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Thought for today Saint of the day Today's Readings Sunday's Readings

Thought for today

Inside and Out.

A writer recounts how she has often found that, frequently, a person’s inner world is not very different from their
outer world. If someone is judgemental and cranky on the outside, they are probably that way within, toward
themselves.

She tries to keep this in mind when she has to deal with difficult people, those who are hypercritical of others and
seem to always expect the most negative outcomes. Such attitudes are not the fruit of a peaceful soul, and, indeed,
these people are probably as hypercritical of themselves. They are likely not able to be any more compassionate or forgiving of themselves than they are of others. She believes that the fruit of crankiness emerges from an unhappy soul.

She says that if she can recognize this that she is able to turn her irritation with them to compassion and recognize that it is probably much easier to deal with them than to be them. She tries to respond by treating the people with kindness and prays that such a response might enable a bit of God’s peace to find its way into their suffering soul.

Deirdre Powell
Catholicireland.net

Source: Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions (adapted).

Saint of the day

Jun 23 - St Thomas More (1478-1535) martyr,

St Thomas More

Pope John Paul II proclaimed St Thomas More as patron of statesmen and politicians. Along with St John Fisher, the only English bishop not to capitulate to King Henry VIII's demands, we celebrate his feast on 23rd June. Bishop Martin Drennan explains why St Thomas More is put forward as a model.

Thomas More (1478-1535) was an English lawyer, writer and politician. Born in London, he studied law at Oxford and entered the English Parliament in 1504. He married Jane Holt and they had four children. Like his friend Erasmus of Rotterdam, he was renowned as a humanist scholar. He coined the word 'utopia', the name - it can mean either "good place" or "noplace"! - given to an ideal imaginary island whose political system he described in a book of that title in 1516. When Henry VIII became king, he sought Thomas as his advisor and he became Chancellor of England in 1529. In 1530 he refused to sign a letter asking the Pope to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine of Arragon and resigned in 1532. He now had neither job nor income, but both he and Bishop John Fisher of Rochester refused to acknowledge Henry as Supreme Head of the Church of England. This eventually led to their execution in 1535. Both were canonised in 1935. During the Jubilee Year 2000 Pope John Paul II declared St Thomas More patron of lawyers, statesmen and politicians.

Support
In the course of his address Pope John Paul II said: 'At the beginning of the new century and new millennium, those responsible for public life are being faced with demanding responsibilities. It is precisely with this in mind that I have wished to offer you the support of a special patron, the martyr Saint Thomas More.

'Thomas More's life is truly an example for you who are called to serve humanity and society in the civic and political sphere. The eloquent testimony which he bore is as timely as ever at a historical moment which presents crucial challenges to everyone involved in governing.

'As a statesman he always placed himself at the service of the person, especially the weak and the poor. Honour and wealth had no sway over him, guided as he was by an outstanding sense of fairness. Above all, he never compromised his conscience, even to the point of making the supreme sacrifice so as not to disregard its voice. Invoke him, follow him, imitate him! His intercession will not fail - even in the most difficult situations - to bring you strength, goodnaturedness, patience and perseverance.'

Noble calling

Pope John Paul II strongly affirms the noble calling of Christians to serve in the sphere of politics and lawmaking and goes on to say that for a faithful living out of their calling as public servants Christians need to be clear about their convictions if they are to have the courage to live by them.

Thomas More is a model of someone who based his choices on Christian principles. One of his best known statements is: 'When a statesman forsakes his own private conscience for the sake of his public duty he leads his country by a short road to chaos.'

This is the wisdom of a man who knew how to put loyalty to God in first place. This is the conviction of a man who was a servant of his people but God's servant first. For Thomas had the wisdom to understand that if our relationship with God is distorted then our relationship with people can't be right. He knew that if a nation is to have good laws those laws begin from respect for the law of God.

Respect for life
On this point Pope John Paul II says, 'A law that does not respect the right to life from conception to the natural death of every human being, whatever his or her condition - healthy or ill, still in the embryonic stage, elderly or close to death - is not a law in harmony with the divine plan. Christian legislators may neither contribute to the formulation of such a law nor may they approve it in parliamentary assembly.' This offers a clear guideline for lawgivers as they respond to new scientific discoveries in the areas of biology and genetics. Consequently, legislators have to remember that human life is a gift of God to be respected, never an object to be exploited for the sake of short-term needs.

Jubilee Day
A second event from the Jubilee Year is significant for helping us to understand what the Pope invites us to do in our prayers of intercession. On November 4th, 2000, a Jubilee Day for Members of Parliament and Government Leaders, the Holy Father recalled a statement of Pope Paul VI in which he stressed that 'politics is a demanding way of living the Christian commitment to serve others'. He went on to call on Christians who are engaged in politics to act selflessly, to work for the good of one and all, especially for the less fortunate members of society.

Justice
As part of that appeal he invited leaders to make some gesture of clemency to prisoners during the Jubilee Year, one that would encourage them on the path of conversion and give them an incentive to sincerely accept the values of justice. He went on to say that justice must be the fundamental concern of political leaders and legislators, a justice which aims at creating conditions of equal opportunity among people. True justice builds solidarity; it fosters good relationships and it is inclusive. 'Peace is the fruit of justice,' he says. The justice which brings peace serves to oppose all violence against human life at every stage of its development. In working for justice the tasks of politics and lawmaking are to formulate and approve laws that promote the real good of every person. To fulfil their responsibilities to God, the sole master of human life, legislators need wisdom.

Prudence
In a pluralistic society Christian lawmakers are sometimes faced with requests for legislation that run contrary to the dictates of their own conscience. New scientific discoveries in the fields of genetics and biology are posing complex problems for them. Lawmakers need Christian prudence to enable them to be faithful to the demands of their correctly formed conscience and at the same time to carry out their duties as legislators. They are called on to witness to their own faith and to be faithful to their own principles in the ever new situations which they face.

Prayer
If our legislators are to make the Gospel of Christ their guide and be effective as a leaven in society they need our support and our prayer. The Holy Father is asking us to intercede for them so that, guided by the wisdom that God is master of all of life, their work may be fruitful as they seek to build a just future, a future where the world will continue to be civilized more and more by love.

This article first appeared in The Messenger (August 2001), a publication of the Irish Jesuits.

Today's Readings

English
Gaelige

FIRST READING

A reading from the first book of Chronicles 24:17-25
You murdered Zecariah between the sanctuary and the altar.

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came to pay court to the king, and the king now turned to them for advice. The Judaeans abandoned the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, for the worship of sacred poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. He sent them prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but when these gave their message, they would not listen. The spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, 'God says this, "Why do you transgress the commandments of Yahweh to no good purpose? You have deserted the Lord, now he deserts you."' They then plotted against him and by order of the king stoned him in the court of the Temple of the Lord. King Joash, forgetful of the kindness that Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, had shown him, killed Jehoiada's son who cried out as he died, 'The Lord sees and he will avenge!'

When a year had gone by, the Aramaean army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem, and executed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king at Damascus all that they had plundered from them. Though the Aramaean army had by no means come in force, the Lord delivered into its power an army of great size for having deserted him, the God of their ancestors.

The Aramaeans treated Joash as he had deserved, and when they retired they left him a very sick man; and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the Citadel of David, though not in the tombs of the kings.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88
Response I will keep my love for him always.

1. 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your dynasty for ever
and set up your throne through all ages. Response

2. '1 will keep my love for him always;
for him my covenant shall endure.
I will establish his dynasty for ever,
make his throne as lasting as the heavens.   Response

3. If his sons forsake my law
and refuse to walk as 1 decree
and ever they violate my statutes,
refusing to keep my commands;
then I will punish their offences with the rod,
then I will scourge them on account of their guilt.   Response

4. 'But I will never take back my love:
my truth will never fail.’ Response

Gospel Acclamation   Mt 4: 4
Alleluia, alleluia!
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God .
Alleluia!

or 2 Cor 8: 9
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus Christ was rich,
but he became poor for your sakes,
to make you rich out of his poverty.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 6:24-34
Do not worry about tomorrow.

Jesus said to his disciples: 'No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.

'That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it. Surely life means more than food, and the body more than clothing! Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are we not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life? And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith? So do not worry; do not say, "What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?" It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The Gospel of the Lord.

********************

Gospel Reflection   Saturday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time              Matthew 6:24-34

We all have worries and anxieties and preoccupations. It is part and parcel of living. In the gospel reading, Jesus suggests that there needs to be a sense of proportion about our anxieties. We need to be more preoccupied about what is more important and less preoccupied about what is less important. What is most important is what Jesus refers to in the gospel reading as the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We are to set our hearts on those realities first. In comparison to those realities the material needs of life for food and clothing are much less important. What Jesus says here corresponds to the prayer that he gave his disciples to pray, where we are taught to pray first for the coming of God’s kingdom and that God’s will would be done on earth as in heaven, and only then to pray for our own material needs, our daily bread. What Jesus refers to in the gospel reading as God’s righteousness is simply another way of referring to the doing of God’s will. If everyone did God’s will on earth, as it is done in heaven, then the kingdom of God would be fully present on earth. It is clear what Jesus’ own priorities are and he wants us to make his priorities our own. Our primary preoccupation is to be the seeking and doing of God’s will. This priority of Jesus is there again in the Beatitudes, ‘blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness’. If we were to ask ‘What does doing God’s will mean?’ Jesus would point to himself, and he would say to us, ‘Learn from me’. He is the one human being in whom God’s will was done on earth as it is in heaven.
________________________________

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 for the Liturgical Year 2017/2018; ‘LET THE WORD OF GOD DWELL IN YOU' by Martin Hogan, published by The Messenger c/f   www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
________________

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as an dara  Leabhar na gCroinicí 24:17-25
Tá sibh tar éis an Tiarna a thréigean; tá sibhse do bhur dtréigean aigesan anois.

Tar éis bhás Iahóideá tháinig prionsaí Iúdá le hómós a thabhairt don rí, agus ghlac an rí lena gcomhairle. Thréigeadar Teampall an Tiarna, Dia a sinsear, agus d’adhradar na cuaillí naofa agus na híola. Tháinig fraoch feirge sa mhullach ar Iúdá, agus ar Iarúsailéim mar gheall ar an gcoir sin. Ach ina dhiaidh sin agus uile chuir [Dia] fáithe chucu chuniad a sheoladh ar ais chun an Tiarna, ach ní éistfidís lena dteachtaireacht siúd, nuair a cháin siad iad. Ansin ghabh spiorad Dé seilbh ar Zacairiá mac Iahóideá an sagart. D’éirigh sé ina sheasamh os comhair an phobail agus dúirt leo: “Seo mar a deir Dia: ‘Cad chuige a sáraíonn sibh aitheanta an Tiarna, agus gur miste sibh é? Tá sibh tar éis an Tiarna a thréigean; tá sibhse do bhur dtréigean aigesan anois.’” Rinneadar uisce faoi thalamh ina aghaidh agus ar fholáireamh an rí chlochadar é i gclós Theampall an Tiarna. Ar an gcaoi sin rinne an rí Ióáis dearmad den bhuanghrá a bhí ag Iahóideá athair Zacairiá dó, ach mharaigh sé a mhac. Nuair a bhí seisean ag fáil bháis, dúirt sé: “Go bhfeice an Tiarna é seo agus go mbaine sé díoltas amach!”

Faoi cheann bliana chuir arm Arám cogadh ar Ióáis. Tháinig siad fad le Iúdá agus le Iarúsailéim, chuireadar prionsaí an phobail chun báis agus sheoladar an chreach ar ais go dtí rí na Damaisce. Bíodh gur tháinig arm Arám ar bheagán slua, thug an Tiarna arm an-mhór suas dóibh, toisc gur thréigeadarsan an Tiarna, Dia a sinsear. Thugadar an íde a bhí tuillte aige ar Ióáis, agus d’fhágadar ina ndiaidh é, agus é gortaithe go mór. Rinne a fheidhmeannaigh comhcheilg ina aghaidh in éiric bhás mhac Iahóideá an sagart agus mharaíodar é ina leaba. Is mar sin a fuair sé bás; agus chuireadar é i gcathair Dháiví ach níor chuireadar é i dtuamaí na ríthe.

Briathar Dé.

Salm le Freagra                  Sm 88
Freagra                                   Coinneoidh mé mo chineáltas go deo dó

1. “Cheangail mé conradh,” [a dúirt tú,] “leis an té a roghnaigh mé;
dhearbhaigh mé do Dháiví mo sheirbhíseach:
‘Socróidh mé do shliocht go brách,
agus bunóidh mé do ríchathaoir go deo.’”            Freagra

2. Coinneoidh mé mo chineáltas go deo dó;
agus seasfaidh mo chonradh go daingean leis.
Socróidh mé a shliocht go síoraí
agus a ríchathaoir mar laethanta na bhflaitheas. Freagra

3. Má thréigeann a chlann mhac mo dhlí,
mura siúlann siad de réir mo phroiceaptaí,
más amhlaidh a sháraíonn siad m’fhorálacha,
nó más amhlaidh a bhriseann siad m’aitheanta,
agróidh mé a gcion orthu leis an tslat;
agus agróidh mé a gcoir orthu leis an lasc.           Freagra

4. Ach ní bhainfidh mé mo bhuanghrá de go deo;
ná ní rachaidh mé siar ar mo bhriathar.               Freagra

SOISCÉAL

Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 6:24-34
Ná bígí imníoch faoin lá amárach.

San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail, “Ní féidir do dhuine ar bith dhá mháistir a riaradh; óir beidh fuath aige do dhuine acu agus grá aige don duine eile, nó beidh sé ag déanamh dúthrachta do dhuine acu agus ag déanamh neamhshuime den duine eile. Ní féidir daoibh Dia a riaradh agus an t-airgead. “Sin é an fáth a ndeirim libh: ná bígí imníoch faoi bhur mbeatha i dtaobh bia nó dí, na faoi bhur gcorp i dtaobh éadaigh. Nach mó le rá an bheatha ná an bia agus an corp ná an t-éadach?

“Féachaigí éanlaith an aeir: ní dhéanann siad síolchur ná fómhar ná cnuasach sna sciobóil, agus tugann bhur nAthair neamhaí bia dóibh. Nach mó is fiú sibhse ná iad sin? Cé agaibh a d’fhéadfadh, le bheith ag déanamh imní, aon bhanlámh amháin a chur le fad a shaoil? Agus cé an fáth a bhfuil sibh imníoch i dtaobh an éadaigh? Tugaigí faoi deara lilí an bháin, mar a fhásann siad; ní dhéanann siad saothar ná sníomh. Ach deirim libh nach raibh ar Sholamh féin, dá mhéad a ghlóir, cóir éadaigh mar atá ar cheann díobh seo. Lus an bháin a bhíonn ann inniu agus atá le caitheamh sa sorn amárach, má éadaíonn
Dia mar sin é, nach móide go mór dó sibhse a éadú, a lucht an bheagán creidimh? Dá bhrí sin, ná bígí go himníoch ag fiafraí: ‘Cá bhfaighimid bia, nó deoch, nó éadach?’ Nithe iad siúd uile a mbíonn na págánaigh ar a dtóir; rud eile, tá a fhios ag bhur nAthair neamhaí go bhfuil gá agaibh leis na nithe sin uile. Ach déanaigí ríocht Dé agus a fhíréantacht a lorg ar dtús, agus tabharfar na nithe sin uile daoibh chomh maith.

Mar sin, ná bígí imníoch faoin lá amárach; beidh an lá amarach imníoch faoi féin. Is leor do gach lá a chuid féin den trioblóid.

Soiscéal Dé.

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

Sunday's Readings

English
Gaelige

Sunday/Feastday THE NATIVITY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST 24/6
FIRST READING

A reading from the first book of the Prophet Isaiah 49:1-6
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Islands, listen to me,
pay attention, remotest peoples.
The Lord called me before I was born,
from my mother's womb he pronounced my name.

He made my mouth a sharp sword,
and hid me in the shadow of his hand.
He made me into a sharpened arrow,
and concealed me in his quiver.

He said to me, 'You are my servant (Israel)
in whom I shall be glorified.'
while I was thinking, 'I have toiled in vain,
I have exhausted myself for nothing.'

And all the while my cause was with the Lord,
my reward was with my God.
I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord,
my God was my strength.

And now the Lord has spoken,
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
to gather Israel to him:

'It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.'

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm         Ps 138
Response    I thank you for the wonder of my being.

1. O Lord, you search me and you know me,
you know my resting and my rising,
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down,
all my ways lie open to you.                        Response

2. For it was you who created my being,
knit me together in my mother's womb.
I thank you for the wonder of my being,
for the wonders of all your creation. Response

3. Already you knew my soul,
my body held no secret from you
when I was being fashioned in secret
and moulded in the depths of the earth. Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13:22-26
Jesus' coming was heralded.

Paul said: 'God made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, "I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose." To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David's descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, "I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal."

'My brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you.'

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation          Lk 1: 76
Alleluia, alleluia!
As for you, little child, you shall be called Prophet of the Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him..
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:57-66. 80
His name is John.

The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.

Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. 'No,' she said 'he is to be called John.' They said to her, 'But no one in your family has that name', and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. 'What will this child turn out to be?' they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Gospel Reflection The Nativity of John the Baptist 24/6 Luke 1:57-66, 80

John the Baptist is the only saint, after Jesus himself, whose birth the church celebrates with a solemn feast. We celebrate the birth of John the Baptist on June 24th, six months before we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th. The celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas coincides more or less with the winter solstice. Just as the light of the sun begins to make a comeback after darkness has reached its peak, we celebrate the birth of the light of the world. The celebration of the birth of John the Baptist coincides, in contrast, with the summer solstice. Just as the light of the sun begins to decrease, after reaching its peak, we celebrate the birth of the one who said, Jesus ‘must increase, but I must decrease’. The question of the neighbours and relations ask of the child John in the gospel reading, ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ could be asked of any of us. It is a question that could be asked of us at any stage of our lives, ‘What will I turn out to be?’, or to put the question in other terms, ‘Who is God calling me to be’? ‘What is God’s purpose for my life?’ God’s purpose for John’s life and God’s purpose for all our lives have a great deal in common. God wants all of us to do what John did, to point out the Saviour, to make way for Jesus, to lead others to him by what we say and do. John the Baptist, whose birth we celebrate today, has something to teach us about how we might keep faithful to this God-given calling. He was a man of the desert, a man of prayer. We all need to find our own desert place of prayer if we are to remain true to our calling to lead others to the Lord, if we are to turn out as God wants us to.

________________________________

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 for the Liturgical Year 2017/2018; ‘LET THE WORD OF GOD DWELL IN YOU' by Martin Hogan, published by The Messenger c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
________________________________________________

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, Fáidh 49:1-6
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha, chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.

A insí na farraige, éistigí liomsa;
tugaigí aire, a chiníocha i gcéin!
Ghairm an Tiarna mé sa bhroinn dom,
agus mé i gcoim mo mháthar luaigh sé m’ainm.

Rinne sé claíomh faobhrach de mo bhéal,
chuir sé i bhfolach mé faoi scáth a láimhe.
Saighead líofa a rinne sé díom,

Dúirt sé liom: “Is tú mo ghiolla Iosrael
trína saothróidh mé glóir dom féin.”

Agus bhí mise á rá liom féin: “Tá mo shaothar in aisce agam,
tá mo neart caite agam gan éifeacht.”
Ach bhí mo cheart le fáil agam i bhfochair mo Thiarna,
agus mo chúiteamh i bhfochair mo Dhé.

Bhí maise orm i súile an Tiarna,
ba é mo Dhia mo neart.
Agus anois tá an Tiarna tar éis labhairt,
an té a dhealbhaigh mé ón mbroinn i leith i mo ghiolla dó,
le go mbailínn Iacób ar ais chuige,
le go gcruinnínn Iosrael le chéile dó:

“Is fánach an mhaise duit a bheith i do ghiolla agam
chun treibheanna Iacóib amháin a thabhairt chucu féin,
chun ar slánaíodh d’Iosrael a thabhairt ar ais.
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha,
chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.”

Sin é Briathar Dé.

SALM LE FREAGRA Sm 138
Freagra   Molaim thú toisc go ndearnadh ar chuma chomh hiontach mé.

I. Scrúdaíonn tú mé , a Thiarna, is is eol duit mé .
is eol duit mo shu’i agus m'éirí.
Tuigeann tú mo smaointe i bhfad uait.
Ag siúl dom agus i mo luí dom, feiceann tú mé;
tugann tú faoi deara mo shlite go léir.                      Freagra

2. Óir is tusa a chruthaigh mé ar fad;
d'fhigh tú mé i mbroinn mo mháthar.
Molaim thú toisc go ndearnadh ar chuma chomh
hiontach mé ,
toisc gurb éachtach iad d'oibreacha.                        Freagra

3. B'eol duit m'anam go hiomlán;
níor ceileadh mo chreatlach ort
nuair a cumadh os íseal mé ,
nuair a fíodh i ndoimhní na talún mé .                   Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 13:22-26
Roimh theacht d’Iosa sheanmóir Eoin faoi.

Sna laetanta sin dúirt Pól “D’ardaigh rí dóibh, Dáiví, an fear ar dhearbhaigh sé ina thaobh á rá: ‘Is é m’aithne ar Dháiví mac Ieise, gur fear de réir mo chroí féin é, fear a dhéanfaidh gach ní is toil liom.’ Is dá shliocht siúd a thóg Dia slánaitheoir d’Iosrael de réir mar a bhí geallta aige – is é sin Íosa. Roimh theacht dó sin bhí Eoin tar éis baisteadh chun aithrí a fhógairt do phobal uile Iosrael, agus nuair a bhí Eoin ag teacht go deireadh a chúrsa, is é a dúirt sé: ‘Ní mise an té is dóigh libhse is mé, mar tá duine le teacht i mo dhiaidhse agus ní fiú mise go scaoilfinn a bhróga.’

A bhráithre liom, a shliocht Abrahám agus a mhuintir in bhur measc a bhfuil ómós agaibh do Dhia, is chugainne a cuireadh an teachtaireacht shlánaitheach seo.

Sin é Briathar Dé.

Alleluia Véarsa            Lc 1: 76
Alleluia, alleluia!
Agus tusa, a leanbh, glaofar ortsa fáidh an Té is Airde,
óir gluaisfidh tú roimh an Tiarna ag ullmhú a bhóthair.
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL

Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás   1:57-66. 80
Is é Eoin is ainm dó

Tháinig a hionú d’Eiliosaibeit agus rug sí mac. Agus chuala a comharsana agus a gaolta go ndearna Dia a thrócaire go hiomarcúil uirthi, agus rinne siad comhghairdeas léi.

Agus ar an ochtú lá, tháinig siad chun an leanbh a thimpeallghearradh, agus bhí siad ag tabhairt ainm a athar air, Zachairias. Ach labhair a mháthair agus dúirt: “Ní hea, ach glaofar Eoin air.” Agus dúirt siad léi: “Níl aon duine ar do chine a bhfuil an t-ainm sin air.” Ach d’fhiafraigh siad le comharthaí sóirt dá athair cad ab áil leis a thabhairt air. Agus d’iarr seisean cláirín agus scríobh sé air: “Is é Eoin is ainm dó.” Agus rinne siad uile ionadh de. Bogadh a bhéal agus a theanga láithreach, agus labhair sé ag moladh Dé. Agus tháinig uamhan ar a gcomharsana uile; agus sa cheantar go léir ar fud na gcnoc in Iúdáia, bhítí ag iomrá ar na nithe seo uile, agus gach ar chuala trácht orthu, chuir siad chucu ina gcroí iad, agus deiridís: “Cad is dán don leanbh seo, mar sin?” Óir go deimhin bhí lámh an Tiarna leis.

Agus d’fhás an leanbh agus neartaigh sa spiorad, agus chónaigh sna fásaigh go dtí an lá ar fhoilsigh é féin d’Iosrael.

Sin é Soiscéal Dé.

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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh
Áthas ar lá breithe Eoin Bhaiste
Is féidir an spiorad áthais ar lá breithe John a cheangailt le brí a ainm san Eabhrais. Ciallaíonn "Yeho-hanan," "tá an Tiarna geanmhar" agus mar a léiríonn cuntas Lúcás, trí Eoin Bhaiste, taispeáin Dia a ghrá, ní hamháin don lánúin gan leanbh, an sagart Zechariah agus a bhean-chéile Eilís, ach leis an chine daonna ar fad. Mar a léirigh an Baiste an bealach ceart dá mhuintir féin, is féidir le gach duine againn an sórt freastail chéanna a dhéanamh ar bhealaí ciúin do dhaoine eile inár saol. Is féidir linn cabhrú lenár gcomharsana a insint mar gheall ar ghrá agus ar mhaithe le Dia. Ciallaíonn an t-ainm Eoin go bhfuil Dia ghrámhar nó léiríonn Dia fabhar. Tá ainm suntasach againn freisin, mar gheall ar a bheith Críostaithe. Ciallaíonn sé go bhfuil muid páirteach le Chríost, ag roinnt i misean Íosa. Is féidir linn a bheith beannaigh le grásta Dé, chun ár misean a chomhlíonadh chomh maith agus a rinne Eoin féin dá chuid.

Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp, Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
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