Pictorial Thought for Today

Pictorial Thought for TodayPictorial Thought for Today

Mar 16 - St Fionán Lobhar (6th century)

Summary: St Fionán, abbot, the ('the 'skin diseased one')
Fionán was an abbot at Swords. His Irish name means "the fair-headed one" and there were a number of Fionáns remembered as saints. One Fionán was St Aidan's successor at Lindisfarne; there was 'Fionán Cam' from Kerry, 'Cam' meaning that he had a squint, and Fionán, Lobhar's  name suggests he may have had a skin disease similar to leprosy.

Patrick Duffy explains about St Fionán Lobhar.

Fionnan Lobhar- Fortchern

Lobhar (Irish)
Lobhar is an Irish word meaning a leper or someone suffering from a chronic skin disease. Fionán Lobhar (sometimes written "Finan Lobur") is reputed to have been of Munster descent, but born at Bregia in Leinster. It is unlikely that leprosy had reached Ireland at this time, but he may or may not have had a similar skin disease.

Fionán's monasteries
Many and various stories are associated with Fionán Lobhar - that Colmcille made him abbot of his monastery at Swords, that he went to Clonmore Abbey in Co Carlow, where he was buried. Other monasteries attributed to him are Ardfinnan (Irish Árd Fionáin - see image) in Co Tipperary and Innisfallen, an island in the lake at Killarney, Co Kerry. And it is also possible that some of the Fionáns got mixed up.

Devotion


Fionán Lobhar must have been an outstanding abbot as there was a strong devotion to him right through the Middle Ages.

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Memorable Quote for Today


God calls us to a holy life -
not because of anything we have done
but because of his own purposes and grace


~ 2nd Timothy 1:10 ~


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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 17th March, 2025

Second Sunday in Lent Year C

The vision f Jesus' transfiguration in glory is given to the three apostles  who will later see his suffering if the Garden  and
recorded for us as an encouragement


First Reading

A reading from the Book of Genesis      15:5-12. 17-18
The Lord made a Covenant with Abram, the man of faith.

Taking Abram outside the Lord said,
'Look up to heaven and count the stars if you can. Such will be your descendants' he told him.
Abram put his faith in the Lord, who counted this as making him justified.
'I am the Lord, he said to him 'who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldaeans to make you heir to this land.'
'My Lord the Lord,' Abram replied, how am I to know that I shall inherit it?'
He said to him,
'Get me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon.'
He brought him all these, cut them in half and put half on one side and half facing it on the other; but the birds he did not cut in half. Birds of prey came down on the carcases but Abram drove them off.

Now as the sun was setting Abram fell into a deep sleep, and terror seized him.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, there appeared a smoking furnace and a firebrand that went between the halves.
That day the Lord made a Covenant with Abram in these terms:
'To your descendants I give this land,  from the wadi of Egypt to the Great River.

The Word of the Lord               Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm:           Ps 26
Response :                              The Lord is my light and my help.

1. The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?  Response

2. O Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer.
Of you my heart has spoken: 'Seek his face.'                                           Response

3. It is your face, 0 Lord, that I seek; hide not your face.
Dismiss not your servant in anger; you have been my help.                Response

4. I am sure I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!                   Response

Second Reading

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Philippians      3:17- 4:1
Christ will transfigure these bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body.

My brothers, be united in following my rule of life. Take as your models everybody who is already doing this and study them as you used to study us. I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, there are many who are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ. They are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things.

For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.

So then, my brothers and dear friends, do not give way but remain faithful in the Lord. I miss you very much, dear friends; you are my joy and my crown.

The Word of the Lord      Thanks be to God.

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Shorter form
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A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Philippians      3:17- 4:1
Christ will transfigure these bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body.

For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body.
He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.

So then, my brothers and dear friends, do not give way but remain faithful in the Lord.
I miss you very much, dear friends; you are my joy and my crown.

The Word of the Lord      Thanks be to God.

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Gospel  Acclamation           Mt 17:5
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
From the bright cloud the Father's voice was heard 'This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.'
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !

The Lord be with you.          And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke      9:28-36        Glory to you, O Lord
As Jesus prayed, the aspect of his face was changed.

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus,
'Master, it is wonderful for us to be here;
so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah'.
- He did not know what he was saying.

As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid.
And a voice came from the cloud saying, 'This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.'

A
nd after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

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

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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here:  https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/



Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 17th March, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as an Leabhar Genesis       15:5-12. 17-18
Rinne an Tiarna Conradh le hAbrám an lá sin á rá

Thug an Tiarna Abrám leis amach é agus dúirt:
“Féach suas ar an spéir agus comhair na réaltaí más féidir leat iad a áireamh. Mar sin,” ar sé ansin, “a bheidh do shíol'.
Agus chreid seisean an Tiarna agus mheas an Tiarna é sin mar fhíréantacht aige.

Mise an Tiarna,” ar sé leis, “a thug tú amach as Úr na gCaildéach, chun go dtabharfainn an tír seo duit mar oidhreacht.”
“A Thiarna Dia liom,” ar sé, “cá bhfios dom go mbeidh sé mar oidhreacht agam?”
“Tabhair dom,” ar sé, “bearach trí bliana, minseach trí bliana, reithe trí bliana, colúr, agus colm óg.”

Thug sé iadsan go léir chuige; ghearr sé ina dhá leath gach ceann acu agus chuir sé leath ar thaobh agus leath ar an taobh eile os a chomhair sall, ach nár ghearr sé na héin. Nuair a bhíodh éanlaith chreiche ag teacht anuas ar na conablaigh, chuireadh Abrám an ruaig orthu. Le luí na gréine thit tromchodladh ar Abrám agus bhuail scéin é. Tar éis don ghrian dul faoi dá bhrí sin agus gur thit an dorchadas, chonacthas foirnéis dheataigh tine agus lóchrann ar lasadh ag gabháil idir na codanna roinnte úd.
Rinne an Tiarna Conradh le hAbrám an lá sin á rá.
“Tabharfaidh mé do do shliocht an dúiche seo ó Abhainn na hÉigipte go dtí an Abhainn Mhór.

Briathar an Tiarna            Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra.           Sm 26
Freagra                            Is é an Tiarna mo sholas is mo shlánú.

1. Is é an Tiarna mo sholas is mo shlánú. cé a chuirfidh eagla orm?
Is é an Tiarna dúnáras mo bheatha; cé a chuirfidh ar crith mé?                                             Freagra

2. A Thiarna, éist le mo ghuth nuair a screadaim ort; déan trócaire orm is freagair mé.
Deir mo chroí fútsa: 'Cuardaigh a ghnúis.'                                                                                    Freagra

3. A Thiarna, táim ag cuardach do ghnúise; ná folaigh orm do ghnúis.
Ná cuir do sheirbhíseach uait go feargach; is tú mo chunamh: ná cuir an ruaig orm.        Freagra

4. Creidim go bhfeicfidh mé maitheas an Tiarna i dtír na mbeo.
Fan leis an Tiarna; bí cróga; bíodh do chroí go tréan is fan leis an Tiarna.                           Freagra

DARA LÉACT
Sliocht as Liter cuig na Filipigh       3:17-4:1
Déanfaidh Críost an corp uiríseal seo againn a athmhúnlú ar aon dul lena chor glórmhar féin

A bhráithre, déanaigí aithris ormsa le chéile. Bígí ag faire ar na daoine a dhéanann d e réir an tsampla a thugaimid daoibh. Is minic ráite agam cheana libh – agus deirim lib anois é go deorach – go bhfuil mórán ag imeacht ina naimhde do chros Chríost  Is é mbascadh is dán dóibh sin; níl de Dhia acu ach a mbolg agus iad bródúil as a gcui mínáire agus gan ach nithe saolta ina gceann acu  Ar neamh atá ár mbaile dúchai againne, áfach, agus is ó neamh atáimid ag súil lenar bhfuasclóir a theacht, an Tiarna Íosa Críost  Déanfaidh seisean an corp uiríseal seo againn a athmhúnlú ar aon dul lena chor glórmhar féin – as ucht na cumhachta lena bhféadann sé gach uile ní a thabhairt faoin smacht.

Dá bhrí sin, a bhráithre ionúine na pairte, ós sibhse m’aoibhneas agus mo chuid den saol, seasaigí go daingean sa Tiarna, a chairde cléibh.

Briathar an Tiarna        Buíochas le Dia

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DARA LÉACT  gearr
Sliocht as Liter cuig na Filipigh       3:20-4:1
Déanfaidh Críost an corp uiríseal seo againn a athmhúnlú ar aon dul lena chor glórmhar féin

Ar neamh atá ár mbaile dúchai againne, áfach, agus is ó neamh atáimid ag súil lenar bhfuasclóir a theacht, an Tiarna Íosa Críost  Déanfaidh seisean an corp uiríseal seo againn a athmhúnlú ar aon dul lena chor glórmhar féin – as ucht na cumhachta lena bhféadann sé gach uile ní a thabhairt faoin smacht.

Dá bhrí sin, a bhráithre ionúine na pairte, ós sibhse m’aoibhneas agus mo chuid den saol, seasaigí go daingean sa Tiarna, a chairde cléibh.

Briathar an Tiarna        Buíochas le Dia

Véarsa                           Mth 17:5
Cloiseadh glór an Athar as an scamall solasmhar:
'Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi: éistigí leis.'

SOISCÉAL       

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.         Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh         Lúcás 9:28-36          Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Agus sa ghuí do Íosa, tháinig athrach cló ar a ghnúis.

  San am sin rug Íosa Peadar agus Eoin agus Séamas agus chuaigh an sliabh suas chun guí. Agus sa ghuí dó, tháinig athrach cló ar a ghnúis agus d’éirigh a chuid éadaigh gléigeal lonrach. Agus bhí beirt fhear ag agallamh leis –  b’iad Maois agus Éilias iad –     agus chonacthas i nglóir iad ag caint faoina imeacht as an saol, rud a bhí le tabhairt chun críche aige in Iarúsailéim. Bhí Peadar agus a chompánaigh trom le codladh, ach d’fhan siad ina ndúiseacht agus chonaic siad a ghlóir  agus an bheirt a bhí ansiúd in éineacht leis.

Agus ansin, le linn dóibh seo bheith ag scaradh leis, dúirt Peadar le Íosa:
A Mháistir, is maith mar a tharla anseo sinn: déanaimis trí bhoth, ceann duit féin, ceann do Mhaois agus ceann d’Éilias” – agus gan a fhios aige cad a bhí sé a rá.

Ach nuair a bhí sé ag rá an méid sin, tháinig scamall, agus bhí sé ina scáil anuas orthu, agus bhí uamhan orthu nuair a d’imigh siad siúd isteach sa scamall.  Agus tháinig glór as an scamall ag rá:
“Is é seo mo Mhac, an té is togha liom; éistigí  leis!”

Agus le macalla an ghlóir, fuarthas Íosa ina aonar.

Ach d’fhan na deisceabail ina dtost agus níor inis siad d’aon duine sna laethanta sin aon ní dá raibh feicthe acu.

Soiscéal an Tiarna.                Moladh duit, a Chriost



AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 23rd March, 2025

Third Sunday of Lent Year C


For Jesus: A fruitless tree can be a reminder of a call to repentance, a second or third chance to change.


(The first Scrutiny of Catechumens is celebrated today)


FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of  Exodus       3:1-18. 13-15
'I Am' has sent me to you.

Moses was looking after the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, priest of Midian. He led his flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the shape of a flame of fire, coming from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing but it was not being burnt up.
'I must go and look at this strange sight,' Moses said  'and see why the bush is not burnt.'
Now the Lord saw him go forward to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush.
'Moses, Moses!' he said.
'Here I am' he answered.
'Come no nearer' he said.
'Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.
I am the God of your father,' he said 'the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.'
At this Moses covered his face, afraid to look at God.

And the Lord said,
'I have seen the miserable state of my people in Egypt. I have heard their appeal to be free of their slave-drivers.
Yes, I am well aware of their sufferings. I mean to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians and bring them up out of that land to a land rich and broad, a land where milk and honey flow, the home of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.
After you have led the people out of Egypt, you are to offer worship to God on this mountain.'

Then Moses said to God,
'I am to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you."
But if they ask me what his name is, what am I to tell them?'
And God said to Moses,  'I Am who I Am.
'This' he added 'is what you must say to the sons of Israel: "I Am has sent me to you."
And God also said to Moses,
'You are to say to the sons of Israel:
"the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you." This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come.

The Word of the Lord             Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm          Ps 102
Response                                   The Lord is compassion and love.

1. My soul, give thanks to the Lord, all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.                                          Response

2. It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals everyone of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion.            Response

3. The Lord does deeds of justice, gives judgement for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses and his deeds to Israel's sons.                                           Response

4. The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him.  Response

Second Reading               
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians      10:1-6. 10-12
The life of the people was written down to be a lesson for us.

I want to remind you, brothers, how our fathers were all guided by a cloud above them and how they all passed through the sea. They were all baptised into Moses in this cloud and in this sea; all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink, since they all drank from the spiritual rock that followed them as they went, and that rock was Christ. In spite of this, most of them failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert.

These things all happened as warnings for us, not to have the wicked lusts for forbidden things that they had. You must never complain: some of them did, and they were killed by the Destroyer.

All this happened to them as a warning, and it was written down to be a lesson for us who are living at the end of the age. The man who thinks he is safe must be careful that he does not fall.

The Word of the Lord                Thanks be to God.


Gospel  Acclamation           Mt 4:17
Glory and praise to you, O Christ , you are the Word of God!
Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ , you are the Word of God!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you.                    And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke   13:1-9
Unless you repent you will all perish as they did.

Some people arrived and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices At this he said to them,
'Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that were greater sinners than any other Galileans?
They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.'

He told this parable:
'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the man who looked after the vineyard,
"Look here, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?"
"Sir," the man replied "leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down."'

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




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.

For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here:  https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/

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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 23rd March, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT     

Sliocht as  Leabhar  Exodus      3:1-8.13-15
An té atá ann is é a sheol chugaibh mé.

BMaois ag aoireacht tréad athair a chéile, Iatró, sagart Mhidián. Sheol sé a thréad go hiarthar an fhásaigh agus tháinig go Horaeb, sliabh Dé.  Thaispeáin aingeal an Tiarna é féin dó ansiúd i riocht lasair thine ag teacht as lár toir; d’fhéach sé agus b’shiúd an tor ar lasadh ach gan é á dhó.
“Caithfidh mé dul i leataobh,” arsa Maois, “agus an radharc iontach seo a fheiceáil – cen fáth a bhfuil an tor gan do.” 
Nuair a chonaic an Tiarna é agus é ag dul i leataobh á fheiceáil, ghlaoigh Dia air ón tor:
“A Mhaois, a Mhaois!”
Anseo dom,” ar sé.
Ná tar níos gaire,” arsa an Tiarna, “bain do bhróga de do chosa óir an ball ar a bhfuil tú i do sheasamh, is talamh naofa é.”
Is mise,” ar sé ansin, “Dia d’athar, Dia Abrahám, Dia Íosác, Dia Iacóib.”
Agus chlúdaigh Maois a aghaidh mar nár leomhaigh sé féachaint ar Dhia.

 Ansin dúirt an Tiarna:
Chonaic mé an cruatan atá ar mo phobal san Éigipt agus chuala mé a screadaíl de bharr a saoistí saothair; is eol dom a bpianta.  Tháinig mé anuas chun iad a fhuascailt as lámha na nÉigipteach agus chun iad a sheoladh as an tír sin isteach i dtír mhéith fhairsing, i dtír ina bhfuil bainne agus mil ina slaoda.

Ansin dúirt Maois le Dia:
“Má théim go clann Iosrael agus a rá leo: ‘Dia bhur n-aithreacha a chuir mise chugaibh,’ agus go bhfiafraíonn siad díom: ‘Cén t-ainm atá air?’ céard a déarfaidh mé leo?” 

Dúirt Dia le Maois: “Is mé an te atá ann,
agus lean sé air: “agus abair é seo le clann Iosrael: ‘An té atá ann is é a sheol chugaibh mé.’”

Agus dúirt Dia arís le Maois: “Seo mar a déarfaidh tú le clann Iosrael:
An Tiarna, Dia bhur n-aithreacha, Dia Abrahám, Dia Íosác, Dia Iacóib, is é a chuir chugaibh mé.’
Sin é m’ainm ar feadh na síoraíochta agus sin mar a bheidh m’ainm á ghlaoch ó ghlúin go glúin.

Briathar an Tiarna              Buíochas le Dia


Salm le Freagra               Sm 102
Freagra                              Is grámhar trócaireach é an Tiarna.

I.  Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a anam liom, beannaíodh a bhfuil istigh ion am a ainm naofa.
Gabh buíochas leis an Tiarna, a anam liom, agus ná déan dearmad dá thíolaicí go léir.    Freagra


2. Eisean a mhaitheann do chionta go léir, a shlánaíonn d'easláintí go léir,
a fhuasclaíonn do bheatha ón mbás, a chorónaíonn thú le grá is le trua.                               Freagra


3. Cuireann an Tiarna an fhíréantacht i bhfeidhm, túgann sé ceart dá mbíonn faoi dhaorsmacht.
Chuir sé a shlite in iúl do Mhaois agus a ghníomhartha do chlann Isráél.                            Freagra


4. Is grámhar trócaireach é an Tiarna. foighneach agus lán de cheansacht.
Ní airde neamh os cionn talún na méid a bhuanghrá do lucht a eaglaithe.                           Freagra


DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh      10:1-6.10-12
Tharla na nithe sin dóibh mar shampla dúinne.

Ní háil liom nach mbeadh a fhios agaibh, a bhráithre, go raibh ár sinsir uile faoi scáth an scamaill go ndeachaigh siad uile tríd an muir, agus gur baisteadh iad uile sa scamall agus sa mhuir i gcomhar le Maois. Chaith siad uile an bia spioradálta céanna   agus d’ól siad an deoch spioradálta chéanna mar gur ól siad deoch gcarraig spioradálta a bhí á leanúint – agus ba é Críost an charraig sin. Mar sin féin ní raibh Dia buíoch dá bhformhóragus dá chomhartha sin fágadh sínte iad faoin bhfásach. Is mar shampla dúinne a tharla na nithe sin, á fhógairt dúinn gan dúil a chur i ndrochnithe faoi mar a chuir siad siúd. Agus ná déanaigí monabhar mar a rinne cuid acu sin monabhar gur scrios an Scriosadóir iad.

Tharla na nithe sin dóibh mar shampla dúinne agus scríobhadh iad mar rabhadh dúinne ar ar tháinig críoch na n-aoiseanna. Dá réir sin an té ar dóigh leis go bhfuil sé ina sheasamh, tugadh sé aire ar eagla go dtitfeadh sé.

Briathar an Tiarna                 Buíochas le Dia

Véarsa                                     Mth 4: 17
Glóir duit, a Chríost: is tú Briathar De!
'Deanaigi aithri,' a deir an Tiarna,'mar ta riocht na bhflaitheas in achmaireacht.'
Glóir duit, a Chríost: is tú Briathar De!

SOISCÉAL 

Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh  Lúcás           13:1-9
Mura ndéana sibh aithrí millfear sibh uile mar an gcéanna.

San am sin féin tháinig daoine I láthair á insint D’Íosa faoi na Gailíligh, go raib Piolát
éis a gcuid fola agus fuil a n-íobairtí a mheascadh ar a chéile. Dúirt sé leo á bhfreagairt:
“An é is dóigh libh, agus a rá gur fhulaing siad an méid sin, gur mhó de pheacaigh na Gailíligh sin ná na Gailíligh eile go léir? Níor mhó, deirim libh; ach mura ndéana sibh aithrí millfear sibh uile mar an gcéanna. Nó an t-ocht nduine dhéag úd ar thit an túr orthu i Siolóam agus gur mharaigh iad, an dóigh libh gur mhó a bhí siad i bhfiacha ná an chuid eile d’áitritheoirí Iarúsailéim? Níor mhó, deirim libh, ach millfear sibh uile mar an gcéanna mura mbíonn aithrí déanta agaibh.”

Dúirt sé an parabal seo:
“Bhí fear ann a raibh crann fígí curtha ina fhíonghort aige, agus tháinig sé ag lorg toraidh air agus ní bhfuair. Dúirt sé le curadóir na fíniúna: ‘Féach, táim le trí bliana ag teacht ag lorg toraidh ar an gcrann fígí seo agus ní bhfaighim é. Gearr anuas é. Cad chuige a mbeadh an talamh ó rath aige i gcónaí?’
Ach dúirt seisean leis á fhreagairt:
A mháistir, lig an bhliain seo leis chomh maith, nó go ndéanfaidh mé romhar ina thimpeall agus aoileach a chur leis, agus b’fhéidir go dtabharfadh sé toradh uaidh; ach mura dtugann, gearrfaidh tú anuas é feasta.’”

Soiscéal an Tiarna.             Moladh duit, a Chriost

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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh

Ceacht ón Garraíodóir

Léitear sa Soiscéal gur chuir an garraíodóir ceist ar úinéar an fhíonghoirt deis eile a thabhairt don chrann fige le súil go mbeadh sé torthúil. Gheall sé go ndéanfadh sé tochailt timpeall air agus go gcuirfeadh sé aoileach air, chun an deis déanach a bhronnadh ar an gcrann. Dála an garraíodóir, b’hfearr dúinn ár gcreideamh a chothú, agus iarracht a dhéanamh ar theacht i gcabhair ar daoine eile. An bhfuil ár gcreideamh á chaomhnú againn, agus grá Dé á chleachtadh chun go mbeimíd torthúil mar a bhfuil súil ag Dia linn?

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