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Do Lough Derg from wherever you are
Date: Saturday 27th – Monday 29th June 2020Location: Wherever you are
Do Lough Derg from wherever you are
Date: Saturday 27th – Monday 29th June 2020
Location: Wherever you are
The Pope Video – November 2020
Artificial Intelligence
Christian Radio Stations
Bishop Alan McGuckian
The Joy of the Gospel – Reflection 4 by Bishop Alan McGuckian
Novena Online
The Limerick Novena 2020 – Hope in a time of crisis
Bishop Alan McGuckian
The Joy of the Gospel – April 29th
Churches of the Day
Grateful for a Present God.
A writer says that, years ago, the college-aged daughter of a friend died in a car accident. She was a popular girl with a good heart, and her packed funeral was a very sad occasion. The young priest who was saying the Requiem Mass said that he was at a loss as to how to deal with so much grief from so many young people. As he rose to give the homily, he looked out at the congregation with tears running down his face and said, “I don’t know what to say except these are God’s tears.”
The writer says that she is grateful for many things, including family, good health, friends and the opportunity to travel. However, she is most grateful for a God who does not live high above our pain and suffering but is present in the midst of our imperfect and broken world.
Compiled by Deirdre Powell
Catholicireland.net
Source: Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions (adapted).
Nov 26 - St Leonard of Porto Maurizio (1676-1751) Franciscan
Summary: St Leonard was a Franciscan priest and successful retreat preacher. He popularised the Stations of the Cross and believed that the devotion along with regular confession were the secret to helping people maintain the personal reforms initiated during a retreat.
Patrick Duffy tells here what is known about St Leonard.
Educated by his uncle
Paul Jerome Casanova was born in Porto Maurizio, then part of the Republic of Genoa, on 20th December 1676. His father was a ship's captain in the Genoese Merchant Service. His mother died when he was only two and his father married again; they had four other children, three boys and a girl. A rich uncle in Rome took him there for his education and he learned the humanities, rhetoric and philosophy at the Gregorian University, intending he should become a doctor. But Paul met some Observant Franciscans who lived at the Riformella or the Convent of San Bonaventura al Palatino and decided to join them. His uncle was not happy, but his father agreed and at 21 Paul entered the novitiate at Ponticelli in the Sabine hills, taking the name of Brother Leonard.
Preaching retreats
Ordained a priest in 1703, he offered himself for the Chinese mission, but he was asked to study. He soon developed a stomach ulcer and had to return home to the more favourable climate of Porto Maurizio to rest or perhaps to die. He made a vow that if he recovered he would dedicate his life to missions and the conversion of sinners. After four years he was restored to health and soon began a 40-year career of preaching retreats, Lenten sermons and parish missions throughout Italy. His missions lasted 15 to 18 days, and he often stayed an additional week to hear confessions. He said: "I believe that in those days the real and greatest fruit of the mission is gathered. As much good is done in these days as during the mission."
San Miniato near Florence
When Cosimo III de Medici handed over the monastery of San Miniato near Florence, also called Monte alle Croci to the members of the Riformella, Leonard was sent there and began to give missions to the people in Tuscany. These were marked by extraordinary conversions and great results. He and his colleagues practised severe penances during the missions.
Stations of the Cross
As a means of keeping alive the religious fervour awakened during a mission, Leonard promoted the Stations of the Cross. He was the first to put the Stations of the Cross in the Colosseum and erected over 500 others (Stations of the Cross) all over Italy. He also preached regularly on the Holy Name of Jesus.
Incontro
Leonard realised amid the exhaustion of his retreats that he needed time to pray alone, and so he regularly began to make use of the ritiri (houses of recollection) that he helped establish throughout Italy. The first he founded in 1710 on a peak in the mountains about four and a quarter miles from Florence, where he and his assistants could retire from time to time after missions, and devote themselves to spiritual renewal and fresh austerities.
Central-Southern Italy and Corsica
By 1720 Leonard moved his celebrated missions from Tuscany into Central and Southern Italy, firing up the population. Two Popes Clement XII and Benedict XIV valued his charism and asked him to come to Rome, which he did for some time. From May to November, 1744, he preached in the Island of Corsica, which at that time belonged to the Republic of Genoa and which was frightfully torn by party strife.
Death and influence
In November, 1751, when he was preaching in Bologna, Pope Benedict XIV called him to Rome, sensing the end was near. Leonard arrived at his beloved monastery of San Bonaventura al Palatino on the evening of 26 November, 1751 and died that night at the age of seventy-five. His remains repose under the high altar there. Pope Pius VI beatified him in 1796 and Pope Pius IX canonised him in 1867. He is the patron saint of those who preach parish missions.
Patrick Duffy tells here what is known about St Leonard.
Educated by his uncle
Paul Jerome Casanova was born in Porto Maurizio, then part of the Republic of Genoa, on 20th December 1676. His father was a ship's captain in the Genoese Merchant Service. His mother died when he was only two and his father married again; they had four other children, three boys and a girl. A rich uncle in Rome took him there for his education and he learned the humanities, rhetoric and philosophy at the Gregorian University, intending he should become a doctor. But Paul met some Observant Franciscans who lived at the Riformella or the Convent of San Bonaventura al Palatino and decided to join them. His uncle was not happy, but his father agreed and at 21 Paul entered the novitiate at Ponticelli in the Sabine hills, taking the name of Brother Leonard.Preaching retreats
Ordained a priest in 1703, he offered himself for the Chinese mission, but he was asked to study. He soon developed a stomach ulcer and had to return home to the more favourable climate of Porto Maurizio to rest or perhaps to die. He made a vow that if he recovered he would dedicate his life to missions and the conversion of sinners. After four years he was restored to health and soon began a 40-year career of preaching retreats, Lenten sermons and parish missions throughout Italy. His missions lasted 15 to 18 days, and he often stayed an additional week to hear confessions. He said: "I believe that in those days the real and greatest fruit of the mission is gathered. As much good is done in these days as during the mission."San Miniato near Florence
When Cosimo III de Medici handed over the monastery of San Miniato near Florence, also called Monte alle Croci to the members of the Riformella, Leonard was sent there and began to give missions to the people in Tuscany. These were marked by extraordinary conversions and great results. He and his colleagues practised severe penances during the missions.
Stations of the Cross
As a means of keeping alive the religious fervour awakened during a mission, Leonard promoted the Stations of the Cross. He was the first to put the Stations of the Cross in the Colosseum and erected over 500 others (Stations of the Cross) all over Italy. He also preached regularly on the Holy Name of Jesus.Incontro
Leonard realised amid the exhaustion of his retreats that he needed time to pray alone, and so he regularly began to make use of the ritiri (houses of recollection) that he helped establish throughout Italy. The first he founded in 1710 on a peak in the mountains about four and a quarter miles from Florence, where he and his assistants could retire from time to time after missions, and devote themselves to spiritual renewal and fresh austerities.
Central-Southern Italy and CorsicaBy 1720 Leonard moved his celebrated missions from Tuscany into Central and Southern Italy, firing up the population. Two Popes Clement XII and Benedict XIV valued his charism and asked him to come to Rome, which he did for some time. From May to November, 1744, he preached in the Island of Corsica, which at that time belonged to the Republic of Genoa and which was frightfully torn by party strife.
Death and influence
In November, 1751, when he was preaching in Bologna, Pope Benedict XIV called him to Rome, sensing the end was near. Leonard arrived at his beloved monastery of San Bonaventura al Palatino on the evening of 26 November, 1751 and died that night at the age of seventy-five. His remains repose under the high altar there. Pope Pius VI beatified him in 1796 and Pope Pius IX canonised him in 1867. He is the patron saint of those who preach parish missions.
Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 26th November, 2020
FIRST READINGA reading from the Book of the Apocalypse 18:1-2. 21-23. 19:3-9
Babylon the Great has fallen.
I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven, with great authority given to him; the earth was lit up with his glory. At the top of his voice he shouted,
'Babylon has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen, and has become the haunt of devils and a lodging for every foul spirit and dirty, loathsome bird.'Then a powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone, and as he hurled it into the sea, he said, 'That is how the great city of Babylon is going to be hurled down,
never to be seen again.
'Never again in you, Babylon,
will be heard the song of harpists and minstrels,
the music of flute and trumpet;
never again will craftsmen of every skill be found
or the sound of the mill be heard;
never again will shine the light of the lamp,
never again will be heard the voices of bridegroom and bride.
Your traders were the princes of the earth,
all the nations were under your spell.'
After this I seemed to hear the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, 'Alleluia! Victory and glory and power to our God! He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the famous prostitute who corrupted the earth with her fornication; he has avenged his servants that she killed'. They sang again, 'Alleluia! The smoke of her will go up for ever and ever.' The angel said, 'Write this: Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb', and he added, 'All the things you have written are true messages from God'.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 99
Response Happy are those who are invited to the wedding of the Lamb.
1. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. Response
2. Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock. Response
3. Go within his gates giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name. Response
3. Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. Response
Gospel Acclamation Mt 24: 42
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know the. hour when the Son of Man is coming.
Alleluia !
Or Lk 21: 28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high,
because your liberation is near at hand.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 21:20-28
Jerusalem will be trampled down by the pagans until the age of the pagans is completely over.
Jesu
s said to his disciples: 'When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you must realise that she will soon be laid desolate. Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. For this is the time of vengeance when all that scripture says must be fulfilled. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come!'For great misery will descend on the land and wrath on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every pagan country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the pagans until the age of the pagans is completely over.
'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Gospel Reflection Thursday Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 21:20-28
Both of today’s readings speak of the fall of great cities. Jesus prophecies the fall of Jerusalem to the Roman armies with the terrible suffering that will bring for its inhabitants, ‘Jerusalem will be trampled down by the pagans’. The first reading from the Book of the Apocalypse speaks of, indeed celebrates, the fall of Babylon, ‘Babylon the Great has fallen’. Babylon is code for Rome. At the beginning of the sixth century before Christ, the Babylonian Empire had destroyed the city and temple in Jerusalem, resulting in the Babylonian Exile for the Jewish people. By the time the Book of the Apocalypse had been written just towards the end of the first century A.D., Jerusalem and its Temple had been destroyed again twenty five years earlier by the empire of Rome, the new Babylon. The churches for whom this book was written had also experienced the destructive power of Rome. The reading speaks about God’s servants that Rome has killed. Is there any light in all this darkness, any hope in all this destruction? It is a question that could be asked in many a war-torn situation today. Both readings, however, end on a note of hope. In the gospel reading Jesus assures his disciples that all this destruction is the prelude to his coming as Son of Man with power and glory. His power and glory are not the power and glory associated with worldly empires like Babylon and Rome. Far from being destructive, the Lord’s power is life-giving and liberating from evil, ‘your liberation is near at hand’. Even in the darkest of situations, the Lord’s coming with the liberating power of his love is always assured. His coming will be experienced by those who, in the words of the gospel reading, stand erect, holding their heads high. This is not an arrogant posture. Rather, it is a posture of trust in the Lord whose light and love no darkness or hatred can overcome, and who holds out to his faithful servants an invitation to his great wedding feast, in the words of the first reading.
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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 comes from WEEKDAY REFLECTIONS 2019-20: The Word of God is Living and Active by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 26th November, 2020
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Apacailipsis 18:1-2. 21-23. 19:3-9
Tá sí ar lár, ar lár, an Bhablóin Mhór!
Chonaic mise, Eoin, aingeal eile ag teacht anuas ó na flaithis, agus údarás mór aige, agus lonraigh an domhan lena ghlóir.
Ghlaoigh sé in ard a ghutha á rá: “Tá sí ar lár, ar lár, an Bhablóin Mhór! Rinne nead lonnaithe deamhan di, agus daingean gach spioraid mhíghlain, agus tearmann gach éin bhréin, agus lóiste gach ainmhí neamhghlain] uafair;
Ansin thóg aingeal tréan carraig mar lia mór bró agus
chaith sé isteach san fharraige í á rá: “Mar sin is ea a theilgfear an Bhablóin, an chathair mhór, chun láir d’aon iarracht, gan fáil uirthi feasta. Agus ní chloisfear a thuilleadh ionat ceol na gcruitirí, ná na gcantairí, ná na bpíobairí ná na dtrumpadóirí. Ní bheidh ceardaí aon cheirde, le fáil ionat a thuilleadh; ná ní bheidh glór an mhuilinn le clos ionat feasta.
Ná ní shoilseoidh solas lóchrainn ionat a thuilleadh;
ná ní bheidh guth fir ná mná céile le cloisteáil ionat feasta. Óir ba iad do mhangairí flatha an domhain;
Ina dhiaidh sin chuala mé mar a bheadh glór mathshlua mhóir sna flaithis á rá: “Alleluia! Is lenár nDia slánú agus glóir agus neart. Óir is fíor iad a bhreitheanna agus iscóir. Thug sé breith ar an striapach mhór a thruailligh n domhan lena striapachas. Agus rinne sé fuil a sheirbhíseach a agairt uirthi.”
Ghlaoigh siad arís: “Alleluia! Éiríonn a deatach uaithi ar feadh na síoraíochta.” Agus dúirt [an t-aingeal] liom: “Is méanar dóibh siúd a fhaigheann cuireadh chun bainis an Uain.
Briathar Dé.
Salm le Freagra Sm 99
Freagra Is méaner don lucht a bhfaigheann cuireadh chun bainis an Uain.
1. Gairdígí don Tiarna, a thíortha uile;
ónaigí don Tiarna go lúcháireach.
Tagaigí ina láthair le hamhráin áthais. Freagra
2. Bíodh a fhios agaibh gurb é an Tiarna is Dia ann.
Eisean a rinne sinn; is leis féin sinn.
Sinne a phobal agus caoirigh a pháirce. Freagra
3. Gabhaigí buíochas leis ag dul isteach ina dhoirse daoibh.
Siúlaigí isteach ina chúirteanna le cainticí.
Tugaigí moladh dó agus móraigí a ainm. Freagra
4. Nach maith é go deimhin an Tiarna;
maireann a bhuanghrá go brách.
Is dílis é ó ghlúin go chéile. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 21: 20-28
Beidh Iarúsailéim á satailt ag gintlithe nó go dtiocfaidh aimsirí na ngintlithe chun críche.
San am s
in dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:“Nuair a fheicfidh sibh Iarúsailéim arna timpeallú ag sluaite armtha, bíodh a fhiosagaibh ansin go bhfuil a lomscrios in achmaireacht. Ansin, iad seo a bheidh in Iúdáia, teithidís faoi na sléibhte; iad seo a bheidh sa chathair, imídís aisti; iad seo a bheidh ar an tuath, ná téidís isteach inti; óir is laethanta díoltais iad seo, nuair nach foláir gach a bhfuil scríofa a chomhlíonadh. Is mairg do na mná a bheidh ag iompar clainne nó ag tabhairt cíche sna laethanta sin!Go deimhin, beidh éigean mór sa tír agus díbheirg chun an phobail seo: titfidh siad le béal an chlaímh; seolfar ina mbránna iad ar fud na náisiún uile; agus beidh Iarúsailéim á satailt ag gintlithe nó go dtiocfaidh aimsirí na ngintlithe chun críche.
“Agus beidh comharthaí sa ghrian agus sa ghealach agus sna réaltaí. Ar an talamh beidh duainéis ar na náisiúin, iad ar mearbhall ó ghlór agus ó mhórtas na farraige; daoine i bhfantaisí éaga le barr eagla agus imní faoi na nithe atá le breith ar an gcruinne; óir beidh cumhachtaí na bhflaitheas ar crith. Agus ansin feicfear Mac an Duine ag teacht sa scamall le cumhacht agus iomad glóire. Nuair a thosóidh na nithe sin ag teacht, seasaígí suas agus ardaígí bhur gceann, óir tá bhur bhfuascailt in achmaireacht.”
Soiscéal Dé
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 29th November, 2020
*****************New Advent 2020 Feature beginning today************************
New Feature for ADVENT 2020: Some rather special Advent Daily Reflections by Fr John Cullen, editor of Intercom.
They can be found below the Readings of each Advent Day beginning today.
Today's Scripture Themes
The God who comes is a loving Father; we are the work of his hands. Our hope in Christ will strengthen us to await steady and without blame the day of his coming. We are warned against complacency, taking God’s gifts for granted. Our God is watching over us; he is the careful potter, the loving father, the good shepherd, the faithful one.
FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1. 3-8
Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down.
You, Lord, yourself are our Father,
Our Redeemer is your ancient name.
Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways
and harden our hearts against fearing you?
Return, for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your inheritance.
Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down
- at your Presence, such as no one has ever heard of before.
No ear has heard,no eye has seen
any god but you act like this
for those who trust him.
You guide those who act with integrity
and keep your ways in mind.
You were angry when we were sinners;
we had long been rebels against you.
We were all like men unclean,
all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.
We have all withered like leaves
and our sins blew us away like the wind.
No one invoked your name
or roused himself to catch hold of you.
For you hid your face from us
and gave us up to the power of our sins.
And yet, Lord, you are our Father;
we the clay, you the potter,
we are all the work of your hand.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 79
Response God of hosts, bring us back;
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
1. O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help. Response
2. God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted. Response
3. May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again:
give us life that we may call upon your name. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 1:3-9
We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Ps 84:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 13:33-37
Stay awake, because you never know when the time will come
Jesus said to his disciples:'Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.
So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!'
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Fr John Cullen's 2020 Advent Reflections
Introduction
We all have memories that are vivid and have an impact on us. One haunting memory I have is of a routine walk through a school playground; a child asked me, ‘Father, can I ask you a question?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course, anything’. Then he asked me, ‘Is it true that Santa Claus is not real?’ I side-stepped the question, but I could see in his eyes that he was determined to get an answer. I explained about Saint Nicholas and that Santa represented him.Then a startling question of clarification followed. It was like an ex cathedra statement. ‘So there is no real Santa that manages to come down a smoked chimney full of soot and yet appears with a white beard? Well, what do you say?’ He was looking for real answers of proof.
Like all adults I fudged and fumbled a vague answer. Then he asked me a major question, ‘Father, what age then do they tell us that there is no God, just like there is no Santa?’ I felt dim witted and flummoxed. The bell rang, playtime was over and I never got around to answering his vital and honest question even to this day.
Advent is an awareness time to help us not to miss the signs of God’s presence. Awareness is inseparable from the expectancy that was in the question posed to me in the school playground. We look at one another as believers with hope and expectancy.
Awareness and expectancy are central to Advent. Every day we watch the world in which we live and the people we meet with a sense of expectancy. Advent invites us to listen for the Word to come alive for us in Scripture and to ask the Spirit to bless our awareness through the signs of the sacraments.
These Advent reflections help us to celebrate the truth of ‘God-with-us’, who, despite the lurking questions in the playground of our hearts, invites us in the gospel words ‘to listen, to know and to follow’ (John 10:27).
First Sunday of Advent
‘God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (1 Corinthians 1:9)
This great line from today’s second reading is a good first step into our Advent journey. The Bible is a detailed record of God’s search for us. The first question in Genesis 3:9 from God is addressed to Adam. He is playing his own version of hide and seek in a garden: ‘Where are you?’ Advent is a time to answer God’s question that is addressed to each of us.
In the Gospel, Mary Magdalene is in another garden. She discovers that the risen Lord has found her. She hears her name in a new way and is asked to proclaim the resurrection. She is asked to ‘Go and tell’ as an apostle to the apostles (John 20:17). How did she hear her name? Was it a gentle whisper? Was it an excited exclamation? Was it in astonishment? Was it a determined declaration?
Saint Augustine (354–420) in his Confessions probes his experiences with a restless search for meaning. Here, Augustine gives us a good example of a personal memoir, which we may think is an exclusively modern kind of writing for politicians, celebrities and sports stars alone. None of these, however, focus with detail on what Augustine calls his ‘twisted and tangled knottiness’.
But then unknown to me you caressed my head
and when you closed my eyes lest they see things
that would seduce me,
I began for a little while to forget myself.
But what I saw was not seen with the eye of the body.
(Confessions 7, 14; translated by Benignus O’ Rourke, OSA)
Advent is a graced time to unravel the twisted and tangled threads of the fabric of our own lives. Augustine is illuminated by the light of God that only the inner eye of the heart sees. We light the first candle on the Advent Wreath as a symbol of the kindly light that gives us ‘the resolve to run forth to meet Christ’ (Today’s Collect in the Mass) whose presence dispels our personal and collective winter darkness.
Answer the Advent waiting call now.
The Scripture Texts are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Fr John Cullen, writer of Advent Reflections 2020 is the Parish Priest of Ahascraigh, Ballinasloe, Co Galway and Editor of Intercom Magazine.
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 29th November, 2020
AN CHÉAD DOMNACH DEN AIDBHINT
CHÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an fáidh Íseáia 63:16-17; 64:1. 3-8
Och, dá roisfeá na flaithis ó chéile agus teacht anuas
Tusa, a Thiarna, is athair dúinn;
ár bhfuascailteoir, is é sin d’ainm riamh anall.
Cén fáth, a Thiarna, a bhfuil muid ar seachrán agat i bhfad ó do shlite,
agus ár gcroíthe á gcruachan ionas nach eagal leo thú níos mó?
Fill ar ais ar son do sheirbhíseach,
ar son treibheanna d’oidhreachta.
Och, dá roisfeá na flaithis ó chéile agus teacht anuas,
ag cur na sléibhte ar crith os do chomhair,
Dhéanfá éachtaí ansin nach raibh súil leo,
agus nár chuala aon duine caint orthu riamh.
Cluas níor chuala ná súil ní fhaca
dia ar bith ach tusa ag seasamh leis
an té a chuir a mhuinín ann.
Cuireann tú fáilte roimh an dream a chleachtann an ceartagus a mbíonn cuimhne acu ort féin agus ar do bhealaí.
Tá fearg ort, agus déanaimid peaca dá ainneoin sin;
is fada sinn ag déanamh ceannairce i do choinne.
Bhíomar go léir ar nós duine atá neamhghlan
agus ár ndea-ghníomhartha uile mar ghiobail bhrocacha.
Tá muid seargtha ar fad mar bheadh duilleoga,
dár siabadh linn ag ár gcionta ar nós na gaoithe.
Duine níl ann a ghlaonn ar d’ainm,
ná a mhúsclaíonn é féin chun teannadh go dlúth leat.
óir tá tú tar éis do ghnúis a cheilt orainn,
agus sinn fágtha agat faoi smacht ár gcoireanna.
Ach fós féin, a Thiarna, is tú ár n-athair.
Sinne an chré, tusa an potaire,
agus saothar do láimhe is ea sinn go léir.
Briathar Dé.
Salm le Freagra Sm 79
Freagra Cuir ar ais sinn, a Dhia.
Taispeáin dúinn d'agnaidh ghrianmhar agus slánaigh sinn, a Thiarna.
1. Éist linn, a aoire Isráél.
Túsa atá i do shuí ar na Ceiribíní, soilsigh amach.
Corraigh do chumhacht, a Thiarna,
agus tar chugainn dár sábháil. Freagra
2. Cas ar ais, a Dhia na Slua.
Breathnaigh anuas ó neamh agus féach.
Tabhair cuairt ar an bhfíniúin a chuir tú féin.
Caomhnaigh an stoc a phlandaigh do dheaslámh féin. Freagra
3. Go raibh do lámh ar an bhfear a roghnaigh tú,
ar mhac an duine a neartaigh tú duit féin.
Ní thréigfimid thú go brách ansin;
tabhair dúinn an bheatha agus mórfimid d’ainm, Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad litir Naomh Pól chuig na Coirintigh 1:3-9
Táimid ag feitheamh lenár dTiarna Íosa Críost a nochtadh chugaibh.
Bím ag síorghabháil buíochais le Dia ar bhur son as an ngrásta atá bronnta aige oraibh in Íosa Críost.
Mar tá raidhse den uile shórt faighte agaibh ann: raidhse den urlabhra agus raidhse den eolas.Tá an fhianaise ar Chríost dulta chomh daingean sin I bhfeidhm oraibh nach bhfuil tabhartas ar bith in easnamh oraibh fad atá sibh ag feitheamh lenár dTiarna Íosa Críost a nochtadh chugaibh. Coimeádfaidh seisean daingean sibh go deireadh na dála, gan cháim lá ár dTiarna Íosa Críost. Tá Dia dílis agus is é a ghlaoigh oraibh chun bheith rannpháirteach lena Mhac, ár dTiarna Íosa Críost.
Briathar Dé.
Comhgháir/Alleluia - Sm 84:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
Taispeáin dúinn, a Thiarna, do thrócaire,
agus tabhair dúinn do shánú.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir N. Marcas 13:33-37
Déanaigí faire, dá bhrí sin, mar ní fios daoibh cén uair a thiocfaidh tiarna an tí
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail :Bígí aireach, déanaigí faire, mar níl a fhios agaibh cén uair a bheidh an t-am ann. Is é dála duine é a d’fhág a theach agus a d’imigh ar an gcoigríoch; thug sé an t-údarás dá sclábhaithe, gach duine díobh i mbun a chúraim féin; agus d’ordaigh sé don doirseoir faire a dhéanamh.
Déanaigí faire, dá bhrí sin, mar ní fios daoibh cén uair a thiocfaidh tiarna an tí, um thráthnóna, i lár na hoíche, ar ghlao an choiligh, nó ar maidin.
Má thagann sé gan choinne, ná faigheadh sé sibh in bhur gcodladh.
An rud a deirim libhse, deirim le gach duine é: Déanaigí faire.”
Soiscéal Dé.
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh
Nuair a ghuíonn an fáidh Íseáia go n’oscalódh Dia an Flaitheas agus a theacht síos ar an domhan, is dócha go raibh sé ag smaoineamh i dtéarmaí na rudaí a tharla ar Sliabh Sinai blianta fada roimhe sin. In am Maoise bhreathnaigh na hIosraeligh Dia sa bfhásach i measg an dúlra (Ex 19). Ní bhéadh sé inmhianaithe do’n fháidh go dtabharfadh Dia na n’Uile é féin a thumadh go hiomlán inár saol – ach is é sin díreach cad a thárla i n-iomláine na hama. Cé go raibh Isaias ag guí go mbeadh na sléibhte leá mar chéir i láthair Dé, is cosúil go bhfhuil suim níos mó ag Dia maidir le leá ár gcroí. Tá sé mar a gaibh an Potaire foirm an chré air féin. Le linn na hAidbhinte tugtar cuireadh dúinn smaoineamh ar ár laige daonna, ní hamháin chun aithrí a bheith orainn ach go líonfar ár gcroíthe le hiontas ar an gcaoi a roghnaíonn Dia ár slánú.
Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp, Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
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