Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Feb 12 - St Meletius (d.381)
Summary :St Meletius; Bishop of Antioch in an era of Arian Heresy
He became bishop of Antioch when the Church was in the throes of the Arian heresy. When it became clear he did not support Arianism, as the imperial household required, Meletius was forced into exile. Subsequently restored, he went on to preside at the Council of Constantinople (381), which approved the formula that Jesus is "homoousios", "consubstantial", "of one being" with the Father.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
The Arian controversy
When we say in Nicene Creed that we believe that Jesus is "consubstantial (= of one being) with the Father", we are probably unaware of all the controversies that went on in the 4th century before that term finally became the touchstone of Catholic orthodoxy. The argument was carried on mostly in Greek between Arians who would concede that Jesus was "of a similar substance" ( Greek homoi-ousios) as the Father, but would not accept the Catholic position that he was "of the same substance" (Greek homo-ousios or Latin consubstantialis). And there were other positions in between.
Believed to be an Arian
Meletius, who was born at Melitene in Lesser Armenia (south-eastern Turkey) of wealthy and noble parents, first appeared at the synod of Seleucia in the autumn of 359, as a supporter of Acacius, bishop of Caesarea, whose compromise formula was then in favour with the Arian-supporting imperial household. This led to his being appointed a bishop, first at Sebaste and later at Antioch in the belief that he was on the imperial side and supported Arianism.
Constantinople (381)
It soon became clear that Meletius was firmly on the side of Catholic orthodoxy. There was a threefold split in the Church at Antioch, and he fought his corner for a while, but was exiled by order of the Arian emperor Valens. Eventually under influence of St Basil of Caesarea he was restored and hailed as a leader of orthodoxy. He presided in October 379 over a synod of Antioch, in which the dogmatic agreement of East and West was established. He helped Gregory Nazianzen to the see of Constantinople and consecrated him and also presided over the Council of Constantinople in 381.
Death and Honour
Soon after the opening of the council, Meletius died and the emperor Theodosius I, who had received him with special distinction, ordered his body to be carried to Antioch and buried with the honours of a saint. The disputes continued in the Church for another generation.
Meletius was a holy man, whose ascetic life was remarkable in view of his great private wealth. He was also a man of learning and culture, and widely esteemed for his honourable, kindly and straightforward character. He is venerated as a saint and confessor in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Eastern Churches.
______________________________
He became bishop of Antioch when the Church was in the throes of the Arian heresy. When it became clear he did not support Arianism, as the imperial household required, Meletius was forced into exile. Subsequently restored, he went on to preside at the Council of Constantinople (381), which approved the formula that Jesus is "homoousios", "consubstantial", "of one being" with the Father.Patrick Duffy tells his story.
The Arian controversy
When we say in Nicene Creed that we believe that Jesus is "consubstantial (= of one being) with the Father", we are probably unaware of all the controversies that went on in the 4th century before that term finally became the touchstone of Catholic orthodoxy. The argument was carried on mostly in Greek between Arians who would concede that Jesus was "of a similar substance" ( Greek homoi-ousios) as the Father, but would not accept the Catholic position that he was "of the same substance" (Greek homo-ousios or Latin consubstantialis). And there were other positions in between.
Believed to be an Arian
Meletius, who was born at Melitene in Lesser Armenia (south-eastern Turkey) of wealthy and noble parents, first appeared at the synod of Seleucia in the autumn of 359, as a supporter of Acacius, bishop of Caesarea, whose compromise formula was then in favour with the Arian-supporting imperial household. This led to his being appointed a bishop, first at Sebaste and later at Antioch in the belief that he was on the imperial side and supported Arianism.
Constantinople (381)
It soon became clear that Meletius was firmly on the side of Catholic orthodoxy. There was a threefold split in the Church at Antioch, and he fought his corner for a while, but was exiled by order of the Arian emperor Valens. Eventually under influence of St Basil of Caesarea he was restored and hailed as a leader of orthodoxy. He presided in October 379 over a synod of Antioch, in which the dogmatic agreement of East and West was established. He helped Gregory Nazianzen to the see of Constantinople and consecrated him and also presided over the Council of Constantinople in 381.Death and Honour
Soon after the opening of the council, Meletius died and the emperor Theodosius I, who had received him with special distinction, ordered his body to be carried to Antioch and buried with the honours of a saint. The disputes continued in the Church for another generation.
Meletius was a holy man, whose ascetic life was remarkable in view of his great private wealth. He was also a man of learning and culture, and widely esteemed for his honourable, kindly and straightforward character. He is venerated as a saint and confessor in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Eastern Churches.
______________________________
******************************
Memorable Wisdom for today
Always stand up for what you believe in...
Even if it means standing alone
~ Kim Hank ~
**********************************
Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 12th February, 2026
Thursday of Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the first book of 1 Kings 11: 4-13
Since you behave like this and do not keep my covenant or the laws I laid down for you, I will most surely tear the kingdom away from you. For the sake of my servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen, I will leave your son one tribe.
When Solomon grew old his wives swayed his heart to other gods; and his heart was not wholly with the Lord his God as his father David's had been. Solomon became a follower of Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians, and of Milcom, the Ammonite abomination. He did what was displeasing to the Lord, and was not a wholehearted follower of the Lord, as his father David had been.
Then it was that Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the god of Moab on the mountain to the east of Jerusalem, and to Milcom the god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who offered incense and sacrifice to their gods.The Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart had turned from The Lord the God of Israel who had twice appeared to him and who had then forbidden him to follow other gods; but he did not carry out the Lord's order.
The Lord therefore said to Solomon,
'Since you behave like this and do not keep my covenant or the laws I laid down for you, I will most surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.'
For your father David's sake, however, I will not do this during your lifetime, but will tear it out of your son's hands. Even so, I will not tear the whole kingdom from him. For the sake of my servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen, I will leave your son one tribe.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105; 3-4, 35-36, 37, 40
Response O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.
1. They are happy who do what is right, who at all times do what is just.
a Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people. Response
2. But instead they mingled with the nations and learned to act like them.
They worshipped the idols of the nations and these became a snare to entrap them. Response
3. They even offered their own sons and their daughters in sacrifice to demons,
till his anger blazed against his people: he was filled with horror at his chosen ones. Response
Gospel Acclamation 2 Tim 1: 10
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds.
Alleluia!
Or Jn 17: 17
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 7: 24-30 Glory to you, O Lord
The house-dogs under the table can eat the children's scraps.
Jesus left Gennesaret and set out for the territory of Tyre. There he went into a house and did not want anyone to know he was there, but he could not pass unrecognised.
A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him straightaway and came and fell at his feet. Now the woman was a pagan, by birth a Syrophoenician, and she begged him to cast the devil out of her daughter. And he said to her,'The children should be fed first, because it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the house-dogs'.
But she spoke up:
'Ah yes, sir,' she replied 'but the house-dogs under the table can eat the children's scraps'.
And he said to her,
'For saying this, you may go home happy: the devil has gone out of your daughter'.
So she went off to her home and found the child lying on the bed and the devil gone.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
********************
Gospel Reflection Thursday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Mark 7:24-30
Most of the people who approach Jesus for help in the gospels are Jews, like himself. In today’s gospel reading, however, it is a pagan woman who approaches Jesus to heal her very disturbed daughter. It seems that Jesus regarded his ministry as primarily to Jews. As he says to the pagan woman, ‘The children should be fed first’, the children being the people of Israel. It is only after Jesus rose from the dead that he would instruct his disciples to preach the gospel to all nations, Jews and pagans. However, this pagan woman was not prepared to wait; her daughter was in great need. The parents of a sick child are never prepared to wait; they insist that their child be cared for immediately. When Jesus says, in a little parable, ‘it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house dogs’, the woman identifies with the house dogs, ‘but the housedogs under the table can eat the children’s scraps’.
In other words, the children and the housedogs can eat at the same time, with the housedogs benefiting from the children’s untidy eating habits. Jesus couldn’t but respond to such an ingenious response; he had to heal the woman’s daughter. His timetable of a ministry to the Jews before a ministry to pagans had to give way. Jesus shows us that we need to hold our plans, our programmes, our timetables, lightly. Human need takes priority over all else. God calls out to us through those in great need, even when that need disrupts our carefully laid out plans. God can be speaking to us through the unexpected and unplanned event and through those who are very different from us. We need something of the freedom that Jesus displayed, the freedom of the Spirit, to go where God is leading us and to do what God is asking of us.
________________________________
The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
________________
Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 12th February, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an dara leabhar na Ríthe. 11: 4-13
Mar gheall ar Dháiví, mo shearbhónta, agus ar Iarúsailéim, atá tofa agam, tabharfaidh mé aon treibh amháin do do mhac.
Nuair a chuaigh Solamh anonn in aois, chlaon a mhná céile a chroí i dtreo déithe eile, agus ní raibh a chroí go hiomlán ag an Tiarna, a Dhia, mar bhí croí a athar, Dáiví. D’éirigh sé ceanúil ar Aisteárat, bandia na Síodónach, agus ar Mhiolcom uafás na nAmónach. Rinne Solamh an t-olc i súile an Tiarna agus níor lean sé an Tiarna lena chroí go hiomlán, mar a rinne Dáiví, a athair. Ansin is ea a thóg Solamh ardionad do Chamóis uafás Mhóáb, agus do Mhoilic uafás na nAmónach, ar an gcnoc lastoir de Iarúsailéim. Rinne sé amhlaidh dá mhná coigríocha go léir a d’ofráladh túis agus íobairtí dá ndéithe.
Bhí fearg ar an Tiarna le Solamh de bhrí gur iompaigh sé a chroí ón Tiarna, Dia Iosrael, a thaispeáin é féin dó faoi dhó, agus a chros air ansin déithe eile a leanúint. Ach níor chuir sé ar ordaigh an Tiarna i gcrích.Dúirt an Tiarna dá bhrí sin le Solamh:
“Ós mar seo atá do ghníomhartha agus nach gcomhlíonann tú mo chonradh ná mo reachtanna, a cheangail mé ort, bainfidh mé an ríocht díot go cinnte dearfa, agus bronnfaidh mé ar dhuine de do shearbhóntaí í. Mar gheall ar Dháiví, mo shearbhónta, áfach, ní dhéanfaidh mé é sin le linn do shaoil féin, ach bainfidh mé de do mhac í. Mar sin féin ní bhainfidh mé an ríocht go hiomlán de. Mar gheall ar Dháiví, mo shearbhónta, agus ar Iarúsailéim, atá tofa agam, tabharfaidh mé aon treibh amháin do do mhac.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 105: 3-4, 35-36, 37, 40
Freagra Bí ag cuimhneamh orainn, a Thiarna, as ucht do ghrá do do phobal.
1. Is méanar don dream a choinníonn an ceart, agus a chloíonn leis an bhfíréantacht de shíor.
Bí ag cuimhneamh orm, a Thiarna, bí go maith dom, as ucht do ghrá do do phobal. Freagra
2. Ach is amhlaidh a rinne siad caidreamh leis na ciníocha, go ndearna siad a ngníomharthasan a fhoghlaim.
Thug siad fónamh d’íola na náisiún, gurb uime sin a cuireadh ó rath iad. Freagra
3. Óir d’íobair siad a macra féin, agus a n-iníonacha féin do na deamhain.
Bhladhm fraoch Dé in aghaidh a phobail; ghlac sé déistin lena oidhreacht féin. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marc 7: 24-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Ach na coileáin féin a bhíonn faoin mbord, itheann siad grabhróga na leanaí.
Chuir Íosa chun siúil as sin agus d’imigh go críocha na Tuíre agus na Síodóine. Agus ar dhul isteach i dteach dó, níorbh áil leis go mbeadh fios ag aon duine faoi, ach níorbh fhéidir leis fanacht as aithne. Óir bean a raibh a hiníon bheag agus spiorad míghlan inti, chuala sí scéala air láithreach agus tháinig sí á caitheamh féin ag a chosa. Bean Ghréagach í, Suíriféinicach ó dhúchas. Rinne sí achainí air an deamhan a chaitheamh amach as a hiníon.Dúirt sé léi: “Fan go dtugtar a sáith do na leanaí ar dtús, mar níl sé oiriúnach arán na leanaí a thógáil agus é a chaitheamh chun na gcoileán.”
Ach dúirt sí leis á fhreagairt:
“Cinnte, a Thiarna, agus na coileáin féin a bhíonn faoin mbord, itheann siad grabhróga na leanaí.”
Agus dúirt sé léi:
“Mar gheall ar an bhfocal sin, imigh leat: tá an deamhan tar éis imeacht as d’iníon.”
Chuaigh sí abhaile agus fuair sí an leanbh ina luí sa leaba agus an deamhan imithe.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th February, 2026
-15-2-2026-
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
We have been give the freedom to obey God's will.
Christ calls to choose love as our way of fulfilling God's will and fullness of life but....
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus ( Ben Sirach) 15:15-20
He never commanded anyone to be godless.
If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power. He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.
For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and all-seeing.
His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every action of man.
He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Response They are happy who follow God's law!
1. They are happy whose life is blameless, who follow God's law!
They are happy those who do his will, seeking him with all their hearts. Response
2. You have laid down your precepts to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm to obey your statutes. Response
3. Bless your servant and I shall live and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may consider the wonders of your law. Response
4. Teach me the demands of your statutes and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law, to keep it with my heart. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 2:6-10
God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began.
We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden
wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: The things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3:9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
or Mt 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5:17-37 Glory to you, O Lord
You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.
I have come not to abolish them but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.
‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:
You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.
But I say this to you: Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire.
So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.
‘You have learnt how it was said:
You must not commit adultery.
But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.
‘It has also been said:
Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal.
But I say this to you: Everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:
You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord.
But I say this to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black.
All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
_______________________
Shorter Gospel form
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5:20-22.
Theme: You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you....
Jesus said to his disciples:
'Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to complete them.
I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.
'For I tell you,if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will never get into the kingdom of heaven
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th February, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Shíorach 15:15-20
Níor ordaigh sé d’aon duine ríamh bheith aindiaga.
Más áil leat é, is féidir duit na haitheanta a choimeád,agus ort féin atá sé ag brath a bheith dílis.
Tá tine agus uisce curtha aige os do chomhair;
sín amach do lámh chuig cibé acu is rogha leat.
Tá an bás agus an bheatha os comhair an duine,
agus tabharfar dó cibé acu is mian leis.
Óir is fairsing í eagna an Tiarna; Is mór í a chumhacht agus feiceann sé an uile ní.
Bíonn a shúile ar na daoine a bhfuil eagla orthu roimhe,
agus is eol dó gach beart dá ndéanann an duine.
Níor ordaigh sé d’aon duine riamh a bheith aindiaga,
ná níor thug sé cead d’aon duine riamh peaca a dhéanamh.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 118: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Freagra Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a chomhlíonann dlí an Tiarna.
I. Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a bhfuil a slí gan locht, a chomhlíonann dlí an Tiarna.
Is aoibhinn dóibh siúd a dhéanann de réir a thola, a iarrann é óna gcroí go hiomlán. Freagra
2. Thug tú do phroiceapta chun go gcomhlíonfaí iad go beacht.
Á, dá mbeadh mo slite socraithe go daingean chun do reachtanna uile a choimeád. Freagra
3. Bí go maith le do ghiolla, go maire mé, agus go gcoimeáda me do bhriathra.
Oscail mo shúile chun go bhfeice mé íontais do dhlí. Freagra
4. Múin dom, a Thiarna, slí do reachtanna, agus coimeádfaidh mé go beacht iad.
Déan mo theagasc chun do dhlí a chomhlíonadh ionas go gcoimeádainn ó chroí é. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 2:6-10
Cheap Dia an eagna roimh thús aimsire chun glóir a thabhairt dúinn.
A bhráithre, labhraimidne eagna i measc na muintire atá tagtha in inmhe, ach
ní hí eagna an tsaoil seo í ná eagna lucht ceannais an tsaoil seo, dream atá ag imeacht as. Is í eagna rúnda Dé atá i gceist againne, an eagna a bhí folaithe ó dhaoine ach a bhí ceaptha ag Dia roimh thús aimsire chun glóir a thabhairt dúinne. Ní raibh fios na heagna seo ag duine ar bith de cheannairí an tsaoil seo mar dá mbeadh a fhios acu í ní chéasfaidís Tiarna na glóire ar an gcrois. Mar atá scríofa:“Nithe nach bhfaca súil iad agus nár chuala cluas iad, nithe nár smaoinigh an duine orthu ina aigne,
is iad atá ullamh ag Dia dóibh siúd a bheir grá dó.”
Is dúinne a nocht Dia [na nithe seo] le cabhair an Spioraid.Scrúdaíonn an Spiorad gach uile ní, fiú duibheagáin Dé féin.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 6: 63, 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,an uile dhuine a ghlac é,
thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 5:17-37 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Sin mar a dúradh leis na sinsir; ach is é seo a deirimse libh.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
“Ná bígí ag ceapadh gur chun an dlí agus na fáithe a chur ar ceal a tháinig mé.
Ní á gcur ar ceal a tháinig mé ach á gcur i gcrích.Óir deirim libh go fírinneach, is túisce a imeoidh neamh agus talamh ná mar a imeoidh aon litir ná aon ghiota den dlí gan gach aon ní a bheith tagtha i gcrích. Dá bhrí sin, an té a chuirfidh aon aithne ar ceal den chuid is lú de na haitheanta seo, agus a mhúinfidh do dhaoine eile an rud céanna a dhéanamh, measfar é sin ar an té is lú i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Ach an té a choimeádfaidh iad agus a mhúinfidh, measfar eisean ina dhuine mór i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
“Chuala sibh go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná déan marú; agus má dhéanann duine marú beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: duine ar bith a bhíonn i bhfeirg lena bhráthair, beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas, agus má deir aon duine lena bhráthair ‘Ceann baoth’, beidh air freagairt ann don tsainidrín; agus má deir sé ‘Amadán’ leis, beidh air freagairt ann i dtine ifrinn. Dá réir sin, má bhíonn tú ag tabhairt d’ofrála chun na haltóra agus go gcuimhneoidh tú ansin go bhfuil cúis ghearáin éigin ag do bhráthair ort, fág d’ofráil ansiúd os comhair na haltóra, imigh leat ar dtús agus déan síocháin le do bhráthair, agus tar ansin ag déanamh na hofrála. An duine a chúisíonn thú, tar chun réitigh leis gan mhoill agus tú ag gabháil na slí leis, le heagla go dtabharfadh fear do chúisithe suas don bhreitheamh thú, agus an breitheamh don phóilín, agus go gcuirfí i bpriosún thú. Deirim leat go fírinneach, ní thiocfaidh tú amach as sin go mbeidh an cianóigín deireanach díolta agat.
“Chuala sibh go ndúradh: ‘Ná déan adhaltranas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: duine ar bith a bhreathnaíonn ar bhean le dúil inti, tá adhaltranas déanta aige léi cheana féin ina chroí. Más siocair pheaca duit do shúil dheas, srac amach í agus caith uait í, óir is fearr duit ball de do chorp a chailleadh ná do chorp ar fad a chaitheamh isteach in ifreann. Agus más siocair pheaca duit do lámh dheas, gearr anuas í agus caith uait í, óir is fearr duit ball de do chorp a chailleadh ná go rachadh do chorp ar fad isteach in ifreann.
“Dúradh fós: ‘Má scaoileann duine a bhean uaidh tugadh sé litir idirscartha di.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: gach aon duine a scaoileann uaidh a bhean, taobh amuigh de chás an striapachais, ligeann sé le hadhaltranas í, agus duine ar bith a phósann bean a scaoileadh, déanann sé adhaltranas.
“Chuala sibh freisin go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná sáraigh do mhionn; déan do mhionna a chomhlíonadh don Tiarna.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh, gan mionn ar bith a thabhairt: gan a thabhairt dar neamh, óir is é ríchathaoir Dé é; ná dar an talamh, óir is é stól a chos é; ná dar Iarúsailéim, óir is í cathair an Rí mhóir í; ná mionnaigh dar do cheann ach chomh beag, mar ní féidir duit aon ribe amháin de a dhéanamh geal ná dubh. Is é amháin is ráite daoibh: ‘Is ea, is ea.’ ‘Ní hea, ní hea.’ Focal thar an méid sin, is ón Olc é!
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
_____________________________
Soiscéal gearr
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 5:20-22,
Sin mar a dúradh leis na sinsir; ach is é seo a deirimse libh.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail
“Ná bígí ag ceapadh gur chun an dlí agus
fáithe a chur ar ceal a tháinig mé. Ní á gcur ar ceal a tháinig mé ach á gcur i gcrích.Óir deirim libh go fírinneach, is túisce a imeoidh neamh agus talamh ná mar a imeoidh aon litir ná aon ghiota den dlí gan gach aon ní a bheith tagtha i gcrích. Dá bhrí sin, an té a chuirfidh aon aithne ar ceal den chuid is lú de na haitheanta seo, agus a mhúinfidh do dhaoine eile an rud céanna a dhéanamh, measfar é sin ar an té is lú i ríocht na bhflaitheas. Ach an té a choimeádfaidh iad agus a mhúinfidh, measfar eisean ina dhuine mór i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
