Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jul 17 - Bl Pavel Peter Gojdic (1888-1960) martyr
Summary: Bl Pavel Gojdic, (pronunciation Goydich) a Byzantine Rite Catholic priest, became known to his people as 'the man with a heart of gold', but he was a thorn in the side of the Czech Communist regime of the 1940s and 50s. When the Communists made the Greek Catholic Church illegal, Pavel was arrested and imprisoned. He suffered mistreatment and humiliation which brought about his death in 1960.
Here Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Early Life
Pavel was born on 17th July 1888 near the city of Prešov, in eastern Slovakia, into the family of the Rusyn (or Ruthenian) Greek Catholic (Byzantine Rite) priest Stefan Gojdic; his mother was Anna Gerberyova. He was baptised Peter. He studied for the priesthood in Budapest and was ordained at Prešov in 1911. After his ordination he worked for a short period as assistant parish priest with his father and taught in the local seminary.
A monk, then Bishop
In 1922, desiring to live a humble and ascetic life, he joined the Order of Monks of St. Basil the Great at Mukacevo in south-west Ukraine, taking the religious name Pavel. But in 1926 he was made Apostolic Administrator of the eparchy of Prešov and a year later he was ordained bishop in the crypt of the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome, where there is a chapel to the Slav saints, Cyril and Methodius.
As bishop he promoted the spiritual life of clergy and faithful, insisting on the proper celebration of the liturgy and of church feasts. He erected new parishes of the Rusyn Greek Catholic rite in Prague, Bratislava, Levoca and elsewhere. In 1940 he was made the resident bishop in Prešov in 1940 and during the German occupation strongly defended the Church and the Rusyn culture.
Communist Pressure
From 1948 onwards Bishop Gojdic resisted the enormous pressure from the Communists to bring the Greek Catholics into the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1950 he was arrested, and after a trial was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason. In prison he was put through physical and psychological punishments, but he used the time to pray and was able to celebrate the Eucharist in secret.
Following an amnesty in 1953, his sentence was commuted to 25 years. He was then 66 and his health was deteriorating. It was proposed to release him if he would agree to become Patriarch of the Orthodox Church in Czecho-Slovakia. He resisted this tempting offer, saying that this would be a grave sin against God, a betrayal of the Pope, of his conscience and of his faithful. One consolation was a telegram he received from Pope Pius XII on his 70th birthday, assuring him of his prayers.
Death and Posthumous Honours
Before Bishop Gojdic died, when he was in the prison hospital of Leopoldov, a priest, Father Alojz Vrana, was transferred into the same room with him and the bishop was able to go to confession. He was buried without ceremony in a nameless tomb in the prison cemetery, with just his prison number 681.
When the political situation in Czecho-Slovakia eased in 1968, the state authorities allowed his remains to be exhumed and transferred to the crypt of Greek Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Prešov and they are now venerated in a sarcophagus in the cathedral.
During his historic visit to Slovakia, Pope John Paul II while visiting Prešov, prayed at the tomb of this bishop-martyr in the chapel of the cathedral on 2 July 1995. He beatified him in 2001.
Yad Vashem Honour
On 29 January 2008 the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem accorded the title of "Righteous among the Nations" to Blessed Pavol Gojdic, for saving two Jews during the time of the Holocaust. The move to award this honorary title was initiated by the Rabbi Jossi Steiner of Kosice, Slovakia, and a Jewish woman saved by Bishop Gojdic. The honour has special significance as Jewish people had at times accused Catholics in Slovakia of actively assisting the Holocaust.
~ Nelson Mandela~
Here Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Early Life
Pavel was born on 17th July 1888 near the city of Prešov, in eastern Slovakia, into the family of the Rusyn (or Ruthenian) Greek Catholic (Byzantine Rite) priest Stefan Gojdic; his mother was Anna Gerberyova. He was baptised Peter. He studied for the priesthood in Budapest and was ordained at Prešov in 1911. After his ordination he worked for a short period as assistant parish priest with his father and taught in the local seminary.A monk, then Bishop
In 1922, desiring to live a humble and ascetic life, he joined the Order of Monks of St. Basil the Great at Mukacevo in south-west Ukraine, taking the religious name Pavel. But in 1926 he was made Apostolic Administrator of the eparchy of Prešov and a year later he was ordained bishop in the crypt of the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome, where there is a chapel to the Slav saints, Cyril and Methodius.
As bishop he promoted the spiritual life of clergy and faithful, insisting on the proper celebration of the liturgy and of church feasts. He erected new parishes of the Rusyn Greek Catholic rite in Prague, Bratislava, Levoca and elsewhere. In 1940 he was made the resident bishop in Prešov in 1940 and during the German occupation strongly defended the Church and the Rusyn culture.Communist Pressure
From 1948 onwards Bishop Gojdic resisted the enormous pressure from the Communists to bring the Greek Catholics into the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1950 he was arrested, and after a trial was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason. In prison he was put through physical and psychological punishments, but he used the time to pray and was able to celebrate the Eucharist in secret.Following an amnesty in 1953, his sentence was commuted to 25 years. He was then 66 and his health was deteriorating. It was proposed to release him if he would agree to become Patriarch of the Orthodox Church in Czecho-Slovakia. He resisted this tempting offer, saying that this would be a grave sin against God, a betrayal of the Pope, of his conscience and of his faithful. One consolation was a telegram he received from Pope Pius XII on his 70th birthday, assuring him of his prayers.
Death and Posthumous Honours
Before Bishop Gojdic died, when he was in the prison hospital of Leopoldov, a priest, Father Alojz Vrana, was transferred into the same room with him and the bishop was able to go to confession. He was buried without ceremony in a nameless tomb in the prison cemetery, with just his prison number 681.
When the political situation in Czecho-Slovakia eased in 1968, the state authorities allowed his remains to be exhumed and transferred to the crypt of Greek Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Prešov and they are now venerated in a sarcophagus in the cathedral.
During his historic visit to Slovakia, Pope John Paul II while visiting Prešov, prayed at the tomb of this bishop-martyr in the chapel of the cathedral on 2 July 1995. He beatified him in 2001.Yad Vashem Honour
On 29 January 2008 the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem accorded the title of "Righteous among the Nations" to Blessed Pavol Gojdic, for saving two Jews during the time of the Holocaust. The move to award this honorary title was initiated by the Rabbi Jossi Steiner of Kosice, Slovakia, and a Jewish woman saved by Bishop Gojdic. The honour has special significance as Jewish people had at times accused Catholics in Slovakia of actively assisting the Holocaust.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
I found solitary confinement the most forbidding aspect of prison life.
There is no end and no beginning;
there is only one's mind, which can begin to play tricks.
Was that a dream or did it really happen?
One begins to question everything.
~ Nelson Mandela~
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 17th July, 2025
Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1
No task the Lord gives us is impossible to bear - his burden is light.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Exodus 3:13-20
I Am who I Am. I Am has sent me to you.
Moses, hearing the voice of God coming from the middle of the bush, said to him,'I am to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you". But if they ask me what his name is, what am I to tell them?'
And God said to Moses,
'I Am who I Am. 'This' he added 'is what you must say to the sons of Israel: "I Am has sent me to you".'
And God also said to Moses,
'You are to say to the sons of Israel:
"The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you". This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come.
'Go and gather the elders of Israel together and tell them,
"The Lord, the God of your fathers, has appeared to me, -
the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; and he has said to me:
I have visited you and seen all that the Egyptians are doing to you. And so I have resolved to bring you up out of Egypt where you are oppressed, into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land where milk and honey flow."
They will listen to your words, and with the elders of Israel you are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him,
"The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has come to meet us. Give us leave, then, to make a three days' journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifice to the Lord our God." For myself, knowing that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless he is forced by a mighty hand, I shall show my power and strike Egypt with all the wonders I am going to work there. After this he will let you go.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 104
Response The Lord remembers his covenant for ever
Or Alleluia!
1. Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, the judgements he spoke. Response
2. He remembers his covenant for ever, his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. Response
3. He gave his people increase; he made them stronger than their foes,
whose hearts he turned to hate his people and to deal deceitfully with his servants. Response
4. Then he sent Moses his servant and Aaron the man he had chosen.
Through them he showed his marvels and his wonders in the country of Ham. Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 129: 5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
Alleluia!
or Mt 11.28-30
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew11: 28-30 Glory to you, O Lord.
I am gentle and humble in heart.
Jesus exclaimed:
'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
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Gospel Reflection Thursday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 11:28-30
Today’s first reading reveals a God who is intimately bound up with the sufferings and struggles of his people, ‘I have visited you and seen all that the Egyptians are doing to you. And so I have resolved to bring you up out of Egypt’. Here is a God who is not isolated in his heavens but is deeply immersed in the suffering of the oppressed. This is the God whom Jesus fully reveals. Jesus, God-with-us, reveals a God who suffers with those who suffer, who is deeply moved by those who are burdened.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus calls out to the burdened, especially those who have been burdened by the rigorous interpretation of God’s Law by the religious leaders. Later on in this gospel or Matthew, Jesus will say of the scribes and Pharisees, ‘They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them’. In paradoxical language, Jesus declares that his burden is ‘light’. It is not that his teaching is less demanding that the teaching of the Jewish Law.
Indeed, in this gospel of Matthew, Jesus calls for a virtue that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. However, this virtue is to be lived out of a personal relationship of love with himself. Jesus doesn’t just give a teaching; he gives himself as a supportive companion and an inner resource. In the gospel reading, Jesus does not say, ‘Come to my teaching’, but, ‘Come to me’. We are invited into a supportive relationship with one who is ‘gentle and humble in heart’. Our loving relationship with the Lord will not be experienced as burdensome, in spite of his demanding teaching, but as ‘rest’, as a source of refreshment, such as thirsty travellers in the wilderness would find at an oasis. The Lord’s invitation to ‘Come to me’ is always prior to his call to live in a certain way. In and through our communion with one who loves us deeply, we are empowered to take the path of life he sets before us.
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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 Reflections on the Weekday Readings : Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 17th July, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Exodus 3:13-20
Is mé an te atá ann. An té atá ann is é a sheol chugaibh mé.
Ansin dúirt Maois le Dia:
“Má théim go clann Iosrael agus a rá leo: ‘Dia bhur n-aithreacha a chuir mise chugaibh,’ agus go bhfiafraíonn siad díom:
‘Cén t-ainm atá air?’ céard a déarfaidh mé leo?”
Dúirt Dia le Maois: “Is mé an te atá ann,” agus lean sé air:
“agus abair é seo le clann Iosrael: ‘An té atá ann is é a sheol chugaibh mé.’”
Agus dúirt Dia arís le Maois:
“Seo mar a déarfaidh tú le clann Iosrael: ‘An Tiarna, Dia bhur n-aithreacha, Dia Abrahám, Dia Íosác, Dia Iacóib, is é a chuir chugaibh mé.’ Sin é m’ainm ar feadh na síoraíochta agus sin mar a bheidh m’ainm á ghlaoch ó ghlúin go glúin.
“Imigh agus cruinnigh seanóirí chlann Iosrael le chéile agus abair leo:
‘An Tiarna, Dia bhur n-aithreacha, Dia Abrahám, Dia Íosác, Dia Iacóib, thaispeáin sé é féin dom, agus dúirt sé liom: Tháinig mé ar cuairt chugaibh agus chonaic mé a ndearnadh libh san Éigipt; agus chinn mé sibh a thabhairt amach as cruatan na hÉigipte agus isteach i dtír na gCanánach agus na Hiteach, na nAmórach agus na bPirizeach, na Hiveach agus na Iabúsach, i dtír ina bhfuil bainne agus mil ina slaoda.’
Agus éistfidh siad le do ghlór agus ní foláir duit féin agus do sheanóirí Iosrael, dul i láthair rí na hÉigipte agus a rá leis: ‘An Tiarna, Dia Iosrael, tháinig sé ag triall orainn, agus anois lig dúinn dul aistear trí lá isteach san fhásach go ndéanfaimis íobairt don Tiarna ár nDia.’ Tá a fhios agamsa áfach nach scaoilfidh rí na hÉigipte libh gan lámh thréan a luí air. Sínfidh mé mo lámh ámh agus buailfidh mé an Éigipt leis na hiontais a dhéanfaidh mé inti. Ansin scaoilfidh sé libh.'
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 104
Freagra Cuimhníonn an Tiarna ar a chonradh go brách.
1. Altaígí don Tiarna, glaoigí ar a ainm; foilsígí a ghníomhartha do na náisiúin.
Cuimhnigí ar na héachtaí a rinne sé; ar a mhíorúiltí agus ar bhreitheanna a bhéil. Freagra Freagra
2. Cuimhníonn sé ar a chonradh go brách, ar a ghealltanas go dtí míle glúin, Freagra
an conradh a cheangail sé le hAbrahám, an mionn a mhionnaigh sé do Íosác. Freagra
3. Mhéadaigh sé a phobal go mór, go ndearna ní ba láidre ná a naimhde iad.
D’athraigh sé a gcroí siúd ionas gurbh fhuath leo a phobal,
agus gur bhaineadar mealladh as a sheirbhísigh. Freagra
4. Chuir sé Maois, a sheirbhíseach, ag triall orthu, agus Árón, an duine a roghnaigh sé.
D’oibrigh siad a chomharthaí ina measc, agus a iontais i bhfearann Hám. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 11:25-27
Táim ceansa uiríseal ó chroí.
Labhair Íosa agus dúirt:
“Tagaigí chugam, sibhse uile a bhfuil saothar agus tromualach oraibh, agus tabharfaidh mé faoiseamh daoibh.
Tógaigí oraibh mo chuing agus tagaigí ar scoil chugamsa, mar táim ceansa uiríseal ó chroí, agus gheobhaidh sibh faoiseamh do bhur n-anamacha; óir tá mo chuing so-iompair agus m’ualach éadrom.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
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AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 20th July, 2025
The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Hospitality has a special place in the life of God's people. Who knows what surprises we might get
and what they may lead to. Look to Abraham, Martha and Mary for example.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Genesis 18: 1-10
Lord, do not pass your servant by.
The Lord appeared to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground.'My lord,' he said 'I beg you, if I find favour with you kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree
Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant's direction.'
They replied 'Do as you say.'
Abraham hastened to the tent to find Sarah.
'Hurry' he said 'knead three bushels of flour and make loaves.'
Then running to the cattle Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then taking cream, milk and the calf he had prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree.
'Where is your wife Sarah?' they asked him.
'She is in the tent' he replied.
Then his guest said, 'I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife Sarah will then have a son. '
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Ps 14
Response The just will live in the presence of the Lord.
I. Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue. Response
2. He who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbour,
who holds the godless in disdain, but honours those who fear the Lord. Response
3. He who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm for ever. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Colossians 1: 24-28
A mystery hidden for generations has now been revealed to his saints.
It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God's message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints.It was God's purpose to reveal it to them and to show all the rich glory of this mystery to pagans. The mystery is Christ among you, your hope of glory: this is the Christ we proclaim, this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Acts 16: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia!
or Lk 8: 15. 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those who with a noble and generous heart have heard the word
and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 10: 38-42
Martha welcomed him into her house. Mary has chosen the better part.
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said,
'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.'
But the Lord answered:
'Martha, Martha,' he said 'you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one.
It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 20th July, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Geineasas 18:1-10
A thiarna, más áil leat mé, ná gabh thar do shearbhónta.
Thaispeáin an Tiarna é féin dó ag Dair Mhamrae agus é ina shuí i mbéal a bhotha I mbrothall an lae. D’fhéach sé suas agus b’shiúd triúr fear ina seasamh ina chóngar. Chomh luath agus a chonaic sé iad, rith sé ó bhéal na botha ina gcoinne agus shléacht go talamh rompu.“A Thiarna,” ar sé, “más áil leat mé, ná gabh thar do shearbhónta, le do thoil. Tugtar braon uisce chugaibh agus ionlaigí bhur gcosa agus ligigí bhur scíth faoin gcrann. Tabharfaidh mé greim aráin chugaibh agus bíodh lón agaibh don bhóthar ar aghaidh. Chuige sin a casadh i dtreo bhur searbhónta sibh.”
“Déan mar a deir tú,” ar siad.
Bhrostaigh Abrahám don bhoth go Sárá.
“Faigh,” ar sé, “agus fuin trí mhiosúr de phlúr agus déan builíní.”
Agus rith Abrahám chun an tréada agus rug sé leis lao breá méith agus thug don searbhónta é agus d’ullmhaigh seisean é faoi dheifir. Thug sé leis ansin gruth agus bainne agus an lao a bhí réidh aige agus leag sé an chóir sin go léir rompu agus fad a bhíodar ag ithe sheas sé láimh leo faoin gcrann.
Agus chuireadar ceist air: “Cá bhfuil do bhean Sárá?”
“Tá sí sa bhoth,” ar sé.
“Fillfidh mé ort,” arsa an t-aoi, “sea, fillfidh mé um an dtaca seo an bhliain seo chugainn, agus beidh mac ag Sárá do bhean.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 14
Freagra A Thiarna, cé a dhéanfaidh cónaí i do phuball?
1. Cé a lonnóidh ar do Shliabh Naofa, a Thiarna? An té a shiúlann gan cháim;
an té a dhéanann fíréantacht, a labhraíonn go díreach óna chroí
agus nach ndéanann tromaíocht lena theanga. Freagra
2. An té nach ndéanann ole dá chomharsa is nach dtugann masla don duine thall;
an té ar beag aige an drochdhuine agus ar mór aige aos eagla an Tiarna. Freagra
3. An té nach gcuireann a chuid airgid ar úsaireacht is nach nglacann le breab in aghaidh an neamh chiontaigh.
An té sin a dhéanfaidh amhlaidh, ní bhainfear dá threoir e go brách. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Colosaigh 1:24-28
Rúndiamhair a bhí ceilte ar feadh na gcianta atá nochta anois dá phobal naofa.
A bhráithre, is cúis áthais domsa a bhfuil á fhulaingt anois agam ar bhur son. Cibé easnamh a bhí ar pheannaidí Chríost táimse a dhéanamh suas i mo cholainn féin ar mhaithe lena chorpsan, is é sin, ar mhaithe leis an Eaglais. Rinneadh maor ar an Eaglais díomsa de bharr an chúraim a thug Dia dom le déanamh daoibhse, mar atá briathar Dé á fhógairt ina iomláine: an rúndiamhair a bhí ceilte ar feadh na gcianta agus na nglún, ach atá nochta anois dá phobal naofa.Ba dheoin le Dia a nochtadh dóibhsean cad é mar shaibhreas glórmhar a thugann an rúndiamhair seo do na gintlithe, is é sin, go bhfuil Críost in bhur measc ag deimhniú na glóire daoibh. Sin é an Críost a bhímidne a fhógairt: bímid ag tabhairt comhairle agus teagaisc do chách le barr eagna, d’fhonn an uile dhuine a thabhairt chun foirfeachta i gCríost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Gniom 16: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Oscail ár gcroí,A Thiarna, Cun aird a thabhairt ar bhraithra do Mhic
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh 10:38-42
Chuir Marta fáilte roimh Íosa chun a tí. Is í an pháirt is fearr ba rogha le Máire
San am sin tháinig Íosa isteach i mbaile áirithe, agus chuir bean darbh ainm Marta fáilte roimhe chun a tí. Bhí deirfiúr aici darbh ainm Máire, agus bhí sí seo ina suí ag cosa an Tiarna ag éisteacht lena bhriathar. Marta féin, áfach, bhí a hintinn tógtha suas ag an iomad freastail. Stad sí os a chomhair amach agus dúirt:“A Thiarna, an ea nach cás leat gur fhág mo dheirfiúr an freastal fúmsa i m’aonar? Abair léi mar sin lámh chúnta a thabhairt dom.”
Dúirt an Tiarna léi á freagairt:
“A Mharta, a Mharta, tá imní ort agus buaireamh mar gheall ar mhórán nithe. Ach níl riachtanas ach le haon ní amháin.
Óir is í an pháirt is fearr ba rogha le Máire, agus ní bhainfear í sin di.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
