Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Photo by Hilary Musgrave
Jun 16 - St Methodius of Constantinople (d. 847)
Summary: St Methodius was a monk originally from Sicily who became the patriarch of Constantinople. He encouraged the restoring the veneration of icons after the iconclastic controversies.
Patrick Duffy tells the story of St Methodius and Iconoclasm.
Apart from encouraging the restoring the veneration of icons, Methodius also established what came to be known as the feast of Orthodoxy (i.e. right faith, that is, the legitimacy of icons) in the Eastern Church. The image (<<the image left) shows an icon of Methodius
The icon (>>right) is that of the Mother of God with the Empress Theodora and her son Michael to her left.
Controversy over Icons
The movement of iconoclasm (or the "breaking of images") was influenced by three factors: Islamic and Jewish prohibitions on making images of God, the Gnostic belief that matter was evil and the monophysite ( "only one nature") denial of the real humanity of Jesus.
The opposite of an iconoclast is an icono-dule (that is, servant or slave of images) or, more positively, icono-phile (lover of images). During the 8th and 9th centuries many of the emperors at Constantinople espoused iconoclasm, mostly because of the general opposition to the use of images and relics, and also because the use of images was an obstacle to the conversion of Jews and Muslims to Christianity. Additional dimensions of iconoclasm, apart from persecuting and imprisoning iconophiles, are the disrespecting of relics and the refusal to ask for the intercession of the saints.
History
What sparked the controversy was the decision of the Emperor Justinian II (685 to 695 and 705 to 711) to put a full-face image of Jesus on the obverse of his gold coins. This prompted the Caliph Abd al-Malik to cease using images, but only lettering, on his coins. The Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (717-741), who may have had leanings towards Islam, ordered the removal of the image of Jesus from over the ceremonial entrance of the gate to the Great Palace and its replacement by a cross. So began the war between iconodules or iconophiles and iconophobes.
Most emperors for the next hundred years (with the exception of the regents Irene and Theodora) were iconophobes favoured iconclasm at Constantinople. Some even tried to get the popes to introduce it in Rome.
Methodius of Constantinople
Methodius had been born in Syracuse, Sicily, and became a monk on the Greek island of Chios, from where Patriarch Nicephorus I (806-815) called him to Constantinople as his assistant. But Patriarch Nicephorus was soon deposed by Emperor Leo V the Armenian (813-820) and exiled to a distant monastery from where he carried on a literary polemic against iconclasm.
To Rome and Subsequent Imprisonment
Methodius went to Rome with a letter informing the Pope of the situation and stayed there until 820. He returned with a letter requesting that Nicephorus be reinstated. But he was thrown into prison himself for about nine years. Under the emperor Michael II, Methodius was beaten up for his activities and kept in confinement. He was released in 829 and held a position at court until in 843 when the Empress Theodora, widow of the Emperor Theophilus and regent for her son Michael III, reversed imperial policy and appointed Methodius patriarch in place of iconoclast patriarch John Grammaticus.
Veneration of Icons Restored: the Feast of Orthodoxy
A compromise was worked out by the influential minister Theokistos to restore the veneration of icons: the deceased husband of the Empress, Theophilus, would not be condemned; Methodius made the symbolic procession into the Hagia Sophia cathedral accompanied by Theodora and minister Theokistos on March 11, 843. This then became the feast of Orthodoxy, now celebrated each year in all Byzantine Rite Churches on the first Sunday of Lent. It celebrates not just the restoration of the icons, but also affirms the doctrines and people the Orthodox Church approves, and notes the heresies it declares anathema.
Patriarchate and Death
Throughout the final four years of his life as patriarch (843-847), Methodius did not pursue former iconoclasts but even strove to reign in the extremists who wanted all former iconoclasts severely punished as heretics.(c/f The Underground Basilica of Ss Cyril and Methodius below the Basilica of San Clemente, Via Labicana, Roma 95)
Patrick Duffy tells the story of St Methodius and Iconoclasm.
Apart from encouraging the restoring the veneration of icons, Methodius also established what came to be known as the feast of Orthodoxy (i.e. right faith, that is, the legitimacy of icons) in the Eastern Church. The image (<<the image left) shows an icon of Methodius The icon (>>right) is that of the Mother of God with the Empress Theodora and her son Michael to her left.Controversy over Icons
The movement of iconoclasm (or the "breaking of images") was influenced by three factors: Islamic and Jewish prohibitions on making images of God, the Gnostic belief that matter was evil and the monophysite ( "only one nature") denial of the real humanity of Jesus.
The opposite of an iconoclast is an icono-dule (that is, servant or slave of images) or, more positively, icono-phile (lover of images). During the 8th and 9th centuries many of the emperors at Constantinople espoused iconoclasm, mostly because of the general opposition to the use of images and relics, and also because the use of images was an obstacle to the conversion of Jews and Muslims to Christianity. Additional dimensions of iconoclasm, apart from persecuting and imprisoning iconophiles, are the disrespecting of relics and the refusal to ask for the intercession of the saints.
History
What sparked the controversy was the decision of the Emperor Justinian II (685 to 695 and 705 to 711) to put a full-face image of Jesus on the obverse of his gold coins. This prompted the Caliph Abd al-Malik to cease using images, but only lettering, on his coins. The Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (717-741), who may have had leanings towards Islam, ordered the removal of the image of Jesus from over the ceremonial entrance of the gate to the Great Palace and its replacement by a cross. So began the war between iconodules or iconophiles and iconophobes.
Most emperors for the next hundred years (with the exception of the regents Irene and Theodora) were iconophobes favoured iconclasm at Constantinople. Some even tried to get the popes to introduce it in Rome.
Methodius of Constantinople
Methodius had been born in Syracuse, Sicily, and became a monk on the Greek island of Chios, from where Patriarch Nicephorus I (806-815) called him to Constantinople as his assistant. But Patriarch Nicephorus was soon deposed by Emperor Leo V the Armenian (813-820) and exiled to a distant monastery from where he carried on a literary polemic against iconclasm.
To Rome and Subsequent Imprisonment
Methodius went to Rome with a letter informing the Pope of the situation and stayed there until 820. He returned with a letter requesting that Nicephorus be reinstated. But he was thrown into prison himself for about nine years. Under the emperor Michael II, Methodius was beaten up for his activities and kept in confinement. He was released in 829 and held a position at court until in 843 when the Empress Theodora, widow of the Emperor Theophilus and regent for her son Michael III, reversed imperial policy and appointed Methodius patriarch in place of iconoclast patriarch John Grammaticus.
Veneration of Icons Restored: the Feast of Orthodoxy
A compromise was worked out by the influential minister Theokistos to restore the veneration of icons: the deceased husband of the Empress, Theophilus, would not be condemned; Methodius made the symbolic procession into the Hagia Sophia cathedral accompanied by Theodora and minister Theokistos on March 11, 843. This then became the feast of Orthodoxy, now celebrated each year in all Byzantine Rite Churches on the first Sunday of Lent. It celebrates not just the restoration of the icons, but also affirms the doctrines and people the Orthodox Church approves, and notes the heresies it declares anathema.
Patriarchate and Death
Throughout the final four years of his life as patriarch (843-847), Methodius did not pursue former iconoclasts but even strove to reign in the extremists who wanted all former iconoclasts severely punished as heretics.(c/f The Underground Basilica of Ss Cyril and Methodius below the Basilica of San Clemente, Via Labicana, Roma 95)
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Memorable Saying for Today
You may not, not kiss the icon.
To venerate an icon is to honour a holy image.
~ Patristic Faith ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 16th June, 2026
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Year 2
FIRST READING
A reading from the first Book of Kings 21: 17-29
You led Israel into sin
After the death of Naboth the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite,
'Up! Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, in Samaria. You will find him in Naboth's vineyard;
he has gone down to take possession of it. You are to say this to him,
"The Lord says this:
You have committed murder; now you usurp as well. For this - and the Lord says this - in the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick your blood too."'
Ahab said to Elijah, ' So you have found me out, O my enemy!'
Elijah answered,
'I have found you out. For your double dealing, and since you have done what is displeasing to the Lord, I will now bring disaster down on you; I will sweep away your descendants, and wipe out every male belonging to the family of Ahab, fettered or free in Israel. I will treat your House as I treated the House of Jeroboam son of Nebat and of Baasha son of Ahijah, for provoking my anger and leading Israel into sin.
Against Jezebel too the Lord spoke these words:
The dogs will eat Jezebel in the Field of Jezreel. Those of Ahab's family who die in the city, the dogs will eat; and those who die in the open country, the birds of the air will eat.'
And indeed there never was anyone like Ahab for double dealing and for doing what is displeasing to the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the most abominable way, adhering to idols, just as the Amorites used to do whom the Lord had dispossessed for the sons of Israel.
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put sackcloth next his skin and fasted;
he slept in the sackcloth; he walked with slow steps. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite,
'Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me,
I will not bring the disaster in his days; I will bring the disaster down on his House in the days of his son.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 50: 3-6. 11. 16. R/v 3
Response Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.
1. Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from sin. Response
2. My offences truly I know them; my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. Response
3. From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt:
a rescue me, God, my helper, and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. Response
Gospel Acclamation 2 Cor 5: 19
Alleluia, alleluia!
God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled .
Alleluia!
Or Jn 13: 34
Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5: 43-48
Love your enemies.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'You have learnt how it was said:
You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy.
But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike.
For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not?
You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Tuesday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 5:43-48
The Sermon on the Mount is probably the most challenging part of Jesus’ teaching and today’s gospel reading is the most challenging part of the Sermon on the Mount. ‘I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’. It seems to go against every natural instinct to ask people to love those who are out to destroy them and to show their love for them by praying for them. How could a whole people who are suffering from an unprovoked invasion be expected to love those who invaded their land and have caused so much misery?
The love that Jesus calls for here is not an emotion. No one could have any other emotion but extreme anger in the face of unprovoked aggression. The love Jesus asks for resides in the will. He asks us to want what is best even for our enemies. We are to desire, to hope, to pray, that our enemies would come to embrace the path that God wants for them and that will bring them happiness in this life and in the next. We are to hope and pray that they would be delivered from the evil to which they have succumbed, and we are to do whatever is in our power to help bring about such deliverance. In other words, we are to be instruments of God’s saving purpose for their lives, in whatever small way we can. Jesus mentions praying for our enemies, and that may be as much as we can do at times. However, such prayer for the enemy surely falls within the ambit of Jesus’ wider promise elsewhere in the Sermon and the Mount, ‘Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find’.
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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 : 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: Tuesday, 16th June, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an céad Leabhar Ríthe 21:17-29
Sheol tú Iosrael ar bhóthar an pheaca.
Tháinig briathar an Tiarna chuig Éilias an Tisbíoch:
“Éirigh agus imigh leat síos go gcasfar Acháb rí Iosrael ort sa tSamáir.
Tiocfaidh tú air i bhfíonghort Nábót; tá sé imithe síos le seilbh a ghlacadh air. Abair leis:
‘Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Rinne tú dúnmharú; de bhreis air sin tá forlámhas á dhéanamh agat anois. [Ar an ábhar sin] – agus is é an Tiarna a deir é – san áit inar ligh na madraí fuil Nábót, lífidh siad do chuid folasa chomh maith.’”
Dúirt Acháb le hÉilias: “Tá beirthe amuigh agat orm mar sin, a namhaid.”
D’fhreagair Éilias:
“Sea, tá beirthe agam ort, toisc gur reic tú thú féin, leis an olc i súile an Tiarna a dhéanamh
! Tabharfaidh mé an t-olc sa mhullach ort, agus déanfaidh mé scrios iomlán ort. Gearrfaidh mé gach mac máthar dá shliocht daor nó saor chun siúil ó Acháb.Tabharfaidh mé an íde chéanna ar do theaghlach agus a thug mé ar theaghlach Iarobám mac Nabát, agus ar theaghlach Bháiseá mac Aichíá, de bhrí gur chuir tú fearg orm agus gur sheol tú Iosrael ar bhóthar an pheaca. (Lena chois sin labhair an Tiarna na focail seo in aghaidh Ízeibil: ‘Íosfaidh na madraí Ízeibil i gcríocha Izréil.’)
An chuid sin de chlann Acháb a gheobhaidh bás sa chathair, íosfaidh na madraí iad, agus an chuid a gheobhaidh bás faoin tuath, íosfaidh éanlaith an aeir iad.” Ní raibh macasamhail Acháb riamh ann, ar ndóigh, le hé féin a reic chun an t-olc I súile an Tiarna a dhéanamh, agus é á spreagadh ag Ízeibil a bhean chéile. D’iompair sé é féin ar bhealach gráiniúil agus lean sé íola, faoi mar a dhéanadh na hAmóraigh a dhíbir an Tiarna roimh chlann Iosrael.
Nuair a chuala Acháb na focail sin, stróic sé a chuid éadaigh agus chuir sacéadach lena chneas agus rinne sé troscadh; chodlaíodh sé sa sacéadach agus shiúladh sé de choiscéim mhall. Ansin tháinig briathar an Tiarna go hÉilias an Tisbíoch:
“Ar thug tú faoi deara mar atá Acháb tar éis é féin a umhlú os mo chomhair? De bhrí gur umhlaigh sé é féin os mo chomhair, ní thabharfaidh mé an tubaiste anuas ina laethanta féin; tabharfaidh mé anuas ar a theaghlach é i laethanta a mhic.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 50: 50: 3-6. 11. 16. R/v 3
Freagra Déan trócaire orm, a Dhia, mar gur pheacaíomar
1. Déan trócaire orm, a Dhia, de réir do bhuanghrá: cealaigh mo choir as iomad do thrua.
Nigh go huile mé ó mo chion Freagra
2. Óir aithním mo chionta go maith agus tá mo pheaca os mo chomhair i gcónaí.
Is ortsa amháin a pheacaigh mé. Freagra
3. Iompaigh do ghnúis ó mo pheacaí agus cealaigh mo chionta go léir.
Saor mé ó choir na fola, a Dhia, a Dhia mo shlánaitheoir,
agus mórfaidh mé le mo theanga do cheartas. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 55:43-48 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Deirimse libh, bíodh grá agaibh do bhur naimhde
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail: “Chuala sibh go ndúradh:
‘Bíodh grá agat do do chomharsa agus fuath agat do do namhaid.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh: bíodh grá agaibh do bhur naimhde agus guígí ar son bhur ngéarleantóirí; sin mar a bheidh sibh in bhur gclann ag bhur nAthair atá ar neamh, a chuireann faoi deara dá ghrian éirí ar olc agus ar mhaith, agus a fhearann báisteach ar chóir agus ar mhíchóir.
Óir, má thugann sibh grá dóibh seo a thugann grá daoibh, cad é an tuarastal atá ag dul daoibh? Nach ndéanann na poibleacánaigh féin an rud céanna? Agus mura mbeannaíonn sibh ach do bhur mbráithre amháin, an ndéanann sibh aon ní thar na bearta? Nach ndéanann na págánaigh féin an rud céanna?
Bígí foirfe, dá bhrí sin, faoi mar atá bhur nAthair neamhaí foirfe.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 21st June, 2026
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah 20:10-13
He has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.
Jeremiah said: I hear so many disparaging me,
"Terror from every side!" Denounce him! Let us denounce him!'
All those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall,
'Perhaps he will be seduced into error. Then we will master him and take our revenge!'
But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero;
my opponents will stumble, mastered, confounded by their failure;
everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.
But you, Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice,
who scrutinise the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:4-5. 29-34. R/v 29
Response In your great love, answer me, 0 God.
1. It is for you that I suffer taunts, that shame covers my face,
that I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons.
I burn with zeal for your house and taunts against you fall on me. Response
2. This is my prayer to you, my prayer for your favour.
In your great love, answer me, 0 God, with your help that never fails:
Lord, answer, for your love is kind; in your compassion, turn towards me. Response
3. The poor when they see it will be glad and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise, the sea and all its living creatures. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 5:12-15
The gift itself considerably outweighed the fall.
Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. Sin existed in the world long before the Law was given. There was no law and so no one could be accused of the sin of 'law-breaking', yet death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even though their sin, unlike that of Adam, was not a matter of breaking a law.
Adam prefigured the One to come, but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man's fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 1: 14.12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us;
to all who did accept him he gad.ve power to become children of God
Alleluia!
or Jn 15: 26.27
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Spirit of truth will be my witness; and you too will be my witnesses.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 10:26-33 Glory to you, O Lord
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body.
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows:
'Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
'So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.
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, 21st June, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an Leabhar Irimia, fáidh 20:10-13
Óir shaor sé anam an bhoicht ó láimh lucht déanta an oilc.
Dúirt Irimia, Cluinim mórán do mo tharcaisniú:
“Eagla ar gach aon taobh!
Sceithigí air! Sceithimis air!”Ag a raibh de chairde agam uair bhí súil in airde le mo threascairt:
“Meallfar é b’fhéidir, ansin béarfaimid bua air agus imreoimid díoltas air!”
Ach tá an Tiarna liomsa, curadh cumhachtach; ar an ábhar sin tuisleoidh lucht m’ionsaithe;
ní chloífidh siad mé; brisfear orthu; beidh siad trína chéile.
Ní dhéanfar dearmad go brách ar a náire shíoraí.
Ach, a Thiarna na Slua, a scrúdaíonn le fírinne, a ransaíonn na háranna agus an croí, feicim do dhíoltas orthu mar is duitse a d’fhoilsigh mé mo chúis.
Canaigí don Tiarna, molaigí an Tiarna, óir shaor sé anam an bhoicht ó láimh lucht déanta an oilc.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 68; 4-5. 29-34. R/v 29
Freagra Éist liom de réir do bhuanghrá, a Thiarna.
1. Ar do shonsa a d'fhulaing mé aithisí, a bhí luisne na náire ar mo ghnúis.
Is strainséir mé do mo bhráithre féin, agus is comhthíoch mé do chlann mo mháthar.
Táim ar lasadh le dúthracht do do theach; is ormsa a thiteann aithisí lucht do cháinte. Freagra
2. Chugatsa a chuirim m'urnaí, a Thiarna, an uair is mian leat féin.
Éist liom de réir do bhuanghrá agus do chúnaimh chinnte.
Freagair mé as ucht do dhilghrá, a Thiarna; iompaigh chugam de réir do thrócaire. Freagra
3. Beidh áthas ar na hísle nuair a fheicfidh siad é; athbheofar croíthe lucht cuardaithe an Tiarna.
Éisteann an Tiarna leis na daoine bochta, is ní thugann droim láimhe dá bhraighdeanaigh.
Go mola na spéartha is an talamh é, an mhuir agus a maireann inti.
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,
An uile dhuine a ghlac é, thug sé de cheart dóibhgo ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 5:12-15
Ní hé an dála céanna ag an tabhartas agus ag an gcoir é.
A bhráithre, tháinig an peaca isteach sa saol trí aon duine amháin agus an bás isteach tríd an bpeaca, sa tslí sin leath an bás i measc cách uile de bhrí go ndearna cách uile an peaca. Bhí an peaca ar an saol, ar ndóigh, sular tugadh an dlí ach ní chuirtear an peaca sa chuntas mura mbíonn dlí ann. Mar sin féin bhí an bás i réim ó Ádhamh anuas go Maois fiú amháin dóibh siúd nach raibh ciontach i mbriseadh reachta ar nós Ádhaimh.
Agus bhí Ádhamh ina shamhail ar an té úd a bhí le teacht. Ach ní hé an dála céanna ag an tabhartas agus ag an gcoir é. Mar, má fuair mórán bás de bharr choir an aon duine amháin, is fairsinge go mór do mhórán a bhí grásta Dé agus an tabhartas a dáileadh de dheonú an aon duine amháin, Íosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 1: 14: 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,
An uile dhuine a ghlac é, thug sé de cheart dóibhgo ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 10:26-33 Glóir duit, a Thiarna
Ná bíodh eagla oraibh rompu seo a mharaíonn an corp.
San am sin dúirt Íosa:
Ná bíodh eagla oraibh rompu, mar sin. Níl aon ní i bhfolach nach bhfoilseofar, ná aon ní faoi cheilt nach mbeidh fios air. An rud a deirim libh sa dorchadas, abraigí i solas an lae é, agus an cogar a chuirtear in bhur gcluais, fógraígí é ó bharr na dtithe.“Ná bíodh eagla oraibh rompu seo a mharaíonn an corp ach nach féidir dóibh an t-anam a mharú: ní hea, ach bíodh eagla oraibh roimh an té ar féidir dó idir chorp agus anam a mhilleadh in ifreann. Nach mbíonn na gealbhain leathphingin an péire? Agus ní thitfidh gealbhan acu as an aer gan fhios do bhur nAthair. Maidir libhse, fiú amháin ribí bhur gcinn tá siad uile comhairthe. Mar sin, ná bíodh aon eagla oraibh; is mó is fiú sibhse ná dá liacht na gealbhain!
“Duine ar bith a admhóidh mise os comhair daoine, admhóidh mise eisean chomh maith os comhair m’Athar atá ar neamh. Ach duine ar bith a shéanfaidh os comhair daoine mé, séanfaidh mise eisean chomh maith os comhair m’Athar atá ar neamh.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
