Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Mar 6 - St Colette of Corbie (1381-1447)
Summary: St Colette, religious, reformer, sought a radically austere life after the example of St Francis and St Clare. She became the one who restored the Poor Clares to the original Rule of St Clare. At the heart of that Rule is radical poverty: even the community does not own anything.
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Her birth
Colette was born in Corbie in Picardy, France, where her father Robert was a carpenter at the Benedictine abbey. As both her father and mother were advanced in age when their first and only daughter was born, they called her Nicolette in honour of St Nicholas (6 Dec), to whose intercession they attributed her birth.
In search of her vocation
Colette received a primary education and then lived at home almost as a solitary, praying, doing manual work and teaching catechism. By the time she was 17, both her parents had died, leaving her in the care of the abbot of Corbie. Unsure of what she should do, Colette first tried a group of Béguines who served the local hospital, then a community of Urbanist Poor Clares (observing the Rule of St Clare as revised by Urban IV) and lastly the Benedictines. But none of these was strict enough for her.
A recluse like Julian of Norwich (1404-06)
A Franciscan priest advised her to join the Franciscan Third Order and take up the life of a recluse, like Julian of Norwich (1342-1416). So at 22 she became enclosed in a room attached to a church for two years. Two faithful friends saw to her needs, while she gave herself to prayer and penance, looked after the church linen and mended the clothes of the poor. Many visitors were attracted to her because of her reputation for holiness. She communicated with them through a grille. At times she was in joy and at times in desolation.
Vision of St Francis asking her to reform his orders
One day she had a vision of St Francis prostrate at the feet of Christ begging Colette be given for the reform of the nuns and friars of his order. This seemed to her a great temptation, but eventually when she saw it was the right thing to do, she consented.
Professed a Poor Clare by Benedict XIII
An observant Franciscan, Henri de Baume (1367-1440), from a friary in Savoy was led to visit her and with his help she went to Avignon to meet Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna), an antipope, but regarded by the French as legitimate, who received her with great kindness. Deeply impressed, she professed in his presence her vows according to the Rule of St Clare and he appointed her superior of all (Poor Clare convents. Picture to the right is of a modern Colettine.)
The Colettines
The first house she was able to reform was that of Besançon, but others, especially in Picardy and Savoy, strongly opposed her. She founded seventeen other houses of strict observance in France and Belgium. She also communicated with others in Italy who were working for the reform of the Franciscans, such as St Bernardine and St John of Capistrano. The followers of the Poor Clares which she reformed are known as the Colettines, as distinct from the Urbanists (see above). Colette, like St Francis, had a deep devotion to Christ's passion as well a love and care for animals.
Death and influence
Colette died at Ghent in 1447 and was canonised in 1807. One of their convents is Ty Mam Duw, at Hawarden in Deeside, Wales. See www.poorclarestmd.org
Patrick Duffy tells her story.
Her birthColette was born in Corbie in Picardy, France, where her father Robert was a carpenter at the Benedictine abbey. As both her father and mother were advanced in age when their first and only daughter was born, they called her Nicolette in honour of St Nicholas (6 Dec), to whose intercession they attributed her birth.
In search of her vocation
Colette received a primary education and then lived at home almost as a solitary, praying, doing manual work and teaching catechism. By the time she was 17, both her parents had died, leaving her in the care of the abbot of Corbie. Unsure of what she should do, Colette first tried a group of Béguines who served the local hospital, then a community of Urbanist Poor Clares (observing the Rule of St Clare as revised by Urban IV) and lastly the Benedictines. But none of these was strict enough for her.
A recluse like Julian of Norwich (1404-06)
A Franciscan priest advised her to join the Franciscan Third Order and take up the life of a recluse, like Julian of Norwich (1342-1416). So at 22 she became enclosed in a room attached to a church for two years. Two faithful friends saw to her needs, while she gave herself to prayer and penance, looked after the church linen and mended the clothes of the poor. Many visitors were attracted to her because of her reputation for holiness. She communicated with them through a grille. At times she was in joy and at times in desolation.
Vision of St Francis asking her to reform his orders
One day she had a vision of St Francis prostrate at the feet of Christ begging Colette be given for the reform of the nuns and friars of his order. This seemed to her a great temptation, but eventually when she saw it was the right thing to do, she consented.
Professed a Poor Clare by Benedict XIII
An observant Franciscan, Henri de Baume (1367-1440), from a friary in Savoy was led to visit her and with his help she went to Avignon to meet Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna), an antipope, but regarded by the French as legitimate, who received her with great kindness. Deeply impressed, she professed in his presence her vows according to the Rule of St Clare and he appointed her superior of all (Poor Clare convents. Picture to the right is of a modern Colettine.)
The Colettines
The first house she was able to reform was that of Besançon, but others, especially in Picardy and Savoy, strongly opposed her. She founded seventeen other houses of strict observance in France and Belgium. She also communicated with others in Italy who were working for the reform of the Franciscans, such as St Bernardine and St John of Capistrano. The followers of the Poor Clares which she reformed are known as the Colettines, as distinct from the Urbanists (see above). Colette, like St Francis, had a deep devotion to Christ's passion as well a love and care for animals.
Death and influence
Colette died at Ghent in 1447 and was canonised in 1807. One of their convents is Ty Mam Duw, at Hawarden in Deeside, Wales. See www.poorclarestmd.org
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Memorable Saying for Today
A strong woman stands up for herself.
A stronger woman stands up for everyone else
~ a strong woman ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 7th March, 2026
Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Joseph was sold into slavery for twenty pieces of silver, Jesus was sold out for thirty.
The very stones so rejected become the cornerstone of our faith.
God asks us to care for others until he comes again.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Genesis 37: 3-4, 12-13, 17-28
Here comes the man of dreams. Come on, let us kill him.
Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, for he was the son of his old age, and he had a coat with long sleeves made for him. But his brothers, seeing how his father loved him more than all his other sons, came to hate him so much that they could not say a civil word to him. His brothers went to pasture their father's flock at Shechem.
Then Israel said to Joseph, 'Are not your brothers with the flock at Shechem? Come, I am going to send you to them.' So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them they made a plot among themselves to put him to death. 'Here comes the man of dreams' they said to one another. 'Come on, let us kill him and throw him into some well; we can say that a wild beast devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams.'
But Reuben heard, and he saved him from their violence. 'We must not take his life' he said.'Shed no blood,' said Reuben to them 'throw him into this well in the wilderness, but do not lay violent hands on him' - He was intending to save him from them and to restore him to his father.
So, when Joseph reached his brothers, they pulled off his coat, the coat with long sleeves that he was wearing, and catching hold of him they threw him into the well, an empty well with no water in it. They then sat down to eat.
Looking up they saw a group of Ishmaelites who were coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, tragacanth, balsam and resin, which they were taking down into Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, 'What do we gain by killing our brother and covering up his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let us not do any harm to him. After all, he is our brother, and our own flesh.'
His brothers agreed.
Now some Midianite merchants were passing, and they drew Joseph up out of the well.
They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty silver pieces, and these men took Joseph to Egypt.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 104: 16-21. R/v 5
Response Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
1. God called down a famine on the land; he broke the staff that supported them.
He had sent a man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave. Response
2. His feet were put in chains, his neck was bound with iron,
until what he said came to pass and the Lord's word proved him true. Response
3. Then the king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free,
making him master of his house and ruler of all he possessed. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 3:16
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son;
everyone who believes in him has eternal life.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 Glory to you, O Lord
This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: 'Listen to another parable.
There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a wine press in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way.Finally he sent his son to them. "They will respect my son" he said.
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other,
"This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance."
So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?'
They answered, 'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants
who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.'
Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures:
'It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone.'
This was the Lord's doing and it is wonderful to see?'
'I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'
When they heard his parables, the chief priests and the scribes realised he was speaking about them, but though they would have liked to arrest him they were afraid of the crowds, who looked on him as a prophet.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Friday Second Week of Lent Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
People who dream dreams and who communicate their dreams to others can become very unpopular. Some find their dreaming to be too disturbing and they can belittle their dreams. Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Israel/Jacob, is described by his brothers in today’s first reading as a ‘man of dreams’. They wanted rid of this ‘man of dreams’, saying to one another, ‘Come on, let us kill him and throw him into some well… we shall see what becomes of his dreams’. In the end, they didn’t kill him, because of the intervention of Reuben, one of the brothers. They threw him into an empty well alive, and then sold him to some merchants passing on their way to Egypt. They wanted rid of this dreamer. Having sold him on, they never expected to see him again. However, God worked in a life-giving way through their hostile actions. Joseph went to Egypt as a slave but he won favour with Pharaoh and was eventually put in charge of Egypt’s grain reserves. When famine struck the land of Canaan where his brothers lived, along with Jacob their father, the brothers went to Egypt for food and it was Joseph who provided them with the food they needed. Joseph’s brothers ended up going to Egypt to live, taking their father with them.
God brought great good came out of the harm the brothers did to Joseph. In the gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable which portrays the harm that would soon be done to himself. In the parable, when the landowner sent his son to collect the produce of the vineyard, the tenants seized his son, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Jesus would turn out to be 'the stone rejected by the builders'. Yet, God brought great good out of the harm that was done to his son. The cross, the instrument of the death of God’s Son, became the tree of life. Jesus’ death allowed God to reveal all the more the extent of his love for all humanity. God works in every human situation, no matter how dark, how sinful, to bring to life some good for everyone involved. We believe in a God who is always at work in a life-giving way, even in those situations that seem devoid of his presence.
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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: Saturday, 7th March, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an leabhar Geineasas 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28
Seo chugainn,” a dúradar le chéile, “fear na dtaibhreamh. Tagaigí, maraímis é."
Ba mhó an cion a bhí ag Iosrael ar Iósaef ná ar aon duine eile dá chlann mar gurbh é mac a sheanaoise é, agus rinne sé cóta le muinchillí fada dó. Nuair a chonaic a dheartháireacha gur mhó an cion a bhí ag a n-athair air ná ar aon duine eile dá chlann, thugadar fuath dó agus ní fhéadfaidís oiread is focal muinteartha a labhairt leis. D’imigh a dheartháireacha chun tréad a n-athar a chur ar féarach in aice le Seicim.
Dúirt Iosrael le Iósaef: “Nach bhfuil do dheartháireacha ag aoireacht an tréada i Seicim? Téanam anois agus seolfaidh mé chucu thú.”
“Teacht,” ar sé leis. “Tá siad imithe leo,” arsa an fear, “mar chuala mé iad á rá: ‘Téimis go Dotán.’”
D’imigh Iósaef i ndiaidh a dheartháireacha ansin agus fuair sé iad i Dotán.
Chonaiceadar i bhfad uathu é agus sula dtáinig sé ina gcóngar rinneadar cogar ceilge é a mharú.“Seo chugainn,” a dúradar le chéile, “fear na dtaibhreamh. Tagaigí, maraímis é agus caithimis i bpoll éigin é; déarfaimid gur alp ainmhí allta é, agus feicfimid cad a tharlóidh dá chuid taibhreamh.”
Chuala Reúbaen an chaint sin agus shaor sé é óna lámha á rá: “Ná maraímis é. Ná doirtigí aon bhraon fola,” arsa Reúbaen leo; “Caithigí isteach sa pholl seo san fhásach é, ach ná himrígí lámh dhearg air” – mar sin is ea a labhair sé agus é ar intinn aige é a shaoradh óna lamha agus a thabhairt ar ais dá athair.
Nuair a tháinig Iósaef i láthair a dheartháireacha dá bhrí sin, bhaineadar a chóta de, an cóta leis na muinchillí fada a bhí á chaitheamh aige, agus rugadar air agus chaitheadar i bpoll é. Bhí an poll folamh gan aon uisce ann. Ansin shuíodar síos chun bia.
Thógadar a súile agus chonaiceadar buíon Ísméileach ag teacht ó Ghileád lena gcamaill agus iad faoi ualach guma agus tragacant, agus balsaim agus roisín a bhí á thabhairt síos chun na hÉigipte acu. Ansin dúirt Iúdá lena dheartháireacha:
“Cén tairbhe dúinn ár ndeartháir a mharú agus a chuid fola a fholach? Téanam díolaimis leis na hÍsméiligh é, ach ná leagaimis lámh air. Is é ár ndeartháir é, ár bhfeoil féin.”
Agus ghéill a dheartháireacha dó.
Tharla gur ghabh ceannaithe Midiánacha an treo agus tharraingíodar Iósaef aníos as an bpoll agus dhíoladar é ar fiche seicil airgid leis na hÍsméiligh, agus thugadarsan Iósaef go dtí an Éigipt.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 104: 16-21. R/v 5
Freagra Cuimhnigí ar na héachtaí a rinne Dia
1. Nuair a ghlaoigh sé gorta ar an tír sin, agus gur mhill sé an t-arán ar fad orthu,
is amhlaidh a bhí fear curtha rompu aige, mar a bhí, Iósaef, a díoladh i ndaorbhroid. Freagra
2. Ceanglaíodh a chosa le cuibhreacha; crioslaíodh a mhuineál le hiarann,
go dtí gur comhlíonadh a fháistine; is gur dhearbhaigh briathar an Tiarna é. Freagra
3. Chuir an rí dá fhios agus d’fhuascail é; rinne taoiseach na gciníocha é a shaoradh.
Cheap sé ina thiarna ar a theaghlach é, ina mhaor ar a mhaoin go léir. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 21:33-43.45-46 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Is é seo an t-oidhre; seo, maraímis é
San am sin dúirt Íosa le huactaráin na sagart agus le seanóirí an phobail: “Éistigí le parabal eile:
Bhí an fear tí seo ann a rinne fíonghort a phlandáil, fál a chur ina thimpeall, cantaoir a thochailt ann, agus túr a thógáil; chuir ar cíos ansin chun curadóirí é agus chuaigh ar an gcoigríoch. Nuair a bhí séasúr na dtorthaí ann, chuir sé a chuid seirbhíseach uaidh go dtí na curadóirí chun toradh an fhíonghoirt a fháil. Ach rug na curadóirí ar na seirbhísigh, thug siad bualadh do dhuine acu, mharaigh duine eile, chloch duine eile. Ansin chuir sé seirbhísigh eile uaidh ba líonmhaire ná iad siúd, ach ba é an cor céanna a thug siad dóibh sin. Sa deireadh, chuir sé chucu a mhac, mar dúirt sé leis féin: ‘Tabharfaidh siad ómós do mo mhac.’
Ach nuair a chonaic na curadóirí an mac, dúirt siad le chéile:
‘Is é seo an t-oidhre; seo, maraímis é, agus bíodh a oidhreacht againn féin,’ agus rug siad air, thiomáin siad amach as an bhfíonghort é agus mharaigh é. Dá bhrí sin, nuair a thiocfaidh máistir an fhíonghoirt, cad a dhéanfaidh sé leis na curadóirí úd?”
Dúirt siad leis: “Tabharfaidh sé drochíde do na daoine mallaithe sin agus cuirfidh an fíonghort ar cíos chun curadóirí eile a thabharfaidh na torthaí dó ina séasúr féin.”
Dúirt Íosa leo:
“Nár léigh sibh riamh sna scrioptúir.
‘An chloch dár dhiúltaigh na saoir, rinneadh di ceann an chúinne, obair an Tiarna é seo agus is iontach inár súile é’?
“Sin an fáth a ndeirim libh go mbainfear ríocht Dé díbhse agus go dtabharfar do phobal í a thabharfaidh uathu a toradh.
Uachtaráin na sagart agus na Fairisínigh, nuair a chuala siad a chuid parabal, bhí a fhios acu gur chucu féin a bhí sé, agus cé gurbh fhonn leo é a ghabháil, bhí eagla orthu roimh na sluaite, mar bhí meas fáidh acu sin air.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th March, 2026
Third Sunday of Lent, Year A
Through the Spirit of God the gift of love is poured into our hearts, a gift bought by the blood of Christ.
This is true for all Christians, new and old. But it needs to be constantly prayed for.
First Scrutiny of Catechumens is celebrated today
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Exodus 17:3-7
Give us water to drink.
Tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses. 'Why did you bring us out of Egypt?' they said. 'Was it so that I should die of thirst, my children too, and my cattle?' Moses appealed to the Lord. 'How am I to deal with this people? he said. 'A little more and they will stone me!'The Lord said to Moses,
'Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the forefront of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go. I shall be standing before you there on the rock, at Horeb. You must strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.'
This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel. The place was named Massah and Meribah because of the grumbling of the sons of Israel and because they put the Lord to the test by saying, 'Is the Lord with us, or not?'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorual Psalm Ps 94:1-2, 6-9, R/v8
Response O that today you would listen to his voice,
harden not your hearts.
1. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. Response
2. Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us
for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand. Response
3. O that today you would listen to his voice! 'Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.' Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 5:1-2. 5-8
The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God's glory and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man - though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die - but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 4: 42.15
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
Lord, you are really the saviour of the world;
give me the living water, so that I may never get thirsty.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 4:5-42 Glory to you, O Lord
A spring inside him, welling up to eternal life'
Jesus came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour When a Samaritan woman came to draw water,
Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink'.
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him,
'What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?' - Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans.
Jesus replied:
If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you: Give me a drink, you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water'.'You have no bucket, sir,' she answered 'and the well is deep: how could you get this living water? Are you a greater man than our father Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?'
Jesus replied 'Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again;
but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life'.
'Sir,' said the woman 'give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water.'
'Go and call your husband' said Jesus to her 'and come back here.'
The woman answered, 'I have no husband'.
He said to her, You are right to say, "I have no husband"; for although you have had five, the one you have now is not your husband. You spoke the truth there.'
'I see you are a prophet, sir' said the woman.
'Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, while you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.'
Jesus said: 'Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know: for salvation comes from the Jews.
But the hour will come - in fact it is here already – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father wants. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.'
The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah - that is, Christ - is coming; and when he comes he will tell us everything'.
'I who am speaking to you,' said Jesus 'I am he.'
At this point his disciples returned, and were surprised to find him speaking to a woman, though none of them asked, 'What do you want from her?' or, 'Why are you talking to her?'
The woman put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people.
'Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did; I wonder if he is the Christ?' This brought people out of the town and they started walking towards him.
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, 'Rabbi, do have something to eat; but he said,
'I have food to eat that you do not know about'.
So the disciples asked one another, 'Has someone been bringing him food?'
But Jesus said: 'My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to complete his work.
Have you not got a saying: 'Four months and then the harvest?'
Well, I tell you: Look around you, look at the fields; already they are white, ready for harvest!
Already the reaper is being paid his wages, already he is bringing in the grain for eternal life,
and thus sower and reaper rejoice together.
For here the proverb holds good: one sows, another reaps; I sent you to reap a harvest you had not worked for. Others worked for it; and you have come into the rewards of their trouble.'
Many Samaritans of that town had believed in him on the strength of the woman's testimony when she said, 'He told me all I have ever done', so, when the Samaritans came up to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed for two days, and when he spoke to them many more came to believe; and they said to the woman, 'Now we no longer believe because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he really is the saviour of the world'.
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/
The scripture readings are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published in 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with permission of the publishers.
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 8th March, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Exodus 17:3-7
Tabhair dúinn uisce le hól.
Bhí íota tarta ar an bpobal agus rinneadar monabhar in aghaidh Mhaois.“Cad chuige ar thug tú amach as an Éigipt sinn?” ar siad.
“An d’fhonn go gcuirfeá sinn féin agus ár gclann agus ár stoc chun báis le tart?”
Ghlaoigh Maois ar an Tiarna: “Cad a dhéanfaidh mé leis an bpobal seo? Is beag nach bhfuil siad ag gabháil de chlocha ionam.”
Agus dúirt an Tiarna le Maois:
“Tabhair leat cuid de sheanóirí Iosrael agus téigh ar thosach an phobail. Beir i do láimh ar an tslat lenar bhuail tú an abhainn, agus seo leat. Féach! beidh mé i mo sheasamh ansiúd ar an gcarraig romhat (i Horaeb). Buail an charraig agus snífidh uisce aisti le hól ag an bpobal.”
Agus rinne Maois amhlaidh i láthair sheanóirí Iosrael. Thug sé Masá agus Miríbeá ar an áit de bharr chasaoid chlann Iosrael agus go ndearnadar promhadh ar an Tiarna á rá: “An bhfuil an Tiarna farainn nó nach bhfuil?”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 94:1-2, 6-9, R/v8
Freagra Á, dá n-éistfeadh sibh lena ghuth inniu: 'Ná calcaigí bhur gcroí.'
1. Tagaigí, déanaimis gairdeas don Tiarna, tógaimis gártha áthais do Charraig ár slánaithe.
Tagaimis ina láthair le moltaí, déanaimis gairdeas dó le laoithe. Freagra
2. Tagaigí, adhraimis agus sléachtaimis, feacaimis ár nglúine don Tiarna a rinne sinn.
Óir is é ár nDia é, agus is sinne pobal a aoireachta agus caoirigh a lámh. Freagra
3. Á, dá n-éistfeadh sibh lena ghuth inniu: 'Na calcaigí bhur gcroí mar a tharla i Meríba,
mar a tharla an lá úd ag Masá san fhásach mar ar chuir bhur n-aithreacha cath orm,
mar ar thriail siad mé cé go bhfaca siad m'obair.' Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 5:1-2. 5-8
Tá ár gcroí líonta de ghrá Dé tríd an Spiorad Naomh a tugadh dúinn
Dá bhrí sin, ó táimid fíréanaithe ag an gcreideamh, tá síocháin againn le Dia trínár dTiarna Íosa Críost, mar is trídsean atá teacht againn le creideamh ar an ngrásta seo ina mairimid. Agus ábhar mórála dúinn is ea an dóchas go bhfuil glóir Dé i ndán dúinn. Agus ní amháin sin ach is ábhar mórála dúinn ár dtrioblóidí agus a fhios againn go dtagann foighne ón trioblóid, agus diongbháilteacht ón bhfoighne agus dóchas ón diongbháilteacht. Ní chliseann an dóchas seo orainn mar tá ár gcroí líonta de ghrá Dé tríd an Spiorad Naomh a tugadh dúinn. Nuair a bhíomar fós lag, fuair Críost bás i dtráth ar son drochdhaoine. Is ar éigean a gheobhadh fear bás ar son duine chóir féin – is ea, b’fhéidir go mbeadh sé de chroí aige bás a fháil ar son dea-dhuine. Ach cruthaíonn Dia an grá atá aige dúinn trí Chríost a fháil bháis ar ár son agus sinn fós inár bpeacaigh.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Comhghair an tSoisceil Eo 4:42, 15
A Thiarna, is tú dáiríre Slánaitheoir an tsaoil;
tabhair dom on t-uisce beo i dtreo nach mbeidh tart orm choíche.
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 4:5-42
Tobar uisce ag brúchtail chun na beatha síoraí.
San am sin tháinig Íosa mar sin go cathair sa tSamáir darbh ainm Suchar, láimh leis an bhfearann a thug Iacób dá mhac Iósaef. Ansiúd a bhí tobar Iacóib. Mar go raibh Íosa traochta ón aistear, shuigh sé ag an tobar. Timpeall an séú huair a ba ea é. Tháinig bean ón tSamáir ag tarraingt uisce.
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Tabhair dom deoch.” Bhí a dheisceabail imithe isteach don chathair ag ceannach bia. Dúirt an Samárach mná leis ansin: “Conas go n-iarrann tusa, agus gur Giúdach thú, deoch ormsa agus gur Samárach mná mé?” Ní bhíonn aon chaidreamh ag Giúdaigh ar Shamáraigh.
D’fhreagair Íosa: “Dá mba eol duit tabhartas Dé,” ar sé léi,“agus cé hé a deir leat:
‘ Tabhair dom deoch,’ is tusa a bheadh ag iarraidh airsean, agus thabharfadh sé duit uisce beo.”
“Níl aon bhuicéad agat, a dhuine uasail,” arsa an bhean leis, “agus tá an tobar domhain. Cad as mar sin a gheobhfá an t-uisce beo seo? An amhlaidh gur mó thú ná ár n-athair Iacób a thug dúinn an tobar agus gur ól sé féin as agus a chlann agus a thréada?”
D’fhreagair Íosa:
“Gach duine a ólann an t-uisce seo,” ar sé léi, “beidh tart arís air. Ach má olann aon duine an t-uisce a thabharfaidh mise dó, ní bheidh tart air go brách na breithe. Ach an t-uisce a thabharfaidh mise dó, déanfaidh tobar uisce de istigh ann, ag brúchtaíl chun na beathn síoraí.”
Dúirt an bhean leis:
“A dhuine uasail, tabhair dom an t-uisce sin i dtreo nach mbeidh tart orm choíche, agus nach gcaithfidh mé teacht anseo ag tarraingt uisce.”
Dúirt sé léi: “Imigh agus glaoigh ar d’fhear agus fill anseo.”
D’fhreagair an bhean: “Níl fear agam,”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Is maith a dúirt tú: ‘Níl fear agam’; óir bhí cúigear fear agat agus an té atá anois agat ní hé d’fhear é. D’inis tú an fhírinne sa mhéid sin.”
Dúirt an bhean leis: “A dhuine uasail, feicim gur fáidh thú. Ar an gcnoc seo a rinne ár n-aithreacha Dia a adhradh, ach deir sibhse gur in Iarúsailéim atá an áit in ar cóir adhradh a dhéanamh.”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Creid uaimse é, a bhean go bhfuil an uain ag teacht nuair nach ar an gcnoc seo ná in Iarúsailéim a dhéanfaidh sibh an tAthair a adhradh. Adhrann sibhse an ní nach eol daoibh; adhraimidne an ní is eol dúinn; mar is ó na Giúdaigh an slánú.
Ach tá an uain ag teacht, agus is anois féin é, ina ndéanfaidh lucht an fhíoradhartha an tAthair a adhradh sa Spiorad agus san fhírinne; óir sin iad an sórt is mian leis an Athair á adhradh. Spiorad é Dia, agus lucht a adhartha is i spiorad agus i bhfírinne a chaithfidh siad adhradh.”
Dúirt an bhean leis: “Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Meisias ag teacht” – is é sin le rá an Críost – “agus nuair a thiocfaidh seisean inseoidh sé gach aon ní dúinn.”
Dúirt Íosa léi: “Mise é atá ag caint leat.”
Lena linn sin tháinig a dheisceabail agus rinne siad ionadh de go raibh sé ag caint le bean. Ní dúirt aon duine acu, áfach: “Cad tá uait?” ná “Cén fáth tú a bheith ag caint léi?”
Lig an bhean a crúsca uaithi ansin agus d’imigh léi isteach don chathair agus dúirt leis na daoine:
“Tagaigí go bhfeicfidh sibh fear a d’inis dom gach ní dá ndearna mé. An féidir gurb é an Criost é?”
Ghluais deoine amach as an gcathair agus bhí siad ag dul ina threo.
Lena linn sin bhí a dheisceabail ag tathant air: “A raibí,” ar siad leis, “bí ag ithe.”
Dúirt sé leo: “Tá agam bia le hithe nach eol daoibhse.”
Ansin dúirt na deisceabail lena chéile: “An féidir gur thug duine éigin rud le hithe dó?”
Dúirt Íosa leo “Is é is bia domsa toil an té a chuir uaidh mé a dhéanamh agus a obair a chur i gcrích.
Nach ndeir sibhse ‘Ceithre mhí eile agus beidh an fómhar ann’?
Seo mise á rá libh: Tógaigí bhur súile agus féachaigí ar na goirt; tá siad geal chun an fhómhair.
Tá a thuarastal á fháil ag an mbuanaí cheana féin, agus tá toradh á bhailiú aige chun na beatha síoraí, i dtreo go bhfuil lúcháir ar an síoladóir agus ar an mbuanaí in éineacht.
Óir is fíor don seanfhocal sa mhéid seo: ‘ Cuireann duine, baineann duine eile.’ Sheol mise sibhse uaim chun fómhar a bhaint nár shaothraigh sibh féin. Shaothraigh daoine eile é, agus chuaigh sibhse isteach ina saothar.”
Chreid a lán de Shamáraigh na cathrach sin ann de bharr fhocal na mná ag tabhairt na fianaise: “D’inis sé dom gach ní dá ndearna mé.”
Nuair a tháinig na Samáraigh chuige dá bhrí sin bhí siad ag tathant air fanacht faróthu, agus d’fhan sé ansiúd dhá lá. Ba mhó go mór a chreid de bharr a bhriathair agus deiridís leis an mbean:
“Ní mar gheall ar do chuid cainte a chreidimid a thuilleadh; óir chualamar féin é agus tá a fhios againn gurb é seo dáiríre Slánaitheoir an domhain.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
