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"“I was never getting married, I was never having kids, but it’s an amazing moment when you know.”
Bishop William Amove Avenya of Gboko has warned that escalating attacks on Christians by Fulani tribesmen could soon become another Rwanda.
“I have great faith. I often think of the prophet Abraham who never reached the promised land and yet he remained faithful to what he was asked to do in the mission of life."
Programmes will air on Catholic TV stations or may be viewed on the internet at www.amoris.ie/tv.
Nathan Carter, Daniel O’Donnell, Riverdance, The Priests, Celine Byrne and Dana Masters among celebrities to sing before the Pope at WMOF.
“Our concern is that in schools we are involved in, if religious education is not taken as a subject, we would want the issue of ethics, heritage and so on, to be considered,” says Bishop Leahy.
The New Testament
She is the first to whom Jesus shows himself after the resurrection, though at first she doesn't recognise him till he called her name, Mary. Then she cried 'Rabbuni.' He said "Do not cling to me, for I have not ascended to my Father. but go and find the brothers and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (Jn 20:11-18).The novel, The Da Vinci Code, has stirred up a good deal of controversy, with its theories about the lost cup of the Last Supper and the identity of the 'beloved apostle'. The book claims that Mary Magdalene was this anonymous disciple, and that the Church has kept this secret from mankind in its efforts to maintain its power and control over people's lives.
Authentic sources
Yes, it all sounds a bit fanciful, doesn't it? Yet, lots of people are currently buying into the fiction. Perhaps we need to look at the Scriptures to get a clearer picture of the real Mary Magdalene and her true message for today.
The sources I will suggest are not the various Gnostic texts which abounded in the early centuries, but the four gospels which were accepted by the Church as authentic, virtually from the beginning. These are the texts which were accepted by saints and theologians like Ignatius of Antioch, who died in Rome in 108, and Irenaeus of Lyons, who was bishop from 180-203. There were other 'gospels', but in time they were rejected, because they weren't consistent and authentic to the real Jesus, who had revealed himself as God and man in Palestine in the early years of the first century.
Various Marys
There are various Marys mentioned in the New Testament. None receives as much attention as Mary, the Mother of Jesus, but close behind her is Mary of Magdala. The Catholic Church, in its latest edition of the Calendar of Saints, distinguishes between Mary of Magdala, Mary the sister of Lazarus, and the sinful woman who weeps over the feet of Jesus (Lk 7:36-50). Nor is she to be confused with the nameless woman caught in adultery (Jn.8:3-11).
Ministry of service
Mary of Magdala, I believe, has four messages to give us.
First of all, she is a disciple of Jesus. It was unknown at that time for women to be disciples of rabbis, and yet all four evangelists mention her, while Luke and Matthew specifically state that she and some others looked after Jesus and his closest disciples.
Her message here is one of service, for she considered it an honour to minister to the Lord. This she did to the end, when she came with others to anoint his crucified body as it lay in the tomb.
Throughout the centuries, women have ministered to the Lord, often in quiet and humble ways. Increasingly, that role has been, and will be, extended, as they seek to serve the modern Church in positions of leadership and responsibility. Pastors must have eyes to see and hearts that are open to their many and varied gifts.
A damaged person
We are told that Mary had 'seven demons' cast out of her by Jesus. We don't know if these were spirits of a sinful nature, or if they refer to some sickness from which Jesus freed her.
In another passage, Jesus mentions a man who was freed in a similar way, but who later succumbed to seven other demons. Mary, once freed, never fell prey again to the power of her former problems, and followed Jesus resolutely, even to the foot of the cross on the hill of Calvary.
You could say she was a fragile person, but what a beautiful lesson for us to know that Jesus can use us even when we are damaged and have known sin or distress or sickness.
A greater love
As a result of books like The Da Vinci Code, there is much unhealthy speculation these days about the supposed relationship of Mary with Jesus. Did the Church keep hidden a 'terrible secret' that their relationship was more than platonic? We know there is no foundation for such speculation, which sometimes says more about the authors than the matter they write about.
The Church today is increasingly highlighting the beauty and sanctity of marriage. How sad it is, then, that the world cannot recognise the dignity and beauty of chastity!
Twenty-five years ago, the lyrics of Mary Magdalene's song in the pop musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, gave a revealing insight into this beautiful relationship: 'I don't know how to love him / What to do, how to move him. / I've been changed, yes, really changed. / In these past few days, when I've seen myself / I seem like someone else'.
In meeting Jesus, Magdalene discovered a love greater and deeper than she had ever known before. How exciting and wonderful it is for anyone - woman or man - to fall in love with the truly Great Lover! The world needs to hear that message. Maybe that's the real reason why the figure of Mary Magdalene is so prominent today.
Resurrection
Finally, there is the role of Mary Magdalene as the 'first announcer of the Resurrection'. Even when the other disciples doubt her word, she is faithful in proclaiming the message that he is risen. Did Jesus choose a woman for this role because of the inherent fidelity of a woman's heart? Despite the apostles' incredulity, she stuck to her guns. In Zeffirelli's film, Jesus of Nazareth, Mary is given the line, 'He told me to tell you, and I have done so!' That about sums up her courage and fidelity.
Today, in a world of faithlessness, we also are called to proclaim the truth of his resurrection, even when others do not believe, or give in to doubt. Mary Magdalene knew that Christ had died. Was she not one of the few beneath the cross at that terrible moment? Yet she was unwavering in her belief that he was risen.
No one was going to stop her telling that Good News to everyone she met. As she came away from the tomb on that first Easter morning, she already knew in her heart what St. Paul would say to the Corinthians a couple of decades later: 'If Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless, and you have not been released from your sins... In fact, however, Christ has been raised from the dead as the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep' (1 Cor. 15:17.20). Mary Magdalene was the first to grasp this astonishing truth, and to proclaim it to the world.
This article first appeared in The Messenger (April 2005), a publication of the Irish Jesuits.
In Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God. In his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.
The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, 'You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while'; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.I. Is é an Tiarna m'aoire,
ní bheidh aon ní de dhíth orm.
Cuireann sé i mo luí mé
i móinéar féaruaithne.
Seolann sé ar imeall an uisce mé,
mar a bhfaighim suaimhneas. Freagra
3. Cóiríonn tú bord chun béile dom
i bhfianaise mo naimhde;
Ungann tú mo cheann le hola;
tá mo chupán ag cur thar maoil. Freagra
4. Leanfaidh cineáltas is fabhar mé
gach uile lá de mo shaol.
I dteach an Tiarna a mhairfidh mé
go brách na breithe. Freagra
A bhráithre, tá sibh i gCríost Íosa; sibhse a bhí tráth I bhfad i gcéin, tá sibh tagtha i ngaire de bharr fhuil Chríost. Mar is eisean ár síocháin; is é a rinne aon bhuíon amháin den dá phobal nuair a leag sé ar lár an balla deighilte, an naimhdeas ina cholainn, agus chuir ar ceal an dlí agus a chuid aitheanta agus forálacha d’fhonn aon duine nua amháin a dhéanamh den bheirt ann féin trí shíocháin a dhéanamh eatarthu, agus an dá bhuíon a thabhairt chun athmhuintearais le Dia in aon chorp amháin leis an gcrois ar ar chuir sé an naimhdeas chun báis. Tháinig sé ag fógairt dea-scéal na síochána daoibhse a bhí i bhfad uaidh agus dóibh sin a bhí ina chóngar; mar is tríd atá teacht againn araon ar an Athair faoi luí an aon Spioraid.San am sin tháinig na haspail le chéile timpeall ar Íosa agus d’inis siad dó a raibh déanta acu agus a raibh de theagasc tugtha acu. Dúirt sé leo: “Tagaigí sibhse go dtí áit uaigneach ar leithligh agus glacaigí bhur suaimhneas tamall” – óir bhí mórán daoine ag teacht agus ag imeacht agus ní raibh am chun bia féin acu. D’imigh siad leo i mbád go dtí áit uaigneach ar leithligh. Agus chonaic mórán ag imeacht iad agus d’aithin siad iad, agus rith siad ann dá gcois as na cathracha uile agus bhain siad an áit amach rompu.
One Body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, 'Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?' He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, 'Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.' One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said, 'There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?' Jesus said to them, 'Make the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, 'Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.' So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, 'This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.' Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.CÉAD LÉACHT 1. Ceiliúrfaidh d'oibreacha thú, a Thiarna,
agus beannóidh do dhaoine naofa thú.
Canfaidh siad glóir do ríochta,
agus foilseoidh siad do chumhacht. Freagra
2. Bíonn súile cách ag feitheamh ort,
agus tugann tú bia dóibh in am tráth.
Osclaíonn tú do lámh
is sásaíonn tú a bhfuil beo le do chinéaltas Freagra
3. Is fíréanta an Tiarna ina shlite uile
is is naofa é ina oibreacha go léir.
Is gairid an Tiarna dá ngaireann air,
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na hEifísigh 4:1-6
Aon chorp amháin, aon Tiarna amháin, aon chreideamh amháin agus aon bhaisteadh amháin.
A bhráithre, táim ag impí oraibh, dá bhrí sin, agus mé i mo ghéibheannach ag an Tiarna, bhur saol a thabhairt go cuí de réir na gairme atá faighte agaibh agus sibh a bheith lán d’uirísle, de láchas agus d’fhoighne. Cuirigí suas go carthanach le chéile agus déanaigí bhur ndícheall chun an aontacht a thagann ón Spiorad a choimeád faoi cheangal na síochána. Aon chorp amháin agus aon Spiorad amháin atá ionaibh faoi mar nach bhfuil ach aon dóchas amháin agaibh ó fuair sibh bhur ngairm ó Dhia. Níl ann ach aon Tiarna amháin, aon chreideamh amháin agus aon bhaisteadh amháin. Níl ann ach aon Dia amháin atá ina Athair ag cách: é os cionn cách agus ag gníomhú i gcách agus istigh i gcách uile.
Briathar Dé.
Nuair a d’ardaigh Íosa a shúile, mar sin, agus nuair a chonaic go raibh slua mór ag teacht chuige, dúirt sé le Pilib: “Cá gceannóimid arán chun go mbeadh bia acu seo?” Ag baint trialach as a dúirt sé é sin, mar bhí a fhios aige féin cad a bhí sé chun a dhéanamh. D’fhreagair Pilib é: “Níor leor luach dhá chéad déanar d’arán chun go mbeadh greim an duine acu.” Dúirt duine dá dheisceabail leis – ba é Aindrias é, deartháir Shíomóin Peadar: “Tá ógánach anseo a bhfuil cúig builíní eorna aige, agus dhá iasc, ach cá rachadh an méid sin ar oiread daoine?” Dúirt Íosa: “Cuirigí na daoine ina suí” – bhí mórán féir san áit. Shuigh siad síos mar sin, timpeall cúig mhíle duine. Agus thóg Íosa na builíní, d’altaigh, agus roinn iad ar na daoine agus iad ina suí; agus mar an gcéanna oiread agus a b’áil leo de na héisc. Nuair a bhí siad sách, dúirt sé lena dheisceabail: “Bailígí an bruscar fuíligh chun nach rachadh aon ní amú.” Bhailigh siad ansin lán dhá chiseán déag de bhruscar as na cúig builíní eorna, a d’fhág na daoine a fuair an béile. Nuair a chonaic na daoine, mar sin, cad é mar chomhartha a bhí déanta ag Íosa, dúirt siad: “Is é seo go dearfa an fáidh atá le teacht ar an saol.” Agus ó bhí a fhios ag Íosa go raibh ar aigne acu teacht á fhuadach chun rí a dhéanamh de, chuaigh sé i leataobh arís faoin sliabh ina aonar.
