Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Dec 31 - St Sylvester (314-335)
Summary: St Sylvester I, pope. Elected bishop of Rome in 314 and died there on this day in 335. Honoured as the bishop of Rome in the important years when the Christian Church was first tolerated and then legally recognised in the Roman empire. It was during this time that the emperor Constantine called councils at Arles and Nicaea to combat heresy and that ecclesiastical basilicas were built in Rome and throughout the empire.
Although the pontificate of Pope Saint Sylvester I was the tenth longest in history (twenty-one years), he himself does not appear to have a very clear profile. The first Christian emperor Constantine used him and the Christian religion to bring unity to the Roman empire at that point in history. But, like most of the early popes, Sylvester is venerated as a saint.
Patrick Duffy writes his story.
A figurehead during the reign of Constantine I
Sylvester was chosen pope in succession to Pope Miltiades (311-314). His pontificate coincided with the reign of the first Christian emperor, Constantine. But he himself does not appear to have been outstanding in any way. Indeed he seems more a figurehead whom Constantine used to achieve his own purpose of bringing unity to his empire. Constantine saw Christianity, which even during the persecutions had become a prestige religion, as a means to achieve this.
Basilicas built in Rome
It was during the pontificate of Sylvester that Constantine gave over to the Church the Domus Faustae (the Lateran palace) and that new churches were built - the basilica and baptistery of the Lateran, the basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (formerly the Sessorian palace) and the original basilica of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
Council of Nicea (325)
Although the First Council of Nicaea defining the divinity of Jesus in 325 took place during Sylvester's reign, he himself played no part in its proceedings. It was the emperor Constantine who convened and presided over it. The main Church people involved were Osius of Cordoba, Athanasius of Alexandria, Eustathius of Antioch and Macarius of Jerusalem against the priest Arius, whom the council condemned.
The so-called Donation of Constantine
The so-called Donation of Constantine is a document which purports to be from this time in the fourth century. According to its contents Constantine granted to Pope Sylvester I and his successors, as inheritors of St. Peter, dominion over lands in Judea, Greece, Asia, Thrace, Africa, as well as the city of Rome, with Italy and the entire Western Roman Empire, while Constantine retains imperial authority in the Eastern Roman Empire from his new imperial capital of Constantinople.
The text claims this was Constantine's gift to Sylvester for instructing him in the Christian faith, baptizing him and miraculously curing him of leprosy. The poet Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy lamented it as the root of papal worldliness. In fact, according to the contemporary account of the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, Constantine was only baptised on his deathbed by the bishop of that city, another Eusebius.
Forgery
It was not until the mid 15th-century, with the revival of classical scholarship and textual criticism, that the Church realised that the document could not possibly be genuine and that it was proved to have been a forgery drafted in Rome in the middle of the eighth century. It was probably because of The Donation of Constantine that Sylvester in the Middle Ages had taken on the appearance of a great pope.
Constantine's interference in Church affairs
In a ceremony on 11th May 330 Constantine set up Constantinople at the ancient port of Byzantium and gave up his interest in the other part of the empire and in this way seemed to have confirmed the medieval myth of his "donation" of the West to the bishop of Rome. He had Arius taken back into the church and when Athanasius objected, Constantine convened a council composed only of Arian bishops at Tyre in 335, had Athanasius deposed as Patriarch of Alexandria and sent into exile.
His death and liturgical feast
Sylvester was unable to intervene and died on 31st December 335. He was buried in the Catacomb of Priscilla. This is the last day of the calendar year. In German-speaking countries and in others close to them, New Year's Eve is known as Silvesterabend. In other countries too, the day is usually referred to as Saint Sylvester's Day or the Feast of Saint Sylvester (in French as la Saint-Sylvestre).
Although the pontificate of Pope Saint Sylvester I was the tenth longest in history (twenty-one years), he himself does not appear to have a very clear profile. The first Christian emperor Constantine used him and the Christian religion to bring unity to the Roman empire at that point in history. But, like most of the early popes, Sylvester is venerated as a saint.Patrick Duffy writes his story.
A figurehead during the reign of Constantine I
Sylvester was chosen pope in succession to Pope Miltiades (311-314). His pontificate coincided with the reign of the first Christian emperor, Constantine. But he himself does not appear to have been outstanding in any way. Indeed he seems more a figurehead whom Constantine used to achieve his own purpose of bringing unity to his empire. Constantine saw Christianity, which even during the persecutions had become a prestige religion, as a means to achieve this.
Basilicas built in Rome
It was during the pontificate of Sylvester that Constantine gave over to the Church the Domus Faustae (the Lateran palace) and that new churches were built - the basilica and baptistery of the Lateran, the basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (formerly the Sessorian palace) and the original basilica of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
Council of Nicea (325)
Although the First Council of Nicaea defining the divinity of Jesus in 325 took place during Sylvester's reign, he himself played no part in its proceedings. It was the emperor Constantine who convened and presided over it. The main Church people involved were Osius of Cordoba, Athanasius of Alexandria, Eustathius of Antioch and Macarius of Jerusalem against the priest Arius, whom the council condemned.
The so-called Donation of Constantine
The so-called Donation of Constantine is a document which purports to be from this time in the fourth century. According to its contents Constantine granted to Pope Sylvester I and his successors, as inheritors of St. Peter, dominion over lands in Judea, Greece, Asia, Thrace, Africa, as well as the city of Rome, with Italy and the entire Western Roman Empire, while Constantine retains imperial authority in the Eastern Roman Empire from his new imperial capital of Constantinople.The text claims this was Constantine's gift to Sylvester for instructing him in the Christian faith, baptizing him and miraculously curing him of leprosy. The poet Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy lamented it as the root of papal worldliness. In fact, according to the contemporary account of the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, Constantine was only baptised on his deathbed by the bishop of that city, another Eusebius.
Forgery
It was not until the mid 15th-century, with the revival of classical scholarship and textual criticism, that the Church realised that the document could not possibly be genuine and that it was proved to have been a forgery drafted in Rome in the middle of the eighth century. It was probably because of The Donation of Constantine that Sylvester in the Middle Ages had taken on the appearance of a great pope.
Constantine's interference in Church affairs
In a ceremony on 11th May 330 Constantine set up Constantinople at the ancient port of Byzantium and gave up his interest in the other part of the empire and in this way seemed to have confirmed the medieval myth of his "donation" of the West to the bishop of Rome. He had Arius taken back into the church and when Athanasius objected, Constantine convened a council composed only of Arian bishops at Tyre in 335, had Athanasius deposed as Patriarch of Alexandria and sent into exile.
His death and liturgical feast
Sylvester was unable to intervene and died on 31st December 335. He was buried in the Catacomb of Priscilla. This is the last day of the calendar year. In German-speaking countries and in others close to them, New Year's Eve is known as Silvesterabend. In other countries too, the day is usually referred to as Saint Sylvester's Day or the Feast of Saint Sylvester (in French as la Saint-Sylvestre).
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Memorable Sayings for Today
'Live everyday like it is your last.'
One day you will be right!
and
'Stop being afraid of what could go wrong tomorrow
and think rather of what is going right today.'
******************************
Our main history researcher for these mini biographies was : Paddy Duffy,
A note of special appreciation to Paddy for his years of work on the lives of saints and liturgical Festivals of www.catholicireland.net
Thank you, Paddy .
Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 31st December, 2025
31-12 - Saturday, Seventh and last Day in the Octave of Christmas -
New Years Eve is a opportune time to reflect on the swift moving nature of time thank God
for what went well with us this last year, repent for our failures of lost opportunities and move on with hope for 2026
Saint of the Day, Dec 31; St Sylvester, elected bishop of Rome in 314, died 335.
c/f short history of today’s saint can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first letter of St John 2:18-21
You have been anointed by the Holy One and have all received the knowledge.
Children, these are the last days; you were told that an Antichrist must come, and now several antichrists have already appeared; we know from this that these are the last days.Those rivals of Christ came out of our own number, but they had never really belonged;
if they had belonged, they would have stayed with us; but they left us to prove that not one of them ever belonged to us.
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and have all received the knowledge.
It is not because you do not know the truth that I am writing to you but rather because you know it already and know that no lie can come from the truth.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:2-2, 11-13, R/v11
Response Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.
1. O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name. Proclaim his help day by day. Response
2. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad, let the sea and all within it thunder praise,
let the land and all it bears rejoice, all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord for he comes, he comes to rule the earth. Response
3. With justice he will rule the world,
he will judge the peoples with his truth. Response
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
A hallowed day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth.
Alleluia!
Or
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.
To all who received him he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1-18 Glory to you, O Lord.
The Word was made flesh.
In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was
the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.
A man came, sent by God. His name was John.
He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light.
The Word was the true light that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself.
The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John appears as his witness. He proclaims:
'This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me ranks before me because he existed before me'. Indeed, from his fulness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection 31 Dec, Seventh and last Day in the Octave of Christmas John 1:1–18
The opening words of John’s gospel, which we have just heard, are unlike the opening words of any of the other three gospels. Whereas the other gospels begin on earth, this gospel begins in heaven, ‘In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God’. However, it doesn’t stay in heaven. It goes on to make that profound statement, ‘The Word was made flesh, he lived among us’. The evangelist is telling us that the Word who was with God before creation and who was God became a human being, who had a name and an address, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was God’s perfect Word to us. All that God wanted to say and was able to say in human language God said through Jesus, the only Son of God the Father. We are constantly immersed in a sea of words.
Words come at us all the time, whether through the radio, television, phones, watches, Elexa or Google, Meta or X whether in the form of the printed word, or, more frequently nowadays in the social media, or whatever AI in form reaches us, or what other people say to us. There are so many words coming at us that we have to discern which ones are worth paying attention to and which are not. However, there is one word that is worthy of our full attention, and that is the 'Word that God' spoke and continues to speak to us through Jesus, his Son, the Word of God become flesh, become a human being.
In the language of the gospel reading, there is a fullness about this word which sets it apart from all other words. This word is full of grace and truth, full of God’s gracious love and fidelity. The Word become flesh wishes to pour out this fullness on all of us, all who are open to receive from it. The author of this passage confidently declares, ‘from his fullness, all of us, have received’.
We are all invited to belong among those who continue to receive from the fullness of God’s life and love present in Jesus, God’s beloved Son and our risen Lord. This coming year we commit ourselves anew to receiving all that God wants to give us through his Son, who declares in the course of John’s gospel, I have come that they may have life and have it to the full’.
_________________________
The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from Fr Martin Hogan's book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is Near to You, on your lips and in your heart published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
__________________
Saint of the day: Dec 31; St Sylvester I, pope
Sylvester I, pope. Elected bishop of Rome in 314 and died there on this day in 335. Honoured as the bishop of Rome in the important years when the Christian Church was first tolerated and then legally recognised in the Roman empire. It was during this time that the emperor Constantine called councils at Arles and Nicaea to combat heresy and that ecclesiastical basilicas were built in Rome and throughout the empire.
Although the pontificate of Pope Saint Sylvester I was the tenth longest in history, 21 years), he himself does not appear to have a very clear profile. The first Christian emperor Constantine used him and the Christian religion to bring unity to the Roman empire at that point in history. But, like most of the early popes, Sylvester is venerated as a saint.Patrick Duffy writes his story.
A figurehead during the reign of Constantine I
Sylvester was chosen pope in succession to Pope Miltiades (311-314). His pontificate coincided with the reign of the first Christian emperor, Constantine. But he himself does not appear to have been outstanding in any way. Indeed he seems more a figurehead whom Constantine used to achieve his own purpose of bringing unity to his empire. Constantine saw Christianity, which even during the persecutions had become a prestige religion, as a means to achieve this.
[caption id="attachment_73670" align="alignleft" width="259"]
Laterano is the Cathedral of Rome and was founded by Constantine as the Basilica of the Saviour during the papacy of St Sylvester[/caption]Basilicas built in Rome
It was during the pontificate of Sylvester that Constantine gave over to the Church the Domus Faustae (the Lateran palace) and that new churches were built - the basilica and baptistery of the Lateran, the basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (formerly the Sessorian palace) and the original basilica of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
Council of Nicea (325)
Although the First Council of Nicaea defining the divinity of Jesus in 325 took place during Sylvester's reign, he himself played no part in its proceedings. It was the emperor Constantine who convened and presided over it. The main Church people involved were Osius of Cordoba, Athanasius of Alexandria, Eustathius of Antioch and Macarius of Jerusalem against the priest Arius, whom the council condemned.
The so-called 'Donation' of Constantine
The so-called Donation of Constantine is a document which purports to be from this time in the fourth century. According to its contents Constantine granted to Pope Sylvester I and his successors, as inheritors of St. Peter, dominion over lands in Judea, Greece, Asia, Thrace, Africa, as well as the city of Rome, with Italy and the entire Western Roman Empire, while Constantine retains imperial authority in the Eastern Roman Empire from his new imperial capital of Constantinople.The text claims this was Constantine's gift to Sylvester for instructing him in the Christian faith, baptizing him and miraculously curing him of leprosy. The poet Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy lamented it as the root of papal worldliness. In fact, according to the contemporary account of the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, Constantine was only baptised on his deathbed by the bishop of that city, another Eusebius.
Forgery
It was not until the mid 15th-century, with the revival of classical scholarship and textual criticism, that the Church realised that the document could not possibly be genuine and that it was proved to have been a forgery drafted in Rome in the middle of the eighth century. It was probably because of The Donation of Constantine that Sylvester in the Middle Ages had taken on the appearance of a great pope.
Constantine's interference in Church affairs
In a ceremony on 11th May 330 Constantine set up Constantinople at the ancient port of Byzantium and gave up his interest in the other part of the empire and in this way seemed to have confirmed the medieval myth of his "donation" of the West to the bishop of Rome. He had Arius taken back into the church and when Athanasius objected, Constantine convened a council composed only of Arian bishops at Tyre in 335, had Athanasius deposed as Patriarch of Alexandria and sent into exile.
His death and liturgical feast
Sylvester was unable to intervene and died on 31st December 335. He was buried in the Catacomb of Priscilla.
This is the last day of the calendar year. In German-speaking countries and in others close to them, New Year's Eve is known as Silvesterabend.
**************************
Memorable Sayings for Today
'Live everyday like it is your last.' One day you will be right
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********A Final message to workers and our readers of the last 22 years or so***********
Thanks especially to all our contributors, writers, especially to
*'An Sagart' Publisers for the Irish versions of the Liturgical texts,
*our own technical and office staff and of course to you for staying with us for some if not all of these years.
*Our main history researcher for our daily mini- biographies of the Saints was Paddy Duffy, We would like to note our genuine appreciation to Paddy for his dedicated years of research and building our series of the Lives of the Liturgical Saints and Festivals and
*to our daily Scripture commentator Fr Martin Hogan, of the Dublin Archdiocese*'
and to our founders Rev Alan Mc Guckian, now archbishop of Down and Connor and Mr Tony Bolger, our CEO.
And finally, thanks to those of you who helped us with your suggestions (and corrections!)
On behalf of Catholic Ireland.net
Thank you, one and all.
May the Lord bless us all in the years that lie ahead
* Final bit of advice*
'Don't be afraid of what could go wrong tomorrow, think rather of what is going right today.'
Always remember : Our God's name is not 'I was', or 'I will be' but ''I am' .
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Liturgical Readings for: Wednesday, 31st December, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Eoin 2:18-21
Agus tá ungadh oraibhse ón Té atá Naofa agus tá an fíoreolas agaibh uile.
Achlann liom, is é an ré dheiridh é, agus faoi mar a chuala sibh go raibh an tAinchríost le teacht, agus cheana féin tá a liacht ainchríostanna ar fáil – uaidh sin is eol dúinn an ré dheiridh a bheith ann.Uainne amach a ghabh siad; ach níor linn dáiríre iad riamh; mar dá mba linn dáiríre iad, d’fhanfaidís i gcónaí linn. Ach d’fhág siad sinn le go mba léir nár linn dáiríre iad uile.
Agus tá ungadh oraibhse ón Té atá Naofa agus tá an fíoreolas agaibh uile.Níor scríobh mé chugaibh á rá nách eol daoibh an fhírinne, ach go mba feasach sibh í, agus go mb’eol daoibh nach den fhírinne aon bhréag.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 95:2-2, 11-13, R/v11
Freagra: Bíodh áthas ar neamh agus ar talamh.
1. Canaigí amhrán úr don Tiarna; canaigí don Tiarna,a thíortha go léir.
Canaigí don Tiarna agus molaigí a ainm; fógraígí a shlánú ó lá go lá. Freagra
2. Bíodh áthas ar neamh agus ar talamh; tugadh an mhuir agus a bhfuil inti a nglór.
Bíodh lúcháir ar an machaire agus a bhfuil ann; tógadh crainn uile na coille gártha áthaisi bhfianaise an Tiarna atá ag teacht. Freagra
3. Tá sé ag teacht a rialú na cruinne. Rialóidh sé an domhan go cothrom,
agus tabharfaidh sé fíorbhreith ar na daoine. Freagra SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 1-18 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar.
Bhí an Briathar ann i dtús báire agus bhí an Briathar in éineacht le Dia, agus ba Dhia an Briathar.
Bhí sé ann i dtús baire in éineacht le Dia. Rinneadh an uile ní tríd agus gan é ní dhearnadh aon ní dá ndearnadh.
Is ann a bhí an bheatha agus ba é solas na ndaoine an bheatha.
Agus tá an solas ag taitneamh sa dorchadas, ach níor ghabh an dorchadas é.
Bhí fear a tháinig ina theachtaire ó Dhia, agus Eoin a ba ainm dó.
Tháinig sé ag déanamh fianaise chun fianaise a thabhairt i dtaobh an tsolais chun go gcreidfeadh cách tríd.
Níorbh é féin an solas ach tháinig ag tabhairt fianaise i dtaobh an tsolais.
An solas fírinneach a shoilsíonn gach aon duine, bhí sé ag teacht ar an saol. Bhí sé ar an saol agus is tríd a rinneadh an saol, agus níor aithin an saol é. Chun a chuid féin a tháinig agus níor ghlac a mhuintir é.
Ach an uile dhuine a ghlac é, thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh, dóibh seo a chreideann ina ainm, an mhuintir nach as folanna a rugadh iad ná as toil feola, ná as toil fir ach ó Dhia.
Agus rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc, agus chonacamar-na a ghlóir, a ghlóir mar Aonghin ón Athair,
lán de ghrásta agus d’fhírinne.
Tagann Eoin ag tabhairt fianaise ina thaobh agus glaonn in ard a ghutha:
“É seo an té a ndúirt mé faoi: ‘An té atá ag teacht í mo dhiaidh, tá an tosach aige orm mar bhí sé ann romham.’”
Óir ghlacamar uile as a lánmhaireacht, sea, grásta ar ghrásta.
Tugadh an dlí go deimhin trí Mhaois, ach tháinig an grásta agus an fhírinne trí Íosa Críost.
Ní fhaca aon duine riamh Dia. An tAonghin atá i gcochall chroí Dé, eisean a d’aithris.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 4th January, 2026
01-04 before Epiphany
Jesus has come to undo the work of the devil.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first letter of St John 3:7-10
He cannot sin when he has been begotten by God.
My children, do not let anyone lead you astray: to live a holy life is to be holy just as he is holy;
to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil, since the devil was a sinner from the beginning.
It was to undo all that the devil has done that the Son of God appeared.
No one who has been begotten by God sins; because God's seed remains inside him,
he cannot sin when he has been begotten by God.
In this way we distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil:
anybody not living a holy life and not loving his brother is no child of God's.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 97
Response All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
1. Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation. Response
2. Let the sea and all within it, thunder; the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands and the hills ring out their joy at the presence of the Lord. Response
3. For the Lord comes, he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with fairness. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 1:14. 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.
To all who received him he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!
Or Heb 1:1-2
Alleluia, alleluia!
At various times in the past and in various different ways,
God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:35-42 Glory to you, O Lord
We have found the Messiah.
As John stood there again with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said,
'Look, there is the lamb of God'.
Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said,
'What do you want?'
They answered, 'Rabbi,' - which means Teacher -'where do you live?'
'Come and see' he replied;
so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour.
One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.
Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' - which means the Christ - and he took Simon to Jesus.
Jesus looked hard at him and said,
'You are Simon, son of John; you are to be called Cephas' - meaning Rock.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection 4th Jan. before Epiphany, John 1:35–42
In today’s gospel reading John the Baptist introduced two of his disciples to Jesus, saying to them, ‘Look, there is the Lamb of God’. It was because of what John the Baptist said to his two disciples that they began to follow Jesus. Jesus could then speak to them directly, ‘What do you want?’ ‘Come and see’. The Lord wants to speak to each one of us directly, but he often needs others to firstly pave the way. A person of faith takes some initiative towards us, and then we discover the call of the Lord for ourselves. John the Baptist created a space for Jesus to engage directly with his disciples and for them to respond. According to the gospel reading, that pattern then repeated itself. One of John the Baptist’s two disciples was Andrew. Having spent time with Jesus, having developed a personal relationship with Jesus, Andrew then introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. He created a space for Jesus to engage personally with Peter and for Peter to respond. What John the Baptist did for Andrew and what Andrew did for Peter, Peter would go on to do for many others.
He created a space for the Lord to relate in a very personal way to others and for them to respond. We can each give thanks for all those who introduced us to the Lord, who played the role in our lives that Andrew played in the life of Peter, that Peter played in the life of many others, and that, later on in John’s gospel, the Samaritan woman played in the life of her townspeople, and that Mary Magdalene played in the life of the other disciples on Easter Sunday morning. Both these women played a significant role in bringing others to the Lord. Each of us is called to bring others to the Lord, perhaps just one person. We don’t have to be great missionaries to introduce someone to the Lord. Very often our own quiet and faithful witness to the Lord and his way of life will, in time, bear that rich fruit for others.
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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 , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 4th January, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an chéad litir Naomh Eoin 3:7-10
Ní féidir leis peacú mar gur ó Dhia a shíolraigh.
A chlann liom, ná cuireadh éinne amú sibh. An té a shaothraíonn an fhíréantacht, is fíréan é amhail is fíréan eisean.
An té a dhéanann an peaca is den diabhal é mar gur peacach an diabhal ó thús.
Is chuige seo a foilsíodh Mac Dé, go scriosfadh sé saothar an diabhail.
Gach duine a shíolraigh ó Dhia, ní dhéanann peaca mar go maireann a shíolsan ann agus ní féidir dó peacú mar gur ó Dhia a shíolraigh.
Mar seo a léirítear cé hiad clann Dé agus cé hiad clann an diabhail;
gach duine nach saothraíonn an fhíréantacht ní ó Dhia dó,
agus is é a fhearacht sin ag an té nach dtugann grá dá bhráthair.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 97
Freagra Chonaic críocha uile na cruinne slánú ár nDé
I. Canaigí amhrán nua don Tiarna óir rinne sé éachtaí
Le neart a dheasláimhe is a chuisle naofa Rug sé bua dó féin. Freagra
2. Bíodh an fharraige agus a bhfuil inti ag búirthíl, an domhan agus a maireann ann.
Bíodh na haibhneacha ag bualadh a mbos; Déanadh na sléibhte gairdeas
i bhfianaise an Tiarna atá ag teacht a rialú na cruinne. Freagra
3. Tá an Tiarna ag teacht a rialú na cruinne.
Sé an domhan a rialú go cóir agus náisiúin go cothrom. Freagra
Alleluia Véarsa 1 Eoin :14 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
Agus rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus bhí sé inár measc,
An uile dhuine a ghlac é, thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh.
Alleluia!
Alleluia Véarsa eile Eib 1: 1-2
Alleluia, alleluia!
Labhair Dia go minic agus ar shlite éagsúla
anallód léis na haithreacha trí bhíthin na bhfáithe;
ach sna laethanta deireanacha seo labhair sé linn trína Mhac.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 1:35-42 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Fuaireamar an Meisias.
San am sin bhí Eoin ina sheasamh ansiúd agus beirt dá dheisceabail. Agus ag stánadh dó ar Íosa ag gabháil thart dúirt sé: “Seo é Uan Dé.” Chuala an bheirt deisceabal é ag rá na cainte agus lean siad Íosa.D’iompaigh Íosa, chonaic iad á leanúint agus dúirt sé leo: “Cad tá uaibh?”
D’fhreagair siad é:
“A raibí” – is é sin le rá “a mháistir” – “Cá bhfuil cónaí ort?”
“Tagaigí agus feicigí,” ar sé leo.
Tháinig siad dá bhrí sin agus chonaic siad cá raibh cónaí air, agus d’fhan siad fairis an lá sin. Bhí sé timpeall an deichiú huair.
Duine den bheirt a chuala Eoin agus a lean Íosa a ba ea Aindrias, deartháir Shíomóin Peadar. Fuair seisean ar dtús a dheartháir féin Síomón agus dúirt sé leis: “Fuaireamar an Meisias” – is é sín le rá an tUngthach.
Thug sé leis é chun Íosa. D’fhéach Íosa go grinn air agus dúirt:
“Is tú Síomón mac Eoin. Tabharfar ort Céafas” – focal a chiallaíonn Carraig.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
