Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Photo by Philip Mc Shane
Jul 27 - Pope St Celestine I (422-432 AD): who sent St Patrick to Ireland?
Summary: St Celestine was born and became a deacon at Rome around the time of Pope Innocent I (401-417). Later he himself became Pope 422-432 AD and continued the fight against the Pelagian heresy, which was now waning. He had the satisfaction of seeing it die away in Britain, where its founder came from.
The tradition in Ireland is that Celestine was the pope who sent St Patrick to Ireland. He condemned the Nestorian heresy. And he is also credited as the pope who introduced the responsorial psalm into the Mass in Rome.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Influenced by St Ambrose at Milan, acquainted with St Augustine
A Campanian, Celestine is said to have lived for a while with St. Ambrose at Milan. He was certainly a deacon at Rome in the time of Pope Innocent I (401-417). In contrast to the stormy election of of his predecessor Pope Boniface (418-422), Celestine's election seems to have been quiet and harmonious.
Against Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism
Once he became pope, St Celestine continued the fight against the Pelagian heresy, which was now waning. He had the satisfaction of seeing it die away in Britain, where its founder came from. When the heresy in the diluted form known as Semi-Pelagianism raised its head in Gaul, Celestine wrote against this new danger. A great friend of St. Augustine, he wrote a letter to the bishops of Gaul on the occasion of the mighty father's death (430), praising him and forbidding all attacks on his memory.
Against Nestorianism
But the new heresy of Nestorianism raised its head in the East. Nestorius was a priest from Antioch who when he became patriarch of Constantinople began to teach that in Christ there are not only two natures, which is correct, but that there are also two persons, which is incorrect. A logical consequence was that Mary was not the Mother of God (theo-tokos) but only of the human person of Christ (christo-tokos). This aroused horror even in Constantinople itself, while St. Cyril, the patriarch of Alexandria, attacked the new doctrine most vigorously. Both Nestorius and Cyril were soon clamouring to the Pope for a decision. Celestine held a synod at Rome in 430 and condemned Nestorianism. Nestorius was to be deposed and excommunicated if he persisted in teaching false doctrine. Nestorius refused to submit, all the more because Cyril, who had been made the Pope's agent in the matter, demanded more than Celestine had asked. A general council was called to meet at Ephesus in 431. The council condemned Nestorianism, to the great joy of the people.
St Patrick to Ireland?
Traditionally it was said that Pope Celestine a short time before his death personally commissioned St. Patrick to preach the gospel to the Irish. Perhaps it was Celestine who sent Palladius and it may be that Patrick came later. At any rate, St. Prosper of Aquitaine says in his Chronicle that Celestine saved the Roman island for the faith (De Paor, St Patrick's World, 154).
Churches in Rome
Celestine restored, which had been destroyed by the Goths. He also caused some interesting pictures of the saints to be painted in the Church of St. Sylvester.
Introduced the responsorial psalm into the Liturgy of the Word at Rome
The church music historian Peter Jeffrey has pointed to the tradition in the Liber Pontificalis that it was Pope Celestine who introduced the responsorial psalm into the papal Mass at Rome, having experienced that practice as a young man at Milan when he was there while Ambrose was bishop. Perhaps it was also from Milan that Augustine could also have brought the same practice to Hippo in Africa.
St. Celestine I died on 26 July 432. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Priscilla in the Via Salaria, but his body, subsequently moved, now lies in the Basilica di Santa Prassede. In art, Saint Celestine is portrayed as a Pope with a dove, dragon, and flame, and is recognized by the Church as a saint.
The tradition in Ireland is that Celestine was the pope who sent St Patrick to Ireland. He condemned the Nestorian heresy. And he is also credited as the pope who introduced the responsorial psalm into the Mass in Rome.Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Influenced by St Ambrose at Milan, acquainted with St Augustine
A Campanian, Celestine is said to have lived for a while with St. Ambrose at Milan. He was certainly a deacon at Rome in the time of Pope Innocent I (401-417). In contrast to the stormy election of of his predecessor Pope Boniface (418-422), Celestine's election seems to have been quiet and harmonious.
Against Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism
Once he became pope, St Celestine continued the fight against the Pelagian heresy, which was now waning. He had the satisfaction of seeing it die away in Britain, where its founder came from. When the heresy in the diluted form known as Semi-Pelagianism raised its head in Gaul, Celestine wrote against this new danger. A great friend of St. Augustine, he wrote a letter to the bishops of Gaul on the occasion of the mighty father's death (430), praising him and forbidding all attacks on his memory.
Against Nestorianism
But the new heresy of Nestorianism raised its head in the East. Nestorius was a priest from Antioch who when he became patriarch of Constantinople began to teach that in Christ there are not only two natures, which is correct, but that there are also two persons, which is incorrect. A logical consequence was that Mary was not the Mother of God (theo-tokos) but only of the human person of Christ (christo-tokos). This aroused horror even in Constantinople itself, while St. Cyril, the patriarch of Alexandria, attacked the new doctrine most vigorously. Both Nestorius and Cyril were soon clamouring to the Pope for a decision. Celestine held a synod at Rome in 430 and condemned Nestorianism. Nestorius was to be deposed and excommunicated if he persisted in teaching false doctrine. Nestorius refused to submit, all the more because Cyril, who had been made the Pope's agent in the matter, demanded more than Celestine had asked. A general council was called to meet at Ephesus in 431. The council condemned Nestorianism, to the great joy of the people.
St Patrick to Ireland?
Traditionally it was said that Pope Celestine a short time before his death personally commissioned St. Patrick to preach the gospel to the Irish. Perhaps it was Celestine who sent Palladius and it may be that Patrick came later. At any rate, St. Prosper of Aquitaine says in his Chronicle that Celestine saved the Roman island for the faith (De Paor, St Patrick's World, 154).
Churches in Rome
Celestine restored, which had been destroyed by the Goths. He also caused some interesting pictures of the saints to be painted in the Church of St. Sylvester.
Introduced the responsorial psalm into the Liturgy of the Word at Rome
The church music historian Peter Jeffrey has pointed to the tradition in the Liber Pontificalis that it was Pope Celestine who introduced the responsorial psalm into the papal Mass at Rome, having experienced that practice as a young man at Milan when he was there while Ambrose was bishop. Perhaps it was also from Milan that Augustine could also have brought the same practice to Hippo in Africa.
St. Celestine I died on 26 July 432. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Priscilla in the Via Salaria, but his body, subsequently moved, now lies in the Basilica di Santa Prassede. In art, Saint Celestine is portrayed as a Pope with a dove, dragon, and flame, and is recognized by the Church as a saint.Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 27th July, 2024
Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah 7:1-11
Do you take this Temple that bears my name for a robbers' den?
The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord,
'Go and stand at the gate of the Temple of the Lord and there proclaim this message. Say,
"Listen to the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who come in by these gates to worship the Lord. The Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says this:Amend your behaviour and your actions and I will stay with you here in this place. Put no trust in delusive words like these: This is the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord!
But if you do amend your behaviour and your actions, if you treat each other fairly, if you do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow (if you do not shed innocent blood in this place), and if you do not follow alien gods, to your own ruin, then here in this place I will stay with you, in the land that long ago I gave to your fathers for ever.
Yet here you are, trusting in delusive words, to no purpose! Steal, would you, murder, commit adultery, perjure yourselves, burn incense to Baal, follow alien gods that you do not know? - and then come presenting yourselves in this Temple that bears my name, saying: Now we are safe - safe to go on committing all these abominations! Do you take this Temple that bears my name for a robbers' den? I, at any rate, am not blind - it is the Lord who speaks.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 83
Response How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, God of hosts.
1. My soul is longing and yearning, is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God, the living God. Response
2. The sparrow herself finds a home and the swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God. Response
3. They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you; they walk with ever growing strength. Response
4. One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked. Response
Gospel Acclamation Heb 4: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
or Jm 1: 21
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word, which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:24-30 Glory to you, O Lord
Let them both grow till the harvest.
Jesus put another parable before the crowds,
'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well.
The owner's servants went to him and said,
"Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?"
"Some enemy has done this" he answered.
And the servants said, "Do you want us to go and weed it out?"
But he said,
"No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it.
Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers:
First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
*******
Gospel Reflection Saturday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:24-30
It has often been said that our weaknesses are the shadow side of our strengths. The line between the good and the not-so-good in our lives can be very subtle. If we are overzealous in trying to root out what is not so good in someone’s life, or, indeed, in our own, we might damage what is good there too. In the parable Jesus speaks in today’s gospel reading, the owner’s servants wanted to root out the weeds that had appeared among the wheat. The owner had to restrain them. This was not the time for such separation; it is not always easy to distinguish wheat from weeds at an early stage of growth, and both can be closely intertwined. The separation would come at harvest time. In the meantime, patience is needed with the weeds. Jesus may have been warning against a kind of religious zeal that is too eager to identify weeds, what is considered worthless, and to separate it out from wheat, what is considered good.
Saint Paul showed some of this kind of religious zeal before he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus. He saw the followers of Jesus as weeds in the field of Judaism; they had to be identified and rooted out. He was blind to the presence of God among them. Sometimes, there is no mistaking evil and evil people. However, we can also get it terrible wrong and misjudge others. There are times when we may need to live with the weaknesses of others for the sake of their great strengths. We are all a mixture of wheat and weed. The Lord’s good work is ongoing in our lives, and yet it is always hindered by the presence of sin. Only beyond this earthly life will we be fully conformed to image of God’s Son. In the meantime, we need a certain amount of patience with ourselves and others, while seeking to grow more fully into the person of Christ and helping each other to do so.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings 2024: The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications 2022/23, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 27th July, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Irimia, Fáidh 7:1-11
An Teampall seo a ghairtear i m’ainmse, an bhfuil sé ina phrochóg ladrann dar libhse?
An briathar a tháinig go Irimia ón Tiarna, mar seo a ghabh sé:
“Téigh agus seas I ngeata Theampall an Tiarna agus fógair an teachtaireacht seo. Abair: Éistigí le briathar an Tiarna, a fheara uile Iúdá, a thagann isteach sna geataí seo chun an Tiarna a adhradh. Is mar seo a deir Tiarna na Slua, Dia Iosrael: Leasaigí bhur n-iompar agus bhur ngníomhartha agus fanfaidh mise libh san áit seo. Ná taobhaigí leis na briathra mealltacha seo: Seo é sanctóir an Tiarna, sanctóir an Tiarna, sanctóir an Tiarna!
Ach má leasaíonn sibh bhur n-iompar agus bhur ngníomhartha, má chaitheann sibh go cothrom lena chéile, gan sochar a bhaint as an strainséir, an dílleachta agus an bhaintreach (agus gan fuil neamhchiontach a dhoirteadh san áit seo), gan dul i ndiaidh déithe eile chun bhur ndochair féin, más ea, fanfaidh mise libh sa dúiche a thug mise anallód do bhur n-aithreacha go brách. Ach seo sibh ag cur muiníne i mbriathra mealltacha gan tairbhe. An ndéanfaidh sibh goid, an ea, agus marú, adhaltranas, agus mionna bréige a thabhairt, agus túis a loscadh do Bhál, agus imeacht i ndiaidh déithe eile nach fios daoibh?
Agus ansin teacht agus seasamh i mo láthair sa Teampall seo a ghairtear i m’ainm, agus a rá: Anois táimid slán sábháilte – sábháilte chun leanacht de dhéanamh na gráiniúlachta seo uile! An Teampall seo a ghairtear i m’ainmse, an bhfuil sé ina phrochóg ladrann dar libhse? Ach ní dall atá mise – is é an Tiarna a labhraíonn.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Salm le Freagra Sm 83
Freagra Nach álainn go dearfa d’áras, a Thiarna na slua!
1. Ag meirtniú le méin do m’anam, santaíonn sé cúirteanna an Tiarna.
Gairdíonn mo chroí is mo cholainn, i nDia – an Dia bithbheo. Freagra
2. An gealbhan féin, fuair sé teach; fuair an fháinleog nead di féin
mar a gcuirfeadh sí a hál ag d’altóirí; a Thiarna na slua, a rí liom is a Dhia. Freagra
3. Is méanar dá ndéanann cónaí i do theach; beidh siad do do mholadh de shíor.
Is méanar dóibh siúd gur tusa a neart; an dream a mbíonn do shlite ina gcroí. Freagra
4. B’fhearr liom aon lá amháin i do chúirteanna ná míle lá in aon áit eile.
B’fhearr liom bheith ar thairseach theach Dé ná bheith i mo chónaí i mbothanna na bpeacach. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha, 13:24-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha
Fágtar le hais a chéile ag fás iad araon go dtí an fómhar
San am sin chuir Íosa parabal eile os a gcomhair:
“Is iad dála ríocht na bhflaitheas,” ar seisean, “mar a bhí ag an duine a chuir síol maith ina ghort.
Ach fad a bhí an saol ina chodladh, bhí namhaid dó a tháinig ag scaipeadh cogail anuas ar an arbhar, agus d’imigh. Tháinig an t-arbhar aníos ina gheamhar, agus ansin ina dhias agus an uair sin chonacthas an cogal freisin. Tháinig a chuid sclábhaí go dtí an fear tí agus dúirt siad leis:
‘A mháistir, an síol a chuir tú i do ghort, nach síol maith a bhí ann? Agus cad a thug an cogal ann más ea?’
Dúirt sé leo: ‘Namhaid éigin a rinne an méid sin.’
‘Agus ar mhaith leat,’ deir na sclábhaí leis, ‘go rachaimis á bhailiú chun a chéile?’
‘Ná déanaigí,’ ar seisean, ‘ar eagla, nuair a bheadh sibh ag bailiú an chogail, go sracfadh sibh an t-arbhar aníos san am céanna. Fágtar le hais a chéile ag fás iad araon go dtí an fómhar, agus nuair a bheidh an fómhar á dhéanamh déarfaidh mé leis na buanaithe: Bailígí an cogal chun a chéile ar dtús, agus déanaigí punanna de chun a dhóite. Ach cruinnígí an t-arbhar isteach i mo scioból.’”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 28th July, 2024
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly
Jesus shows himself to be the true Messiah and the true prophet by the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
In taking, giving thanks and distributing, Jesus performs the actions that will distinguish the Eucharist.
FIRST READING 2 Kings 4:42-44
They will eat and have some left over.
A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear. 'Give it to the people to eat,' Elisha said.
But his servant replied, 'How can I serve this to a hundred men?'
'Give it to the people to eat' he insisted 'for the Lord says this,
"They will eat and have some left over."
He served them; they ate and had some over, as the Lord had said.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144:10-11. 15-18.
Response You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.
1. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God. Response
2. The eyes of all creatures look to you and you give them their food in due time.
You open wide your hand, grant the desires of all who live. Response
3. The Lord is just in all his ways and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him, who call on him from their hearts. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 4:1-6
One Body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation.
Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.
Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together.
There is one Body, one Spirit,
just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
and one God who is Father of all, through all and within all.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 6: 63. 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of etenal life.
Alleluia!
Or Eph 1: 17. 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 6:1-15 Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus gave out as much as was wanted to all who were sitting ready.
Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee or of Tiberias and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.
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.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
**************************
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: Sunday, 28th July, 2024
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an dara Leabhar na Rithe 4:42-44
Íosfaidh siad agus beidh fuíoll fágtha acu.
Tháinig fear ó Bhál Seáiliseá agus thug leis chun giolla Dé arán a rinneadh de na céadtorthaí, fiche builín eorna agus arbhar úr [sa dias].
“Tabhair don phobal é le hithe,” arsa Eilíseá.
D’fhreagair a sheirbhíseach:
“Conas is féidir liom é seo a roinnt ar chéad duine?”
“Tabhair don phobal é le hithe,” ar seisean go daingean, “óir seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
‘Íosfaidh siad agus beidh fuíoll fágtha acu.’”
Roinn sé orthu é. D’ith siad agus bhí fuíoll fágtha acu, mar a dúirt an Tiarna.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm144
Freagra Osclaíonn tú do lámh a Thiarna agus sásaíonn tú sinn.
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, Freagra
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 an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia.
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 6: 63, 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Na focail atá ráite agat, a Thiarna, is spiorad agus is beatha iad.
Is agatsa atá briathra na beatha síoraí
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marcas 6:1-15 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Roinn Íosa oiread agus ab áil leo ar na daoine agus iad ina suí.
San am sin d’imigh Íosa anonn thar farraige na Gailíle, is é sin, farraige Thibirias. Lean slua mór é mar chonaic siad na comharthaí a bhí sé a dhéanamh ar lucht tinnis. Ghabh Íosa an sliabh suas agus shuigh ansiúd in éineacht lena dheisceabail. Bhí féile na nGiúdach, an Cháisc, in achmaireacht.
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.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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Machtnamh ar Bhriathar Dé dia Domhnaigh
Arán agus éisg
Ag féachaint ar an slua ocrasach agus an gannchuid bia abhí ar fáil leo, bhí a fhios ag Íosa cérb ollmhór an dúslán abhí ós a chómair, iad go léir a bheathú. Ach níor aontaigh sé leis an easpa mhisnigh a mhothaigh na h’aspail. Chonaic sé gurbh fhéidir rud luachmhar a dhéanamh leis na cúig bullógaí eorna agus dhá iasc a chuir an buachaill beag ar fáil, chun an cúig mhíle duine a bheathú. Ní féidir linn a shamhlú go díreach cad a tharla an lá sin amach sa bhfásach ach is léir go raibh ról ríthábhachtach ag an buachaill beag lena chúig bollóg aráin eorna agus an cúpla éisc. Ann féin, ní raibh ag an mbuachaill ach go leor bia le haghaidh béile simplí dá theaghlach beag. Ach bhí an buachaill sásta a chuid eorna agus a chuid éisc a chur ar fáil le hÍosa. Ar bhealach aisteach, bhí Íosa in ann oibriú le bronntanas croiúil an bhuachaill óg chun gach duine a chothú. Thug fhlaithiúlacht aon duine amháin an t-oscailt a bhí ag teastáil. Trí bhronntanais bheaga agus toilteanacha, is féidir go dtharlóigh miorúiltí eile fós, inár linn agus inár mbeatha féin.
Pádraig Ó Rúairí, cp,
Sliabh Argus, Átha Cliath.
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
