Churches of the Day
Feb 6 - St Paul Miki and companions d 1597
Tertullian is the originator of the phrase:"The blood of martyrs becomes the seed of the church".
Fr John Murray PP reflects on this phrase and looks at some martyrs from Japan and the fruit they gave to the Church. In the past, the Irish Church was always keen to remember the 'bad old days', when it was difficult, if not impossible, to practise one's faith in an open way. The centuries of persecution were indeed extremely difficult, and the list of those who paid for their faith with their lives is legion: Oliver Plunkett, Dermot O'Hurley, Patrick O'Healy, Conor O'Devany and many others. Indeed, between 1572 and 1713, we know of many scores of bishops, priests and lay faithful who met a martyr's death.
The Church in its calendar also reminds us that there were other countries which suffered similar fates. Indeed, there has hardly been a single country where the faith is lived and celebrated that has not seen some period of persecution and suffering. This month, the Church reminds us of Paul Miki and his companions, whose feast is on 6th February.
Nagasaki
Most people have heard of Nagasaki in Japan. It was there, in August 1945, that an atomic bomb fell, killing as many as forty thousand people. A similar bomb had fallen on Hiroshima a few days before. Within forty-eight hours, Japan surrendered, and the Second World War came to an end.
The destruction of Nagasaki was ironic in many ways, for it was here that one of the main groups of Christians remained. In one fell swoop, it was almost obliterated. Yet, three and a half centuries before, another attempt had been made to do the same.
When St Francis Xavier arrived in Japan in 1549, he was moderately successful in planting the seeds of faith. Other missionaries followed, and a small Christian community began to grow. Initially, the Japanese rulers were open to the new faith, seeing it as useful to establish contacts with Europe and its rich merchants. But by 1596 things had changed, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of the country, outlawed Christianity, ordering the arrest of all believers who refused to deny their faith.
Torture and Martyrdom
The Japanese Catholic writer, Shusaku Endo, in his novel Silence, gives an account of the Shogun methods of getting Christians to deny their faith. A missionary might be captured and imprisoned. Rather than torture him to the point of denial, however, the jailers would torture the prisoner in the cell next to his, and tell him that the screaming would stop only if he denied Christ. What a terrible dilemma! Once the missionary had decided to spare his brother his suffering, he himself could no longer go back to the Christian community as a bona fide priest. He had become an apostate.
In 1597, twenty-six men were arrested, brought to Nagasaki, and crucified on a hill near the city. Then they were pierced with lances. All of them remained joyful to the end. One of them, the Jesuit Paul Miki, even preached to the crowds gathered beneath the crosses.
These are some of his words:
"The sentence of judgement says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ.
I thank God it is for this that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me, and I want to say to you all again: ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain."
Old City of Faith
The great early Church apologist, Tertullian, wrote in the second century that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church". How true his words have been in so many ages! Many believed that, with the death of Paul Miki and his friends, Christianity would be finished in Japan.
Not so! The centuries passed, and a more favourable climate returned to the country. Missionaries returned in the 1850s. Some French priests established a mission in the old city of faith, Nagasaki.
At first, they did not see any signs of Christianity. Then, one day, they were visited by an old man, who asked them three questions. Did they venerate Mary, the Mother of God? Were they married? And did they follow the Pope in Rome? When they answered to their satisfaction, the "hidden Christians" of Nagasaki emerged into the open.
Somehow, the Catholics of Nagasaki had lived their faith without priests, as best they could. They had not dared to keep any written materials but, like the early Church, had passed on their faith by word of mouth. The blood of Paul Miki and his friends had indeed fallen on fruitful ground.
Fidelity
The story of a martyr is a story of God's fidelity. God, who is faithful, will never abandon anyone. The martyr knows this, and is prepared to let go of his life, trusting he will regain it eternally. God, who is faithful, will not allow the faith to die, but will raise it up in a new generation of believers.
The people of Ireland knew this in the centuries of our persecution. The martyrs of Uganda and Vietnam knew it in the nineteenth century, and the people of Mexico knew it in the twentieth century. The lives and deaths of Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Justin of Rome and countless other early Church martyrs witnessed to Christ by their blood.
Remember to pray for those persecuted for their faith in the world today. We can think of the Christians and of other faiths martyrs in the Sudan, in Iraq, Gaza in Afghanistan, Israel or in other parts of the world.
Today, thank God, in Ireland, persecution no longer leads to the shedding of blood. Sometimes persecution is more subtle than that. May our faith shine through, just like that of the Christians of Nagasaki, for God is always faithful.
This article first appeared in The Messenger (February 2006), a publication of the Irish Jesuits. c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
******************************
Memorable Wisdom for today
Our faith becomes stronger as we express it:
A growing faith is a sharing faith
~ Rev Billy Graham ~
**********************************
Friday of Week Four in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Listening deeply to our conscience and speaking out.
Saints of the Day; Feb 6: Paul Miki priest, martyr and Companions
C/f A short life of these saints can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus 47:2-11
David put all his heart into his songs out of his love for his maker.
As the fast is set apart from the communion sacrifice, so David was chosen out of all the sons of Israel.
He played with lions as though with kids, and with bears as though with lambs of the flock.
While still a boy, did he not slay the giant,
and relieve the people of their shame, by putting out a hand to sling a stonewhich brought down the arrogance of Goliath?
For he called on the Lord Most High, who gave strength to his right arm to put a mighty warrior to death, and lift up the horn of his people.
Hence they gave him credit for ten thousand, and praised him while they blessed the Lord, by offering him a crown of glory; for he massacred enemies on every side, he annihilated his foes the Philistines, and crushed their horn to this very day. In all his activities he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, in words of glory;
he put all his heart into his songs out of love for his Maker.
He placed harps before the altar to make the singing sweeter with their music;
he gave the feasts their splendour, the festivals their solemn pomp, causing the Lord's holy name to be praised and the sanctuary to resound from dawn.
The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever; he gave him a royal covenant, and a glorious throne in Israel.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 17: 31, 47, 50-51
Response Praised be the God who saves me.
1. The ways of God are perfect; the word of the Lord, purest gold.
He indeed is the shield of all who make him their refuge. Response
2. Long life to the Lord, my rock! Praised be the God who saves me.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations: I will sing a psalm to your name. Response
3. He has given great victories to his king and shown his love for his anointed,
for David and his sons for ever. Response
Gospel Acclamation Lk 8: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those who; with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according Mark 6: 14-29 Glory to you, O Lord
It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.
King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well-known. Some were saying,
'John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him'. Others said, 'He is Elijah'; others again, 'He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have'.
But when Herod heard this he said, 'It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead'.
Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod,
'It is against the law for you to have your brother's wife'. As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
An opportunity came on Herod's birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, 'Ask me anything you like and I will give it you'. And he swore her an oath, 'I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom'.
She went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?' She replied, 'The head of John the Baptist' The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, 'I want you to give me John the Baptist's head, here and now, on a dish'. The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John's head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
When John's disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
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Gospel Reflection Friday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Mark 6:14-29
We often hear the expression nowadays, ‘speaking truth to power’. It could certainly be said of John the Baptist that he spoke truth to power. He told Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, that it was against the law of God for him to have married his brother’s wife, Herodias. In certain parts of the world today, speaking truth to power is a very dangerous business. Many people have ended up in prison or even been killed for doing so. John the Baptist’s speaking truth to power initially landed him in prison. Herodias considered prison too good for John and wanted him killed immediately. However, Herod had a certain respect for John, considering him a good and holy man.
The gospel reading suggests that there were good instincts in Herod which he initially listened to, against the wishes of his wife. However, he abandoned those good instincts at his birthday banquet when he made a rash promise to Herodias’ daughter to give her anything she wanted. When, at the prompting of her mother, she said she wanted the head of John the Baptist on a platter, Herod acted against his better instincts to save face and ordered John to be beheaded. John the Baptist ended up paying the ultimate price for speaking truth to power. In the end Herod listened to the voice of Herodias rather than the voice of his better self.
We can all find ourselves caught between conflicting voices. The voice of our better self, the voice of the Holy Spirit, that prompts us to take the Lord’s way can be opposed by a very different voice that prompts us to take a very contrary way. Jesus was aware that his followers would all find themselves facing this fundamental conflict, which is why he taught us to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’. He encourages us to turn to God for strength when we are tempted to take a path that is not in keeping with God’s will for our lives, that does not correspond to the voice of the Holy Spirit within us.
________________
The scripture readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Gospel reflection is available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings: My Words Will Not Pass Away by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saints of the Day; Feb 6: Paul Miki priest, martyr and Companions
John Miki was born in 1655 in Japan, entered the Society of Jesus and was a successful preacher of the Gospel. With 26 companions, (63 Jesuits, 6 Fanciscans and 17 Franciscan Tertiaries,) he was tortured and crucified in Nagasaki on 5 Feb. 1597.
Tertullian is the originator of the phrase:"The blood of martyrs becomes the seed of the church".
Fr John Murray PP reflects on this phrase and looks at some martyrs from Japan and the fruit they gave to the Church. In the past, the Irish Church was always keen to remember the 'bad old days', when it was difficult, if not impossible, to practise one's faith in an open way. The centuries of persecution were indeed extremely difficult, and the list of those who paid for their faith with their lives is legion: Oliver Plunkett, Dermot O'Hurley, Patrick O'Healy, Conor O'Devany and many others. Indeed, between 1572 and 1713, we know of many scores of bishops, priests and lay faithful who met a martyr's death.
The Church in its calendar also reminds us that there were other countries which suffered similar fates. Indeed, there has hardly been a single country where the faith is lived and celebrated that has not seen some period of persecution and suffering. This month, the Church reminds us of Paul Miki and his companions, whose feast is on 6th February.
Nagasaki 1945
It was here, in August 1945, that an atomic bomb fell, killing as many as forty thousand people. A similar bomb had fallen on Hiroshima a few days before. Within forty-eight hours, Japan surrendered, and the Second World War came to an end.
The destruction of Nagasaki was ironic in many ways, for it was here that one of the main groups of Christians remained. In one fell swoop, it was almost obliterated. Yet, three and a half centuries before, another attempt had been made to do the same.
When St Francis Xavier arrived in Japan in 1549, he was moderately successful in planting the seeds of faith. Other missionaries followed, and a small Christian community began to grow. Initially, the Japanese rulers were open to the new faith, seeing it as useful to establish contacts with Europe and its rich merchants. But by 1596 things had changed, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of the country, outlawed Christianity, ordering the arrest of all believers who refused to deny their faith.
Torture and Martyrdom
The Japanese Catholic writer, Shusaku Endo, in his novel Silence, gives an account of the Shogun methods of getting Christians to deny their faith. A missionary might be captured and imprisoned. Rather than torture him to the point of denial, however, the jailers would torture the prisoner in the cell next to his, and tell him that the screaming would stop only if he denied Christ. What a terrible dilemma! Once the missionary had decided to spare his brother his suffering, he himself could no longer go back to the Christian community as a bona fide priest. He had become an apostate.
In 1597, twenty-six men were arrested, brought to Nagasaki, and crucified on a hill near the city. Then they were pierced with lances. All of them remained joyful to the end. One of them, the Jesuit Paul Miki, even preached to the crowds gathered beneath the crosses.
These are some of his words:
"The sentence of judgement says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ.
I thank God it is for this that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me, and I want to say to you all again: ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain."
Old City of Faith
The great early Church apologist, Tertullian, wrote in the second century that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church". How true his words have been in so many ages! Many believed that, with the death of Paul Miki and his friends, Christianity would be finished in Japan.
Not so! The centuries passed, and a more favourable climate returned to the country. Missionaries returned in the 1850s. Some French priests established a mission in the old city of faith, Nagasaki.
At first, they did not see any signs of Christianity.
Then, one day, they were visited by an old man, who asked them three questions. Did they venerate Mary, the Mother of God? Were they married? And did they follow the Pope in Rome? When they answered to their satisfaction, the "hidden Christians" of Nagasaki emerged into the open.
Somehow, the Catholics of Nagasaki had lived their faith without priests, as best they could. They had not dared to keep any written materials but, like the early Church, had passed on their faith by word of mouth. The blood of Paul Miki and his friends had indeed fallen on fruitful ground.
Fidelity
The story of a martyr is a story of God's fidelity. God, who is faithful, will never abandon anyone. The martyr knows this, and is prepared to let go of his life, trusting he will regain it eternally. God, who is faithful, will not allow the faith to die, but will raise it up in a new generation of believers.
The people of Ireland knew this in the centuries of our persecution. The martyrs of Uganda and Vietnam knew it in the nineteenth century, and the people of Mexico knew it in the twentieth century. The lives and deaths of Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Justin of Rome and countless other early Church martyrs witnessed to Christ by their blood.
Remember to pray for those persecuted for their faith in the world today. We can think of the Christians and of other faiths martyrs in the Sudan, in Iraq, Gaza in Afghanistan, Israel or in other parts of the world.Today, thank God, in Ireland, persecution no longer leads to the shedding of blood. Sometimes persecution is more subtle than that. May our faith shine through, just like that of the Christians of Nagasaki, for God is always faithful.
This article first appeared in The Messenger (February 2006), a publication of the Irish Jesuits. c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
******************************
Memorable Wisdom for today
Our faith becomes stronger as we express it:
A growing faith is a sharing faith
~ Rev Billy Graham ~
**********************************
Sliocht as an Leabhar Siorach. 47: 2-11
Chan sé a chuid amhrán óna chroí amach agus thug sé grá don Té a chruthaigh é.
Amhail a dhealaítear an gheir ón íobairt shíochána, sin mar a dealaíodh Dáiví ó chlann mhac uile Iosrael.
Bhíodh sé ag súgradh le leoin faoi mar ba mheannáin iad, agus le mathghamhna faoi mar ba uain an tréada iad.
Nuair nach raibh ann ach gasúr nár mharaigh sé fathach, agus nár thóg sé an aithis dá mhuintir,
nuair a d’ardaigh sé a lámh le cloch ina chranntabhaill lenar leag sé Góla ar lár ina dhíomas?
Óir ghlaoigh sé ar an Tiarna, an té is Airde, agus thug seisean neart dá dheasláimh,
chun laoch láidir cogaidh a threascairt, agus chun cumhacht a mhuintire a mhéadú.
Thug siadsan an chraobh dóas ucht an deich míle fear [a mharú],
agus ag móradh an Tiarna dóibh mhol siad é,
nuair a bhronn siad coróin ghlórmhar air.
Óir scrios sé na naimhde a bhí thart timpeall air,
agus dhíothaigh sé na Filistínigh a sheas ina choinne;
agus tá a gcumhachtsan briste aige go dtí an lá inniu fein.
I ngach ní díobhsan dá ndearna sé, ghabh sé buíochas, leis an Aon Naofa, an Té is Airde, le briathra molta;
chan sé a chuid amhrán óna chroí amach agus thug sé grá don Té a chruthaigh é.
Chuir sé [cláirseacha] os comhair na haltóra, ionas go mba bhinnide an chantaireacht a gceol.
Chuir sé barr slachta ar na féilte, agus taibhse shollúnta ar na ceiliúrthaí tráthrialta uile,
sa chaoi go dtugtaí moladh gan stad d’ainm an Tiarna.
agus go mbaintí macalla as an sanctóir ó bhreacadh an lae amach.
Mhaith an Tiarna a pheacaí dó, agus mhéadaigh sé a chumhacht go deo.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 17: 31, 47, 50-51
Freagra Go raibh Dia mo shlánaitheoir á mhóradh
1. Tá slí Dé gan mháchail,
tá briathar an Tiarna arna phromhadh.
Is é is sciath go dearfa
do chách a thriallann chuige. Freagra
2. Go maire an Tiarna! gura beannaithe mo charraig!
go raibh Dia mo shlánaitheoir á mhóradh;
Ar an ábhar sin tabharfaidh mé moladh duit
i measc na náisiún, a Thiarna:
agus canfaidh mé Salm do d’ainm. Freagra
3. Óir thug tú cathréimeanna do do rí,
agus nocht tú do ghrá do d’ungthach,
do Dháiví agus dá shliocht go brách. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marc 6: 14-29
Eoin úd, ar bhain mé an ceann de, is é atá éirithe.
Chuala Héaród rí mar gheall air, mar bhí a ainm in airde, agus dúirt:
“Tá Eoin Baiste éirithe ó mhairbh, agus sin é an fáth a bhfuil na míorúiltí á n-oibriú tríd.”
Dúirt daoine eile: “Éilias atá ann.”
Dúirt daoine eile: “Is fáidh é, ina dhuine de na fáithe.”
Ach nuair a chuala Héaród mar gheall air, dúirt:
“Eoin úd, ar bhain mé an ceann de, is é atá éirithe.”
Óir is amhlaidh a chuir Héaród ordú amach Eoin a ghabháil agus a chur i ngéibheann i bpríosún mar gheall ar Héaróidias, bean Philib a dheartháir, mar bhí sé tar éis í a phosadh.
Óir dúirt Eoin le Héaród: “Ní ceadmhach duit bean do dhearthár a bheith agat.”
Bhí olc ag Héaróidias chuige agus b’áil léi é mharú ach ní fhéadfadh, óir bhí eagla ar Héaród roimh Eoin, ó bhí a fhios aige gur dhuine cóir naofa é, agus choinnigh sé slán é, agus nuair a chuala sé a chomhrá, bhí sé go mór trí chéile ach thug sé cluas dó go fonnmhar.
Agus tháinig uair na faille nuair a thug Héaród fleá, i gcuimhne lae a bhreithe, do lucht a chúirte agus d’oifigigh agus do chinn phobail na Gailíle; agus tháinig iníon Héaróidias isteach agus rinne sí rince, agus thaitin sé le Héaród agus leo seo a bhí ag bord leis. Dúirt an rí leis an gcailín: “Iarr orm cibé ní is mian leat agus tabharfaidh mé duit é.”
Agus thug sé a mhionn di: “Cibé ní a iarrfaidh tú orm tabharfaidh mé duit é, go dtí leath mo ríochta.”
Ghabh sise amach agus dúirt sí lena máthair: “Cad a iarrfaidh mé?”
Dúirt sí siúd: “Ceann Eoin Baiste.”
Tháinig sí isteach faoi dheifir láithreach go dtí an rí agus d’iarr air ag rá:
“Is mian liom go dtabharfá dom ar mhias gan mhoill ceann Eoin Baiste.”
Tháinig buaireamh mór ar an rí, ach mar gheall ar a chuid mionn agus ar na daoine a bhí ag bord, níorbh áil leis dul siar ar a fhocal léi, agus chuir an rí duine den gharda amach láithreach agus d’ordaigh a cheann a thabhairt isteach. D’imigh seisean agus dhícheannaigh sé sa phríosún é, agus thug sé a cheann isteach ar mhias agus thug don chailín é agus thug an cailín dá máthair é. Ar a chloisteáil sin dá dheisceabail, tháinig siad agus thóg a chorp agus chuir i dtuama é.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
The Beatitudes are how Jesus describes his own values in life and his wish for us
that we should live in tune with these advisories for the development of God's Kingdom.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 58:7-10
When will your light shine like the dawn
Thus says the Lord:Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor,
clothe the man you see to be naked and turn not from your own kin.
Then will your light shine like the dawn
and your wound be quickly healed over.
Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer;
call, and he will say, 'I am here'.
If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word,
if you give your bread to the hungry,
and relief to the oppressed,
your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 111: 4-9, R/v1
Response The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
1. He is a light in the darkness for the upright: he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour. Response
2. The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord. Response
3. With a steadfast heart he will not fear; open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever. His head will be raised in glory. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Corinthians 2:1-5
During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus,
and only about him as the crucified Christ.
When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great 'fear and trembling' and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 8:12
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 5: 13-16 Glory to you, Lord
You are the light of the world.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.'You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.
In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Sliocht as Íseáia, Fáidh 58:7-10
Ansin scallfaidh do sholas amach mar an maidneachan
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Do chuid aráin a roinnt le lucht ocrais, dídean a thabhairt do bhochtáin gan teach gan treabh,
éadach a chur ar an té a fheiceann tú nocht
agus gan faillí a dhéanamh i do dhualgas i leith do mhuintire.
Ansin scallfaidh do sholas amach mar an maidneachan
agus is gearr go dtaga cneasú ar do chréachtaí.
Rachaidh d’fhíréantacht romhat amach
agus glóir an Tiarna i do dhiaidh.
Ansin, má ghlaonn tú, tabharfaidh an Tiarna freagra ort;
nuair a scairtfidh tú, déarfaidh sé: “Seo anseo mé.”
Má dhíbríonn tú an leatrom as do chúrsaí,
bagairt na méire agus an chaint urchóideach,
má thugann tú do chuid aráin don ocrach
agus a sháith don duine dearóil,
éireoidh do sholas sa dorchadas agus beidh do ghruaim ina loinnir mheán lae.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 111:4-9, R/v1
Freagra Lonraíonn an dea-dhuine sa dorchacht do dhaoine cneasta.
1. Lonraíonn sé sa dorchacht do dhaoine cneasta: is trócaireach é, is fial, is ionraic.
Bíonn an dea-dhuine carthanach airleacthach, riarann sé a ghnó go ceart onórach. Freagra
2. Ní chorrófar an fíréan choíche: mairfidh a chuimhne go brách na breithe.
Ní chuirfidh drochscéal eagla air; is daingean a chroí, is e an Tiarna a dhóchas. Freagra
3. Is dílis daingean a chroí gan eagla; feicfidh sé a naimhde agus iad á dtreascairt.
Dáileann sé a chuid go fial ar lueht an ghátair.Maireann a fhéile go brách agus choíche. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig Coirintigh 15: 3-8. 11
Fad a bheinn in bhur measc gan aon ní eile a aithint ach Íosa Críost agus eisean arna chéasadh.
I dtaca liomsa, a bhráithre, nuair a tháinig mé chugaibh, níor tháinig mé ag fógairt [rúndiamhair] Dé le hardnós cainte ná eagna. Shocraigh mé i m’aigne fad a bheinn in bhur measc gan aon ní eile a aithint ach Íosa Críost agus eisean arna chéasadh. Is mé a bhí go lagbhríoch in bhur measc agus mé lán d’uamhan agus d’eagla. Agus ní ar bhriathra mealltacha na heagna daonna a bhí mo scéal agus m’fhógra ag brath ach ar fhoilsiú an Spioraid agus na cumhachta, i dtreo nach ar eagna dhaonna a bheadh bhur gcreideamhsa bunaithe ach ar chumhacht Dé.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
Éisteann mo chaoirigh le mo ghlór, agus aithním iad, agus leanann siad mé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eóin 5: 13-16
Is sibhse solas an domhain
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:“Is sibhse salann na talún. Ach má éiríonn an salann leamh, cad a dhéanfaidh goirt arís é? Níl tairbhe ann feasta chun rud ar bith, ach é a chaitheamh amach mar a ngabhfar de chosa ann.
Is sibhse solas an domhain. Cathair ar mhullach cnoic ní féidir í a cheilt. Ná ní lastar lampa chun é a chur faoi bhéal na peice, ach in airde ar an gcrann solais mar a dtugann sé solas dá mbíonn sa teach.
Sibhse mar an gcéanna, bíodh bhur solas ag taitneamh os comhair daoine chun go bhfeicfidís bhur ndeaghníomhartha agus go nglóireoidís bhur nAthair atá ar neamh.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
