chuimhin leo éilimh na córa. Lá eile agus iad ag faire ar a ndeis, chuaigh Súsanna isteach mar ba ghnáth léi, agus gan ach dhá ionailt léi agus b’áil léi fothragadh sa ghairdín mar bhí sé ina bhrothall. Níraibh neach ar bith eile ann ach an bheirt sheanóir a bhí i bhfolach ag faire uirthi. Dúirt sí lena hionailtí: “Tugaigí chugam ola agus uinnimintí agus dúnaigí doirse an ghairdín go n-ionlóidh mé mé féin.”

Nuair a bhí na hionailtí imithe amach d’éirigh an bheirt sheanóir agus rith siad anonn chun Súsanna agus dúirt siad léi: “Féach, tá doirse an ghairdín dúnta; ní fheiceann aon duine sinn, agus táimid i ngrá leat! Géill dúinn agus luigh linn! Mura ndéana tú, tabharfaimid fianaise i d’aghaidh go raibh ógfhear farat agus gur dá bharr sin a sheol tú d’ionailtí uait.” Lig Súsanna osna aisti agus dúirt: “Táim sáinnithe ar gach taobh: má ghéillim, is bás dom é; mura ndéanaim níl dul as agam uaibhse. Ach is fearr liom titim gan choir in bhur lámha, ná peaca a dhéanamh os comhair an Tiarna.” Liúigh sí in ard a cinn is a gutha, agus ghlaoigh na seanóirí ina coinne, agus rith duine díobh agus d’oscail doirse an ghairdín. Nuair a chuala giollaí an tí an liúireach sa ghairdín, rith siad isteach an taobhdhoras chun a fheiceáil cad a tharla di. Nuair a bhí deireadh a scéil ráite ag na seanóirí, bhí na giollaí lán de náire mar nár dúradh a leithéid riamh i dtaobh Shúsanna.

Lá arna mhárach, chruinnigh na daoine go teach Ióicím, a céile. Tháinig an bheirt sheanóir ann, an t-olc ina gcroí acu, agus rún acu Súsanna a chur chun báis. Dúirt siad os comhair an phobail: “Cuirtear fios ar Shúsanna, iníon Hilciá, bean Ióicím!” Cuireadh fios uirthi. Tháinig sise agus a tuismitheoirí, a clann, agus a gaolta go léir, ina fochair. Bhí a muintir, agus a cairde, agus gach aon duine a chonaic í ag sileadh na ndeor. Sheas an bheirt sheanóir i lár an tslua agus leag siad a lámha ar a ceann. D’fhéach sise suas chun neimhe agus na deora lena súile, mar bhí muinín a croí aici as an Tiarna. Dúirt na seanóirí: “Nuair a bhíomar ag spaisteoireacht linn féin sa ghairdín, tháinig an bhean seo isteach agus beirt ionailt léi. Dhún sí doirse an ghairdín agus chuir sí na hionailtí chun siúil. Ansin tháinig ógfhear a bhí i bhfolach chuici agus luigh sé léi. Bhíomarna i gcúinne den ghairdín agus nuair a chonaiceamar an choirpeacht seo, ritheamar chucu; fuaireamar radharc soiléir orthu i mbarróg a chéile, ach níor fhéadamar breith ar an ógánach; bhí sé róláidir dúinn agus d’oscail sé na doirse agus theith leis. Rugamar uirthi seo, áfach, agus d’fhiafraíomar di cérbh é an t-ógfhear, ach ní inseodh sí dúinn. Sin í agaibh ár bhfianaise.”

Chreid an slua iad mar gur de sheanóirí an phobail iad agus gur bhreithiúna iad; daoradh chun báis í. Ansin ghlaoigh Súsanna de ghuth ard: “A Dhia shíoraí, is léir duit na rúin, agus is eol duit gach ní sula dtagann sé chun críche; is maith is eol duit gur fianaise bhréige a thug siad siúd i m’aghaidh. Seo mé anois ag dul chun báis! cé nach ndearna mé aon cheann de na nithe seo a chuir siad i mo leith go bréagach mailíseach.”

Thug an Tiarna cluas di. Nuair a bhí sí á seoladh amach chun báis, spreag Dia naomhspiorad macaoimh óig darb ainm Dainéil, agus ghlaoigh sé seo in ard a chinn: “Táimse neamhchiontach i bhfuil na mná seo!” D’iompaigh an slua uile ina threo agus dúirt siad: “Cad é seo a dúirt tú?” Sheas sé i lár an tslua, agus dúirt: “An bhfuil sibh chomh saonta sin, a chlann Iosrael? An bhfuil ógbhean de mhuintir Iosrael daortha agaibh gan cheistiú gan fianaise ar ar tharla? Filligí go láthair an bhreithiúnais mar is fianaise bhréige atá tugtha acu seo ina haghaidh!”

Bhrostaigh na daoine uile ar ais agus dúirt na seanóirí le Dainéil: “Tar, suigh inár measc agus nocht dúinn do smaointe mar thug Dia an ceart sin duit.” Dúirt Dainéil leo: “Scartar iad seo i bhfad ó chéile agus ceisteoidh mise iad.” Nuair a bhí siad scartha ó chéile ghlaoigh sé chuige ar dhuine díobh agus dúirt leis: “A iarlais aosta an oilc, tá ag filleadh anuas sa mhullach ort na peacaí a rinne tú roimhe seo, nuair a thug tú breitheanna éagóracha ag daoradh na neamhchiontach agus ag scaoileadh na gciontach saor, cé go ndúirt an Tiarna: ‘Ná cuir chun báis an neamhchiontach ná an fíréan.’ Má chonaic tú í dáiríre, más ea, inis dom: Cén sort crainn a raibh siad faoi nuair a chonaic tú iad i mbarróg ina chéile?” D’fhreagair sé: “Faoi chrann maisteoige.” “Le fírinne,” arsa Dainéil, “tá d’éitheach tugtha agat le titim sa mhullach ort féin; tá breithiúnas Dé faighte uaidh cheana féin ag a aingeal agus scoiltfidh sé trí do lár thú.” Chuir sé é siúd I leataobh agus d’ordaigh sé an seanóir eile a thabhairt ina láthair. “A phór Chanán, agus ní Iúdá, mheall an scéimh thú agus thruailligh an ainmhian an croí agat. Is mar sin a dhéanadh sibh le hógmhná Iosrael agus d’aontaigh siad libh le corp eagla; ach, féach, nár fhéad ógbhean Iúdá cur suas le bhur mí-iompar! Inis dom, más ea: Cén sórt crainn a raibh siad faoi nuair a tháinig tú orthu agus iad i mbarróg ina chéile?” D’fhreagair sé: “Faoi chrann tuilm.” Dúirt Dainéil leis: “Le fírinne, tá d’éitheach tugtha agatsa freisin le titim sa mhullach ort féin: féach, tá aingeal Dé, agus a chlaíomh ina láimh aige, ag feitheamh chun tú a ghearradh trí do lár, agus deireadh a bheith libh araon.”

Ansin liúigh an comhthionól uile go hard agus mhol siad Dia a shaorann gach n-aon a chuireann a mhuinín ann. D’éirigh siad suas in aghaidh na beirte seanóirí a bhí daortha óna mbéal féin ag Dainéil toisc gur thug siad fianaise bhréige, agus chúitigh siad leo, de réir dhlí Mhaois, an íde éagórach a bheartaigh siad a dhéanamh ar a gcomharsa. Chuir siad an bheirt chun báis agus saoradh fuil neamhchiontach ón mbás an lá úd.

Briathar an Tiarna         Buíochas le Dia
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(Malairt) Céad Sliocht
Sliocht as Leabhar Dainéil, fáidh (gearr)           13:41-62
Seo mé anois ag dul chun báis! cé nach ndearna mé aon cheann de na nithe seo.

Chreid an slua iad mar gur de sheanóirí an phobail iad agus gur bhreithiúna iad; daoradh chun báis í. Ansin ghlaoigh Súsanna de ghuth ard: “A Dhia shíoraí, is léir duit na rúin, agus is eol duit gach ní sula dtagann sé chun críche; is maith is eol duit gur fianaise bhréige a thug siad siúd i m’aghaidh. Seo mé anois ag dul chun báis! cé nach ndearna mé aon cheann de na nithe seo a chuir siad i mo leith go bréagach mailíseach.”

Thug an Tiarna cluas di. Nuair a bhí sí á seoladh amach chun báis, spreag Dia naomhspiorad macaoimh óig darb ainm Dainéil, agus ghlaoigh sé seo in ard a chinn:  “Táimse neamhchiontach i bhfuil na mná seo!” D’iompaigh an slua uile ina threo agus dúirt siad: “Cad é seo a dúirt tú?” Sheas sé i lár an tslua, agus dúirt: “An bhfuil sibh chomh saonta sin, a chlann Iosrael? An bhfuil ógbhean de mhuintir Iosrael daortha agaibh gan cheistiú gan fianaise ar ar tharla? Filligí go láthair an bhreithiúnais mar is fianaise bhréige atá tugtha acu seo ina haghaidh!”

Bhrostaigh na daoine uile ar ais agus dúirt na seanóirí le Dainéil: “Tar, suigh inár measc agus nocht dúinn do smaointe mar thug Dia an ceart sin duit.” Dúirt Dainéil leo: “Scartar iad seo i bhfad ó chéile agus ceisteoidh mise iad.”
Nuair a bhí siad scartha ó  chéile ghlaoigh sé chuige ar dhuine díobh agus dúirt leis:
“A iarlais aosta an oilc, tá ag filleadh anuas sa mhullach ort na peacaí a rinne tú roimhe seo, nuair a thug tú breitheanna éagóracha ag daoradh na neamhchiontach agus ag scaoileadh na gciontach saor, cé go ndúirt an Tiarna: ‘Ná cuir chun báis an neamhchiontach ná an fíréan.’ Má chonaic tú í dáiríre, más ea, inis dom: Cén sort crainn a raibh siad faoi nuair a chonaic tú iad i mbarróg ina chéile?”
D’fhreagair sé: “Faoi chrann maisteoige.”
“Le fírinne,” arsa Dainéil, “tá d’éitheach tugtha agat le titim sa mhullach ort féin; tá breithiúnas Dé faighte uaidh cheana féin ag a aingeal agus scoiltfidh sé trí do lár thú.”
Chuir sé é siúd i leataobh agus d’ordaigh sé an seanóir eile a thabhairt ina láthair. “A phór Chanán, agus ní Iúdá, mheall an scéimh thú agus thruailligh an ainmhian an croí agat. Is mar sin a dhéanadh sibh le hógmhná Iosrael agus d’aontaigh siad libh le corp eagla; ach, féach, nár fhéad ógbhean Iúdá cur suas le bhur mí-iompar! Inis dom, más ea:
Cén sórt crainn a raibh siad faoi nuair a tháinig tú orthu agus iad i mbarróg ina chéile?”
D’fhreagair sé: “Faoi chrann tuilm.”
Dúirt Dainéil leis: “Le fírinne, tá d’éitheach tugtha agatsa freisin le titim sa mhullach ort féin: féach, tá aingeal Dé, agus a chlaíomh ina láimh aige, ag feitheamh chun tú a ghearradh trí do lár, agus deireadh a bheith libh araon.”

Ansin liúigh an comhthionól uile go hard agus mhol siad Dia a shaorann gach n-aon a chuireann a mhuinín ann. D’éirigh siad suas in aghaidh na beirte seanóirí a bhí daortha óna mbéal féin ag Dainéil toisc gur thug siad fianaise bhréige, agus chúitigh siad leo, de réir dhlí Mhaois, an íde éagórach a bheartaigh siad a dhéanamh ar a gcomharsa.
Chuir siad an bheirt chun báis agus saoradh fuil neamhchiontach ón mbás an lá úd.

Briathar an Tiarna              Buíochas le Dia

________________________
 Salm le Freagra              Sm 22
Freagra                               Fiú dá siúlfainn i ngleann an dorchadais, níor bhaol liom an t-olc.

1. Is é an Tiarna m’aoire: ní bheidh aon ní de dhíth orm.
Cuireann sé féin i mo luí mé i móinéar féir ghlais.
Seolann sé ar imeall an uisce mé mar a bhfaighim suaimhneas.           Freagra

2. Seolann sé ar shlí na fíréantachta mé mar gheall ar a ainm.
Fiú dá siúlfainn i ngleann an dorchadais, níor bhaol liom an t-olc
agus tú faram le do shlat is do bhachall chun sólás a thabhairt dom.   Freagra

3. Cóiríonn tú bord chun béile dom i láthair mo naimhde.
Ungann tú mo cheann le hola; tá mo chupa ag cur thairis.                    Freagra

4. Leanfaidh cineáltas is buanghrá mé gach lá de mo shaol;
i dteach an Tiarna a mhairfidh mé go brách na breithe.                         Freagra

SOISCÉAL 

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.        Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh  Eoin        8:1-11
An duine agaibh atá gan pheaca, bíodh sé ar an gcéad duine ag caitheamh clocha léi.”

San am sin chuaigh Íosa go Cnoc na nOlóg. Bhí sé ar an bhfód arís sa Teampall go moch ar maidin, agus tháinig na daoine go léir chuige agus shuigh sé síos agus thosaigh ar iad a theagasc.

Thug na scríobhaithe agus na Fairisínigh bean ar rugadh uirthi in adhaltranas agus chuir siad ina seasamh i lár baill í agus dúirt siad leis: A mháistir, rugadh ar an mbean seo i gcoir féin an adhaltranais. D’ordaigh Maois dúinn sa dlí bás a imirt ar a leithéidí seo le clocha. Cad deir tú más ea?”
Dúirt siad an chaint sin á phromhadh, chun go mbeadh rud éigin acu le cur ina leith. Ach chrom Íosa síos agus thosaigh sé ag scríobh lena mhéar ar an talamh. Ós rud é nach ndeachaigh aon stad orthu ach á cheistiú, ’éirigh sé suas agus dúirt leo:
An duine agaibh atá gan pheaca, bíodh sé ar an gcéad duine ag caitheamh clocha léi.”
Agus chrom sé síos arís agus bhí ag scríobh ar an talamh. Arna chlos sin dóibh d’imigh siad leo ina nduine is ina nduine ag tosú leis na seanóirí, agus ag dul síos go dtí deireadh; agus fágadh Íosa ina aonar agus an bhean ina seasamh i lár baill. D’éirigh Íosa suas agus dúirt sé léi:
“A bhean, cá bhfuil siad? Nár dhaor aon duine thú?”
Ní dhearna aon duine, a dhuine uasail,” ar sí.
Dúirt Íosa léi:
Ná ní dhaoraimse thú ach oiread. Imigh leat agus ná déan peaca arís as seo amach.”

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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