Churches of the Day

Our Lady of the Annunciation Bishop Eton

Jul 7 - St. Maelruain of Tallaght (d. 792)

Summary: St Maelruain was the leader of the Céilí Dé, a reform movement aimed at restoring purity and austerity to Irish monasticism which had become somewhat undisciplined by the 8th century. Maelruain founded a monastery at Tallaght, South West Co Dublin.

The image to the right is of the Martyrology of Tallaght (Ms A3), a list of the names of saints and their feasts attributed to St Maelruain and his disciple St Aengus and read at their community Mass.

Patrick Duffy explains the context in which Maelruain and the Céilí Dé lived.

A monastery at Tallaght
Little is known of the early life of Maelruain. Probably he was born in the Lorrha neighbourhood of north Tipperary in 720. In 755 he founded a monastery at Tallaght in southwest Co Dublin on land given by Cellach mac Dunchada, King of Leinster. (now a Dominican Priory) He is associated with the monastic reform movement begun in the eighth century known as the Céilí Dé or Culdees. In both the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters, Maelruain is referred to as a "bishop", but this terminology may reflect the Church structure of the later time of writing.

Céilí Dé
Céilí Dé probably means the 'companions' or 'intimates' of God - by analogy, for example, with bean chéile ('wife') or fear céile ('husband').

Why a reform movement?
Irish monasteries had become lax by the eighth century, possibly as a result of too much going abroad and an overemphasis on the 'peregrinatio pro Christo' (or 'pilgrimage for Christ') movement to the continent begun by Saints Colmcille and Columban in the late sixth century. The fact that many monks felt called to go into wandering exile on the continent may have caused the internal discipline of the monasteries to break down somewhat.

A strong ascetical component
Maelruain’s reform at Tallaght was severe. It put more emphasis on preserving the enclosure and keeping the monks free from sin than on the missionary dimension. There was a strong ascetical component, strong spiritual direction, frequent confession, as well as long fasts and harsh penances, such as standing in cold water for long periods to control the flesh.

The Rule of the Céilí Dé

Along with his disciple Aengus, Maelruain is regarded as joint author of The Rule of the Céilí Dé. A copy is preserved in the library of the Royal Irish Academy. The 19th century Celtic scholar Eoghan O'Curry says of this: "It contains a minute series of rules for the regulation of the lives of the Céilí Dé, their prayers, their preachings, their conversations, their confessions, their communions, their ablutions, their fastings, their abstinences, their relaxations, their sleep, their celebrations of the Mass, and so forth".

Liturgy and manual work
The monks came together for a liturgical cycle of prayer, chanting psalms. There was also devotion to Our Lady and Michael the archangel. Mass was celebrated on Sundays, Thursdays and on great feasts. The monks received the consecrated bread, but not the consecrated wine. A litany of the names of the saints (The Martyrology of Tallaght) was read at every Mass. Intellectual and manual work were also valued as part of the monastery routine.

The movement spread
Besides Aengus, another disciple of Maelruain called Moling made a foundation similar to the Céilí Dé on the river Barrow at St Mullins in Co Carlow. Moling also became a figure of influence in the Ferns area. Other monasteries of the Céilí Dé movement were founded at Finglas, Clonenagh, Terryglass and Dairinis near Lismore. The Culdees also spread to Wales and Scotland where they survived into medieval times.

P.S. Tallaght in modern times
A Church of Ireland (Anglican) church was built on the site at Tallaght in 1829 partly from the medieval remains of Maelruain's monastery. In 1855 the Irish Dominicans founded St Mary’s Priory, which then became a parish. The celebration of the saint's "pattern" (= patron saint’s feast) had survived till this time, but the processions, dancing and drinking at night had got so out of hand that in 1856 it was decided to suppress them. This may account for the fact that no Catholic church is dedicated to St Maelruain, but there are schools, a Protestant church and graveyard, a local GAA club, and a parish centre called after him!

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Memorable Saying for Today

Reformers had a saying,
“Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda,”
(“A reformed church constantly reforms.”)

~ Stephen J. Nichols ~

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English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 7th July, 2026

Tuesday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time, Year 2

Saint of the Day: 7 July, St Maelruain, bishop and abbot
C/f A short life of these saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Hosea 8:4-7. 11-13
They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind.

Thus says the Lord:
They have set up kings, but not with my consent, and appointed princes, but without my knowledge.
Out of their own silver and gold they have made idols, which are doomed to destruction.
I spurn your calf, Samaria, my anger blazes against it.
(How long will it be before they purge themselves of this, the sons of Israel?)
A workman made the thing, this cannot be God! Yes, the calf of Samaria shall go up in flames.

They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind;

their wheat will yield no ear, the ear will yield no flour,
or, if it does, foreigners will swallow it.
Ephraim has built altar after altar, they have only served him as occasion for sin. Were I to write out the thousand precepts of my Law for him, they would be paid no more attention than those of a stranger.
They love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice!
They love meat; right, let them eat it!
The Lord takes no pleasure in these.
He is now going to remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will have to go back to Egypt.

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm     Ps 114: 3-10. R/v 9
Response   Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord.
Or Alleluia!

l. Our God, he is in the heavens; he does whatever he wills.
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of human hands. Response

2. They have mouths but they cannot speak; they have eyes but they cannot see;
they have ears but they cannot hear; they have nostrils but they cannot smell. Response

3. With their hands they cannot feel; I with their feet they cannot walk.
Their makers will become like them: so will all who trust in them. Response

4. Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shield.
Sons of Aaron, trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. Response

Gospel Acclamation          Eph 1: 17. 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!

Or Jn 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord.
I know my own and my own know me.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 9:32-38 Glory to you, O Lord
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.

A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel' they said.
But the Pharisees said, 'It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.'

Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.'

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Gospel Reflection   Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time   Matthew 9:32-38

In today’s first reading, the Lord bemoans the fact that the people of Samaria consider a human-made idol to be God. The opposite is the case in the gospel reading. The Pharisees identify what is of God as from the prince of devils, considering Jesus’ healing ministry to be inspired by Satan. We can be prone to treating as divine what is merely human while failing to recognize the ways that God is indeed actively working among us. According to the responsorial psalm, ‘God… is in the heavens; he does whatever he wills’. Yet, God became flesh in Jesus and God continues to work powerfully in and through the risen Jesus. We need to keep praying for eyes to recognize the various ways that God continues to work among us through his Son, while not assigning divine status to what is purely human.

In the words of the alleluia verse for today, we need to pray that ‘the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ would ‘enlighten the eyes of our mind’. Jesus had this clarity of vision. He often recognized that those who claimed to speak for God were not in fact speaking for God. He also recognized that certain human experiences could speak powerfully to us of God, such as the shepherd who leaves his flock to look for the one sheep who has strayed and the father who welcomes back his renegade son with a feast. To begin to see with the eyes of the Lord, we need, in the words of today’s psalm, to ‘constantly seek his face’. In seeking the Lord’s face in prayer we acquire something of his vision, and we need his vision if we are to become those labourers in the harvest he speaks of in the gospel reading.

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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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Saint of the Day: 7 July, St Maelruain, bishop and abbot

St Maelruain was the leader of the Céilí Dé, a reform movement aimed at restoring purity and austerity to Irish monasticism which had become somewhat undisciplined by the 8th century. Melruain founded a monastery at Tallaght, South West Co Dublin.

(The image above tells the story of Maelruain in Tallaght. The image right is of the Martyrology of Tallaght (Ms A3), a list of the names of saints and their feasts attributed to St Maelruain and his disciple St Aengus and read at their community Mass.

Patrick Duffy explains the context in which Maelruain and the Céilí Dé lived.

A Monastery at Tallaght
Little is known of the early life of Maelruain. Probably he was born in the Lorrha neighbourhood of north Tipperary in 720. In 755, he founded a monastery at Tallaght in southwest Co Dublin on land given by Cellach mac Dunchada, King of Leinster. (now a Dominican Priory) He is associated with the monastic reform movement begun in the eighth century known as the Céilí Dé or Culdees. In both the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters, Maelruain is referred to as a "bishop", but this terminology may reflect the Church structure of the later time of writing.

Céilí Dé
Céilí Dé probably means the 'companions' or 'intimates' of God - by analogy, for example, with bean chéile ('wife') or fear céile ('husband').

Why a reform movement?
Irish monasteries had become lax by the eighth century, possibly as a result of too much going abroad and an overemphasis on the 'peregrinatio pro Christo' (or 'pilgrimage for Christ') movement to the continent begun by Saints Colmcille and Columban in the late sixth century. The fact that many monks felt called to go into wandering exile on the continent may have caused the internal discipline of the monasteries to break down somewhat.

A Strong Ascetical Component
Maelruain’s reform at Tallaght was severe. It put more emphasis on preserving the enclosure and keeping the monks free from sin than on the missionary dimension. There was a strong ascetical component, strong spiritual direction, frequent confession, as well as long fasts and harsh penances, such as standing in cold water for long periods to control the urges of the flesh.

The Rule of the Céilí Dé

Along with his disciple Aengus, Maelruain is regarded as joint author of 'The Rule of the Céilí Dé.' A copy is preserved in the library of the Royal Irish Academy. The 19th century Celtic scholar Eoghan O'Curry says of this: "It contains a minute series of rules for the regulation of the lives of the Céilí Dé, their prayers, preachings, conversations, confessions, their communions, ablutions, fastings, abstinences, relaxations, sleep, their celebrations of the Mass, and so forth".

Liturgy and manual work
The monks came together for a liturgical cycle of prayer, chanting psalms. There was also devotion to Our Lady and Michael the archangel. Mass was celebrated on Sundays, Thursdays and on great feasts. The monks received the consecrated bread, but not the consecrated wine. A litany of the names of the saints (The Martyrology of Tallaght) was read at every Mass. Intellectual and manual work were also valued as part of the monastery routine.

The Movement Spread
Besides Aengus, another disciple of Maelruain called Moling made a foundation similar to the Céilí Dé on the river Barrow at St Mullins in Co Carlow. Moling also became a figure of influence in the Ferns area. Other monasteries of the Céilí Dé movement were founded at Finglas, Clonenagh, Terryglass and Dairinis near Lismore. The Culdees also spread to Wales and Scotland where they survived into medieval times.

Tallaght in Modern Times
A Church of Ireland (Anglican) church was built on the site at Tallaght in 1829 partly from the medieval remains of Maelruain's monastery. In 1855 the Irish Dominicans founded St Mary’s Priory, which since then became the core of wider parish. The celebration of the saint's "pattern" (= patron saint’s feast) had survived till this time, but the processions, dancing and drinking at night had got so out of hand that in 1856 it was decided to suppress them. This may account for the fact that no Catholic church is dedicated to St Maelruain, but there are schools, a Protestant church and graveyard, a local GAA club, and a parish centre called after him! (In the Dominican Priory Garden there is an ancient tree said to have been planted by St Columba 'way back when

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

Memorable Saying for Today

Reformers had a saying: “Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda,”
(“A reformed church always needs reforming.”)

~ Stephen J. Nichols ~

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

Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 7th July, 2026

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Leabhar Hóséa, Fáidh 8:4-7. 11-13
Gaoth a síol, gála a bhfómhar!

Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Rinne siad ríthe gan bhail gan bhuíochas dom; cheap siad taoisigh gan mo chead ná mo chomhairle.
Dhealbhaigh siad íola dóibh féin dá gcuid airgid agus óir,
agus dá dheasca sin scriosfar iad. Diúltaím don lao sin leat, a Shamáir!
Tá mo chuid feirge ar dearglasadh ina gcoinne – Cá fhad eile a bheidh an neamhchiontacht thar a n-acmhainn?
Cad is ceart d’Iosrael a dhéanamh leis?
Saor a rinne é; ní dia é. Go deimhin, imeoidh lao na Samáire in aon bhladhm amháin lasrach.

Gaoth a síol, gála a bhfómhar!
Ní rachaidh an geamhar i ndias dóibh, ná ní thabharfaidh sé plúr;
agus má thugann féin is eachtrannaigh a íosfaidh é.
Thóg Eafráim a lán altóirí sásaimh; ach is trúig pheaca dó na haltóirí sin anois.
Fiú dá scríobhfainn síos dó na mílte míle de m’aitheanta, mheasfaí mar rud iasachta iad.
Tá andúil acu in íobairtí fola; Ofrálann siad iad chun go mbeadh an fheoil le hithe acu!
Go deimhin, ní taitneamhach leis an Tiarna iad.
As seo amach coinneoidh sé cuimhne ar a n-urchóid, agus cúiteoidh sé a bpeacaí leo;
rachaidh siad ar ais chun na hÉigipte.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le

Salm le Freagra         Sm 113b, 3-10 R/ v 9
Freagra                          Tá dóchas chlann Iosrael sa Tiarna
1. Is ar neamh atá ár nDiana; gach uile ní is áil leis, déanann sé é.
Ór agus airgead a n-íolasan, agus saothar láimhe an duine.                            Freagra

2. Tá béal acu ach ní fhéadann siad labhairt; tá súile acu ach ní fheiceann siad dada.
Tá cluasa orthu ach ní chluineann siad dada; tá sróna acu ach ní bhfaigheann siad boladh. Freagra

3. Tá lámha acu ach ní láimhsíonn siad aon ní; tá cosa acu ach ní thig leo siúl;
Is ionann cás do lucht a ndéanta agus do chách a chuireann a ndóchas iontu. Freagra

4. Tá dóchas chlann Iosrael sa Tiarna; is é is cabhair agus is sciath dóibh.
Tá dóchas chlann Árón sa Tiarna is é is cabhair agus is sciath dóibh.                   Freagra

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha   9:32-38 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tá an fómhar fairsing ach níl ann ach meitheal bheag.

San am sin, tugadh chuig Íosa duine balbh a raibh deamhan ann. Agus nuair a bhí an deamhan caite amach as, tháinig a chaint don duine balbh, agus rinne na sluaite ionadh de agus dúirt siad:
“Ní fhacthas a leithéid seo in Iosrael riamh.”
Is é a dúirt na Fairisínigh, áfach:
“Trí phrionsa na ndeamhan a chaitheann sé amach na deamhain.”

Ghabh Íosa ar fud na gcathracha agus na mbailte go léir, ag teagasc ina sionagóga agus ag fógairt dea-scéil na ríochta, ag leigheas gach galar agus gach éagruas. Agus nuair a chonaic sé na sluaite, ghlac sé trua dóibh, mar go raibh siad ina luí go tréith mar a bheadh caoirigh gan aoire.
Ansin dúirt sé lena dheisceabail: “Tá an fómhar fairsing ach níl ann ach meitheal bheag.
Dá bhrí sin guígí Máistir an fhómhair go gcuireadh sé meitheal uaidh isteach ina fhómhar.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart

English
Gaelige

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th July, 2026

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:10-11
The rain makes the earth give growth.

Thus says the Lord:
As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.

The Word of the Lord.   Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 64: 10-14 R/v Luke 8:8
Response Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

1. You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain. Response

2. And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows,
you level it, soften it with showers, you bless its growth.                                       Response

3. You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows in your steps,
in the pastures of the wilderness it flows. Response

4. The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks,
the valleys are decked with wheat. They shout for joy, yes, they sing.   Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:18-23
The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons.

I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God.

From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation 1 Sam 3: 9,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!

or Mt 11: 25

Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:1-23
A sower went out to sow.

Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.

sower

He said,
'Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!'

Then the disciples went up to him and asked, |
'Why do you talk to them in parables?'
'Because' he replied 'the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:
You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,
for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and
be healed by me.

'But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.

'You, therefore, are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'

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/

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Shorter form
GOSPEL

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:1-9
A sower went out to sow.

Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.

sower

Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th July, 2026

CÉAD LÉACHT

Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, Fáidh 55:10-11
Cuireann an bháisteach eascar sa talamh.

Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
Mar a thagann báisteach agus sneachta anuas ó na spéartha
agus nach bhfilleann suas ar ais gan an talamh a fhliuchadh, gan fás agus eascar a chur ann, chun go dtuga sé síol don síoladóir agus arán le hithe, is amhlaidh don bhriathar a théann as mo bhéal, ní fhilleann orm gan toradh, gan an rud a b’áil liom a dhéanamh agus mo bheart a chur I gcrích.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Salm le Freagra Sm 64: 10-14
Freagra Thit an síol ar an talamh maith agus thug toradh uaidh.

1. Tugann tú cuairt ar an talamh, á uisciú. Méadaíonn tú a mhaoin.
Sceitheann abhainn Dé thar bruacha d'fhonn arbhar a sholáthar dó. Freagra

2. Is mar sin a ullmhaíonn tú an talamh ag tabhairt uisce dá chlaiseanna.
Déanann tú é a bhogadh Ie ceathanna. Beannaíonn tú a gheamhar. Freagra

3. Cuireann tú barr ar an mbliain le d'fhéile go mbíonn do chéimeanna ag sileadh le méathras
agus féarach an fhásaigh ar sileadh. Freagra

4. Tá na cnoic arna gcrioslú Ie gairdeas, tá na móinéir líonta de thréada.
Tá na gleannta faoi bhrat arbhair: tógann siad gártha agus canann Ie háthas. Freagra

DARA LÉACHT

Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 8:18-23
Tá an dúlra féin ag tnúth go díocasach le foilsiú chlann Dé.

A bhráithre, measaim nach fiú le háireamh pianta na huaire seo le hais na glóire atá le foilsiú dúinn. Mar tá an dúlra féin ag tnúth go díocasach le foilsiú chlann Dé. Cuireadh an dúlra freisin ó rath, ní dá dheoin féin ach mar gheall ar an té úd a chuir ó rath é, ach i ndóchas; mar fuasclófar an dúlra féin ó dhaoirse na truaillitheachta, chun saoirse ghlórmhar chlann Dé. Is eol dúinn go ráibh an chruthaíocht go léir le chéile go dtí anois ag cneadach le tinneas mar a bheadh sí ar a leaba luí seoil.

Agus ní hé an dúlra amháin atá amhlaidh ach sinne féin chomh maith; cé go bhfuil céadtorthaí an Spioraid againn cheana féin, táimidne ag cneadach freisin inár gcroí istigh agus sinn ag feitheamh le go ndéanfar clann dínn,agus go mbeidh ár gcorp fuascailte.

Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia

Alleluia Véarsa            1Sam 3:9 Eo 6: 68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Labhair, a Thiarna, tá do sheirbhíseach ag éisteacht. Is agatsa atá briathra na beatha síoraí
Alleluia!

SOISCÉAL

Go raibh an Tiarna libh.            Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 13:1-23   Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl...

sower

Tháinig Íosa amach as an teach an lá sin agus chuaigh ina shuí cois na farraige, agus tháinig sluaite chomh mór sin le chéile ag triall air go ndeachaigh sé isteach i mbád agus gur shuigh inti, agus an slua go léir ina seasamh ar an gcladach. Agus rinne sé mórán cainte leo i bparabail.

Dúirt: “Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl. Agus sa síolchur dó, thit cuid den ghrán le hais an bhóthair, agus tháinig an éanlaith á ithe suas. Thit cuid eile de ar na creaga, áit nach raibh mórán ithreach ann dó, agus nuair nach raibh an ithir dhomhain aige, d’eascair sé gan mhoill. Ar éirí don ghrian, áfach, loisceadh é, agus d’fheoigh sé de cheal fréimhe. Cuid eile fós de, thit sé i measc an deilgnigh, agus d’fhás an deilgneach aníos agus phlúch é. Ach bhí cuid eile de a thit ar an talamh maith agus thug sé toradh uaidh, toradh faoi chéad in áit, faoi sheasca in áit eile, faoi thríocha in áit eile. A té a bhfuil cluasa air, éisteadh sé!”

Tháinig na deisceabail chuige á rá: “Cén fáth ar i bparabail atá tú ag caint leo?”
Dúirt sé leo á bhfreagairt:
“Is é fáth é, mar tá sé tugtha daoibhse eolas a bheith agaibh ar rúndiamhra ríocht na bhflaitheas, ach níl sé tugtha dóibh siúd. Óir, duine ar bith a mbíonn ní aige, tabharfar dó agus beidh fuílleach aige; ach duine ar bith a bhíonn gan ní, fiú amháin a mbíonn aige bainfear de é. Agus sin é an fáth a bhfuilim ag caint i bparabail leo, mar feiceann siad gan feiceáil agus cluineann siad gan cloisteáil agus gan tuiscint. Agus sin mar atá á comhlíonadh iontu an tairngreacht a rinne Íseáia:
‘Beidh sibh ag cloisteáil go deimhin ach ní thuigfidh sibh, beidh sibh ag breathnú go deimhin, ach ní fheicfidh sibh,
óir chuaigh croí an phobail seo chun raimhre, d’éist siad le cluasa bodhránta, d’iaigh siad a súile,
d’eagla go mbeadh radharc na súl acu, ná clos na gcluas, ná tuiscint an chroí,
agus go n-iompóidís agus go leigheasfainn iad.’ “

Ach is méanar do bhur súilese mar go bhfeiceann said agus do bhur gcluasa mar go n-éisteann siad. Deirim libh go fírinneach, b’é ba mhian le mórán fáithe agus fíréan na nithe a fheiceáil a fheiceann sibhse agus ní fhaca siad iad, agus na nithe a chloisteáil a chluineann sibhse agus níor chuala siad iad.”

“Sibhse mar sin, éistigí le parabal an tsíoladóra. Duine ar bith a chluineann briathar na ríochta agus nach dtuigeann é, tagann Fear an Oilc agus sciobann sé leis an ní a cuireadh ina chroí: agus sin é an duine a ghlac an síol le hais an bhóthair. An duine a ghlac an síol ar na creaga, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar agus a ghabhann chuige le háthas é láithreach, ach ní bhíonn fréamh aige ann féin, ach é neamhbhuan; an túisce is a thagann trioblóid nó géarleanúint mar gheall ar an mbriathar, cliseann air. An duine a ghlac an síol sa deilgneach, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar, ach go mbíonn cúram an tsaoil agus mealladh an tsaibhris ag plúchadh an bhriathair agus fágtar gan toradh a thabhairt é. Ach an duine a ghlac an síol ar an talamh maith, sin é an duine a chluineann an briathar agus a thuigeann é; agus tugann sé sin toradh uaidh gan teip, faoi chéad nó faoi sheasca, nó faoi thríocha de réir mar a bhíonn.”

Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost

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Soiscéal gearr

SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 13:1-9
Chuaigh an síoladóir amach ag cur an tsíl...

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Churches of the Day

Pictorial Thought for Today

Jul 7 - St. Maelruain of Tallaght (d. 792)