Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Apr 7 - St John Baptist de la Salle (1651-1719)
Summary: St John Baptist de la Salle, priest, teacher of poor children, founder. John was born at Rheims (France) in 1651, died at Rouen on this day in 1719. Ordained to the presbyterate in 1678 . He pioneered schools for poor boys and the working classes, the training of teachers, and the care of disturbed children. Despite much internal conflict and external opposition, he formed his companions into the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He was designated: patron of teachers c/f Australian Catholic lectionary
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St John-Baptist de la Salle founded an order of teaching brothers for the underprivileged: the order also specialised in teacher-training and in the care of reformatories; today there are 5,000 brothers in 80 countries worldwide.
Patrick Duffy outlines the saint's life.
From a Wealthy Family
Born into a wealthy family at Reims in northern France, John-Baptist studied there as a boy. He received the clerical tonsure at 11 and became a canon of the cathedral at 16. He studied at the Seminary of St Sulpice in Paris, was ordained a priest in 1678 and received his doctorate in theology two years later.
A New Concept
While he was serving as a priest at Reims, a layman, Adrial Nyel, who had opened free schools in Rouen asked John-Baptist to help do the same thing in Reims. Thinking at first this entailed just a marginal supervisory involvement, John-Baptist soon found that the teachers were not fully competent and decided to take them into his own house to train them. This caused a rift with his family. Two of his brothers left the house and five of the teachers left as well. But it was the beginning of a new concept of a community of men devoted to Christian teaching.
An Apostolic Religious Order Despite Opposition
Soon John-Baptist and twelve others took simple vows of obedience and became an apostolic religious congregation known as "the Brothers of the Christian Schools". Teaching was to be their way to attaining holiness. They started a training college for teachers in Reims in 1686. John-Baptist encountered opposition especially from those who felt that the poorer classes should not be educated beyond manual skills and from church authorities who disliked his new form of apostolic religious life.
No Priests
Since he was himself a priest, John-Baptist thought it would be good to have priests in the order, but when the first candidate, Brother Henri L'Heureux, was ready for ordination, he suddenly fell sick and died. This upset John-Baptist, and on mature reflection, he decided not to have priests so the brothers could more easily live in humility and simplicity.
Expansion to Paris
The congregation expanded to Paris and Saint Denis. Here some of the Irish who had fled with King James II to France asked the Brothers to educate their children and they expanded into secondary education. In this way John-Baptist's ideas and methods spread more widely.
Methods
De La Salle believed it was better to instruct his pupils through the vernacular (French) rather than through Latin, because in this way they could learn to read more easily. He also adopted the "simultaneous method" where pupils were graded according to their capacity, putting those of equal attainment in the same class, giving them the same text-books, and requiring them to follow the same lesson under one and the same teacher. Both these developments were innovations in educational method at the time.
Deposed for a Time
Opposition within church circles led to John-Baptist being deposed by Cardinal Louis-Antoine de Noailles, archbishop of Paris, for a time and replaced as superior in 1702, but this was allowed to lapse through intense opposition to it by the brothers themselves. However, some confrères did leave the order. Eventually at a chapter held in 1717 his trusted colleague Brother Barthélemy was elected superior and John-Baptist resigned.
Death and Influence
Two years later John-Baptist died on Good Friday 7th April 1719. Pope Leo XIII canonised him in 1900 and Pope Pius XII declared him patron of teachers in 1950. The De La Salle Brothers have about 5,000 members today working in 80 countries worldwide.
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St John-Baptist de la Salle founded an order of teaching brothers for the underprivileged: the order also specialised in teacher-training and in the care of reformatories; today there are 5,000 brothers in 80 countries worldwide.Patrick Duffy outlines the saint's life.
From a Wealthy Family
Born into a wealthy family at Reims in northern France, John-Baptist studied there as a boy. He received the clerical tonsure at 11 and became a canon of the cathedral at 16. He studied at the Seminary of St Sulpice in Paris, was ordained a priest in 1678 and received his doctorate in theology two years later.
A New Concept
While he was serving as a priest at Reims, a layman, Adrial Nyel, who had opened free schools in Rouen asked John-Baptist to help do the same thing in Reims. Thinking at first this entailed just a marginal supervisory involvement, John-Baptist soon found that the teachers were not fully competent and decided to take them into his own house to train them. This caused a rift with his family. Two of his brothers left the house and five of the teachers left as well. But it was the beginning of a new concept of a community of men devoted to Christian teaching.
An Apostolic Religious Order Despite Opposition
Soon John-Baptist and twelve others took simple vows of obedience and became an apostolic religious congregation known as "the Brothers of the Christian Schools". Teaching was to be their way to attaining holiness. They started a training college for teachers in Reims in 1686. John-Baptist encountered opposition especially from those who felt that the poorer classes should not be educated beyond manual skills and from church authorities who disliked his new form of apostolic religious life.No Priests
Since he was himself a priest, John-Baptist thought it would be good to have priests in the order, but when the first candidate, Brother Henri L'Heureux, was ready for ordination, he suddenly fell sick and died. This upset John-Baptist, and on mature reflection, he decided not to have priests so the brothers could more easily live in humility and simplicity.
Expansion to Paris
The congregation expanded to Paris and Saint Denis. Here some of the Irish who had fled with King James II to France asked the Brothers to educate their children and they expanded into secondary education. In this way John-Baptist's ideas and methods spread more widely.
Methods
De La Salle believed it was better to instruct his pupils through the vernacular (French) rather than through Latin, because in this way they could learn to read more easily. He also adopted the "simultaneous method" where pupils were graded according to their capacity, putting those of equal attainment in the same class, giving them the same text-books, and requiring them to follow the same lesson under one and the same teacher. Both these developments were innovations in educational method at the time.
Deposed for a Time
Opposition within church circles led to John-Baptist being deposed by Cardinal Louis-Antoine de Noailles, archbishop of Paris, for a time and replaced as superior in 1702, but this was allowed to lapse through intense opposition to it by the brothers themselves. However, some confrères did leave the order. Eventually at a chapter held in 1717 his trusted colleague Brother Barthélemy was elected superior and John-Baptist resigned.
Death and InfluenceTwo years later John-Baptist died on Good Friday 7th April 1719. Pope Leo XIII canonised him in 1900 and Pope Pius XII declared him patron of teachers in 1950. The De La Salle Brothers have about 5,000 members today working in 80 countries worldwide.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
Education without religion,
as useful as it is,
seems rather to make man or woman
a more clever devil.
~ C.S. Lewis ~
also
The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires
~ William A. Ward ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Tuesday, 7th April, 2026
Easter Tuesday
Jesus points out the new changed relationship he has with Mary Magdalene and us.
He returns to the Father to fulfil what he was sent to do.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Acts of the Apostles 2:36-41
You must repent, and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the Jews:
'The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.'
Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, 'What must we do, brothers?' '
You must repent,' Peter answered 'and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.'
He spoke to them for a long time using many arguments, and he urged them,
'Save yourselves from this perverse generation'.
They were convinced by his arguments, and they accepted what he said and were baptised.
That very day about three thousand were added to their number.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 32: 4-5. 18-20. 22. R/v 5
Response The Lord fills the earth with his love.
Or Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
1. The word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love. Response
2. The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine. Response
3. Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield.
May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you. Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 117: 24
Alleluia, Alleluia!
This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 20:11-18 Glory to you, O Lord
I have seen the Lord and he has spoken to me.
Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, 'Woman, why are you weeping?''They have taken my Lord away,' she replied 'and I don't know where they have put him.'
As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him.
Jesus said, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?'
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him'.
Jesus said, 'Mary!'
She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' - which means Master.
Jesus said to her,
'Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'
So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Easter Tuesday John 20:11-18
I have often been struck by those words of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene in today’s gospel reading, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’. The God of Jesus is also our God, the Father of Jesus is also our Father. Because of Easter, we have come to share in Jesus’ own relationship with God. The risen Jesus gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit and that Spirit draws us into a sharing in Jesus’ relationship with God. Writing to churches of Galatia, Paul expresses this conviction in his own way, ‘God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying, “Abba! Father!”’ The Spirit of the risen Lord within us moves us, inspires us, to address God in the same intimate way that Jesus did. In a sense, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the risen Lord prays his own prayer to God in us. Perhaps we don’t often think of the Lord as praying to God within us. Yet, that is the depth of the Lord’s communion with us that Easter makes possible.
When Jesus says to Mary Magdalene in the gospel reading, ‘Do not cling to me’, he was saying that it was not necessary for her to cling to him as if she was in danger of losing him. Through the Holy Spirit, he would come to her and be in a deeper relationship with her that he has ever been, his God becoming her God, his Father becoming her Father. This was the message that she was to go and proclaim to the other disciples, to all of us. She becomes the first and primary preacher of the gospel. This is the Easter gospel that continues to be proclaimed to us through her. The risen Lord is always in a deeply personal relationship with us, even in those times when we feel we have drifted from him. He doesn’t drift from us.
Because of Easter, we can all make our own what Paul says elsewhere in his letter to the Galatians, ‘It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me’ (Gal 2:20).
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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 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, 7th April, 2026
De mairt, Seachtain na Cásca
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 2:36-41
Déanaigí aithrí, agus déantar gach duine agaibh a bhaisteadh in ainm Íosa Críost.
Lá Cincíse dúirt Peadar leis na Giúdaigh :
Bíodh a fhios go dearfa ag teaghlach Iosrael ar fad go ndearna Dia Tiarna agus Meisias den Íosa seo a chéas sibhse ar chrois.”
Chuaigh an chaint sin go dtí an croí iontu agus dúirt siad le Peadar agus leis na haspail eile:
“Cad atá le déanamh againn, a bhráithre?”
Agus d’fhreagair Peadar iad:
“Déanaigí aithrí,” ar seisean, “déantar gach duine agaibh a bhaisteadh in ainm Íosa Críost chun maithiúnas na bpeacaí agus glacfaidh sibh tabhartas an Spioraid Naoimh; mar is daoibhse agus do bhur gclann atá an gealltanas úd agus dóibh siúd freisin atá i bhfad ar shiúl – don uile dhuine dá nglaofaidh ár nDia chuige.”
Rinne sé mórán eile cainte ag áiteamh leo agus ag tathant orthu:
“Sabháiligí sibh féin,” ar seisean leo, “ón nglúin chlaon seo.” An méid díobh a ghlac lena theachtaireacht, baisteadh iad agus cuireadh tuairim is trí mhíle duine lena líon an lá sin.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 32: 4-5. 18-20. 22. R/v 5
Freagra Líonann an Tiarna an talamh dá bhuanghrá .
Malairt freagra Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia !
1. Óir is dílis é briathar an Tiarna, agus is fírinneach a oibreacha go léir.
Carann sé an chóir agus an ceart agus líonann sé an talamh dá bhuanghrá. Freagra
2. Féachann an Tiarna ar an dream lenarb eagal é agus a chuireann a ndóchas ina bhuanghrá,
chun a n-anam a shaoradh ón mbas agus iad a bheathú le linn gorta. Freagra
3. Bíonn ár n-anam ag feitheamh leis an Tiarna; is é siúd ar gcabhair agus ár sciath;
Go dtaga do bhuanghrá orainn, a Thiarna, de réir an dóchais a chuirimid ionat. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 20:11-18 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Chonaic mé An Tiarna, agus bhí sé ag caint liom.
San am sin bhí Máire ina seasamh lasmuigh in aice an tuama agus í ag gol. Sa ghol di chrom sí síos agus d’fhéach isteach sa tuama,agus chonaic an dá aingeal in éidí gealaina suí mar ar luigh corp Íosa, aingeal acu ag an gceann agus an t-aingeal eile ag na cosa.“Cén fáth a bhfuil tú ag gol, a bhean,” ar siad léi.
“Mar gur thóg siad mo Thiarna,” ar sí leo, “agus nach eol dom cár chuir siad é.”
Arna rá sin di, d’iompaigh sí thart agus chonaic sí Íosa ina sheasamh ansiúd ach nár aithin sí gurbh é Íosa é.
Dúirt Íosa léi:
“A bhean, cén fáth a bhfuil tú ag gol? Cé atá uait?”
Mheas sí gurbh é an garraíodóir é agus dúirt leis:
“A dhuine uasail, más tusa a thóg é, inis dom cár chuir tú é agus tabharfaidh mé liom é.”
“A Mháire,” arsa Íosa léi.
D’iompaigh sise agus dúirt as Eabhrais:“Rabúnaí,” is é sin le rá: “A Mháistir!”
“Scaoil liom!” arsa Íosa léi, “óir ní dheachaighmé suas chun an Athar fós; ach imigh chun mo bhráithre agus abair leo:
‘Táim ag dulsuas chun m’Atharsa agus chun bhur nAtharsa, chun mo Dhé-se agus chun bhurnDé-se.’”
Tháinig Máire Mhaigdiléana leis an scéala do na deisceabail: “Chonaic mé anTiarna,” agus go ndúirt sé na nithe sin léi.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 12th April, 2026
Second Sunday of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday
The struggle for faith experienced by Thomas leads us to think on the meaning of faith in the risen Christ. We cannot depend on physical experience of Christ but we can know his presence in gathered community, in the hearing of the word and in sacramental signs. So the Christian community is a thankful one, always blessing God for a sure hope through the resurrection of Christ.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common.
The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep impression on everyone. The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 117: 2-4. 13-15. 22-24. R/v 1
Response Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. Let the sons of Israel say: 'His love has no end.'
Let the sons of Aaron say: 'His love has no end,'
Let those who fear the Lord say: 'His love has no end.' Response
2. I was thrust, thrust down and falling but the Lord was my helper.
The Lord is my strength and my song; he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the just. Response
3. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 1:3-9
In his great mercy God has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God's power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold - only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire - and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 20: 29
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Jesus said to him: 'You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.'
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 20:19-31 Glory to you, O Lord
Eight days later, Jesus came.
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them.
He said to them, 'Peace be with you', and showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again,
'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'
After saying this he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, 'We have seen the Lord',he answered, 'Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe'.
Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them.
'Peace be with you' he said.
Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands.
Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.'
Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!'
Jesus said to him:
'You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.'
There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
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, 12th April, 2026
AN DARA DOMHNACH DEN CHAISC
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as an Leabhar Gníomhartha na nAspal 2:42-47
Agus an méid a chreid, bhídís i bhfochair a chéile, agus bhíodh gach ulle núí I gcomhar acu.
Chloígh na bráithre seasmach le teagasc na n-aspal, le comaoin ar a chéile, le briseadh an aráin agus leis na hurnaithe. Is iomaí míorúilt agus éacht a bhí á dhéanamh ag na haspail, rud a chuir uamhan ar chách.Bhí na creidmhigh go léir in aon bhuíon le chéile agus bhí gach ní i bpáirt acu; dhíolaidís a gcuid sealúchais agus a gcuid maoine agus roinnidís a luach ar chách de réir mar a bhíodh aon duine acu ar an gcaolchuid.
Thagaidís le chéile in aon bhuíon sa Teampall gach lá ach bhrisidís arán i dtithe a chéile agus chaithidís a gcuid le chéile lemóráthas agus le sástacht chroí agus iad ag moladh Dé. Agus bhí gnaoi an phobail orthu. Agus ó lá go lá bhí an Tiarna ag cur le líon na ndaoine a bhí ar bhealach a slánaithe.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 117: 2-4. 13-15. 22-24. R/v 1
Freagra Tugaigí buíochas den Tiarna toisc gur maith é:
óir maireann a ghrá de shíor.
Malairt freagra : Alleluia
I. Bíodh teaghlach Isráél á rá: 'Maireann a ghrá de shíor.'
Bíodh teaghlach Árón á rá: 'Maireann a ghrá de shíor.'
Abradh an dream lerb eagal an Tiarna: 'Maireann a ghrá de shíor.' Freagra
2. Teilgeadh síos mé i dtreo is go dtitfinn, ach chuidigh an Tiarna liom.
Is é an Tiarna mo neart is mo mhisneach: is é a thug slán mé.
Cluintear gártha lúcháire is caithréime i bpubaill na bhfíréan. Freagra
3. An chloch dár dhiúltaigh na saoir, rinne ceann an chúinne di.
Is é an Tiarna a rinne é seo, agus is éachtach linne é.
Is é seo an lá a rinne an Tiarna: bíodh áthas is gliondar orainn. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Peadar 1:3-9
D ‘athghin sé sinn trí aiséirI losa Críost ó mhairbh, ionas go mbeadh beomhuinín againn.
Moladh le Dia agus Athair ár dTiarna Íosa Críost!
D’athghin sé sinn as ucht a mhórthrócaire, trí aiséirí Íosa Críost ó mhairbh, chun bheomhuiníne agus chun oidhreachta atá marthanach dothruaillithe, gan síothlú, oidhreacht atá in áirithe daoibh sna flaithis. Tá sibh anois do bhur gcumhdach tríd an gcreideamh ag Dia na bhfeart, le haghaidh an tslánaithe atá réidh lena fhoilsiú ag deireadh ré. Is údar lúcháire agaibhse é seo, fiú más dobrónach féin sibh ar feadh tamaill bhig de bharr trialacha den uile chineál, d’fhonn go bhfaighfí fíormhianach bhur gcreidimh, atá níos luachmhaire ná ór – rud atá somhillte cé go dtástáiltear sa tine é – ag dul chun molta agus onóra agus glóire tráth a fhoilseofar Íosa Críost. Ní fhaca sibh é, ach tugann sibh grá dó; ní fheiceann sibh anois féin é, ach creideann sibh ann, agus is lúcháireach sibh le háthas glórmhar dolabhartha, agus slánú bhur n-anam á ghnóthú agaibh mar thoradh ar bhur gcreideamh.Alleluia Véarsa Eoin 20:29
Alleluia, Alleluia!
'De bhrí go bhfaca tú mé, a Thomáis, chreid tú,' a deir an Tiarna.
'Is méanar dóibh seo nach bhfaca agus a chreid.'
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 20:19-31 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tráthnóna an lae chéanna, an chéad lá den tseachtain, tháinig Íosa.
Tráthnóna an lae chéanna, an chéad lá den tseachtain, agus na doirse faoi ghlas le heagla na nGiúdach, san áit ina raibh na deisceabail, tháinig Íosa agus sheas ina measc agus dúirt leo: “Síocháin daoibh!”
Á rá sin dó, thaispeáin sé dóibh a lámha agus a chliathán. Bhí áthas ar na deisceabail nuair a chonaic siad an Tiarna. Dúirt Íosa leo ansin arís:
“Síocháin daoibh! Amhail mar a chuir an tAthair uaidh mise, táimse do bhur gcursa uaim freisin.”
Arna rá sin dó, d’análaigh sé orthu agus dúirt leo:
“Glacaigí an Spiorad Naomh. Na daoine a maithfidh sibh a bpeacaí dóibh, beidh siad maite dóibh; na daoine a gcoinneoidh sibh a bpeacaí, beidh a bpeacaí coinnithe.”
Tomás, duine den dáréag ar a dtugtaí an Leathchúpla, ní raibh sé leo nuair a tháinig Íosa. Dúirt na deisceabail eile leis: “Chonaiceamar an Tiarna.”Ach dúirt seisean leo: “Mura bhfeicfidh mé rian na dtairní ar a dhearnana, agus mo mhéar a chur i bpoll na dtairní, agus mo lámh ina chliathán, ní chreidfidh mé.”
Ocht lá ina dhiaidh sin, bhí a dheisceabail istigh arís, agus Tomás in éineacht leo. Tháinig Íosa agus na doirse faoi ghlas, sheas sé ina measc agus dúirt:
“Síocháin daoibh!”
Ansin dúirt sé le Tomás:
“Tabhair i leith do mhéar agus féach mo dhearnana, sín amach do lámh agus cuir i mo chliathán í, agus ná bí díchreidmheach ach creidmheach.”
D’fhreagair Tomás: “Mo Thiarna agus mo Dhia!”
Dúirt Íosa leis:
“De bhrí go bhfaca tú mé, a Thomáis, chreid tú. Is méanar dóibh seo nach bhfaca agus a chreid.”
Bhí go leor fearta eile fós a rinne Íosa os comhair a dheisceabal, agus níl aon chur síos orthu sa leabhar seo. Ach cuireadh an méid sin i scríbhinn chun go gcreidfeadh sibh gurb é Íosa an Criost, Mac Dé, agus á chreidiúint go mbeadh an bheatha agaibh ina ainm.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
