Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Nov 12 - St Josaphat of Polotsk (1580-1623) bishop and martyr
Summary: St Josaphat, bishop, martyr, was born in Vladimir (Ukraine) in 1580, and died at Vitebsk (Belarus) on this day in 1623. A Basilian monk who became archbishop of Polotsk, worked strenuously to uphold and spread the Union of Brest-Litovsk by which Churches of the province of Kiev, with their Byzantine liturgy and customs had entered into communion with Rome. In a complex situation of national and religious antagonism, he was killed by violent opponents. Noted for his energetic pastoral reform and courageous ecumenism.
Josaphat was the monastic name chosen by John Kunsevich, when he became a monk and dedicated his life to reforming the Byzantine-Slavonic Church in what is now Belarus and uniting them with Roman Catholicism. His ecumenical endeavour brought him into severe conflict and ended in his brutal murder.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Early life
Born in what is now Belarus, Ioann (as he was christened) worked for a trader who offered him a partnership and his daughter's hand in marriage. But Ioann was also interested in learning Church Slavonik, the liturgical language of the Eastern Church and encouraged by two Jesuits, he became a monk in the monastery of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius taking the name Josaphat. Here he met a kindred spirit, John Benjamin Rutsky, a convert from Calvinism, and both started a movement that developed into the Order of St Basil.
Union of Brest-Litovsk 1595
Shortly before this, the life of the Orthodox Church in the area known as Ruthenia (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, part of northeastern Slovakia and a strip of eastern Poland) had fallen into considerable decay. At this time, the metropolitan of Kiev, Michael Ragoza, sought and partially achieved a reunion between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. At a synod at Brest-Litovsk in 1595, six out of eight Orthodox bishops, including the Metropolitan Ragoza, supported the union, but the remaining two bishops, together with many delegates from monasteries and parish clergy, opted to remain in the Orthodox Church. The two sides concluded by excommunicating and anathematising one another.
The Uniate Church
As a result of this synod, there came into existence what became known as the Uniate Church, that is, those celebrating the Slavonik-Byzantine liturgy in common with the Orthodox, but re-united with Rome. While some Catholics pressured these to celebrate a Latin liturgy, Rome allowed them to keep the Slavonik-Byzantine rite. However, the Orthodox resented this development and did not feel the Uniates were the proper form of Christianity for this region.
Monk and Archbishop of Polotsk
The monastery of Holy Trinity at Vilnius was part of this movement towards re-union. John Benjamin Rutsky became abbot and many more monks joined; Josaphat was sent to Poland to organise new monasteries. Rutsky was then appointed metropolitan of Kiev in succession to Ragoza. Josaphat succeeded him as abbot but soon after was appointed archbishop of Polotsk. Here he met a situation of decay along with suspicion of his desire for reunion among the more devout church members and also among Latin-rite Poles, who looked down on the Ruthenians as a rough breed. Josaphat used monks from Holy Trinity to help him in his work of reform. He held synods in the cities, introduced a catechism he wrote himself and worked hard for the reform of the clergy. An assembly elected a rival bishop Meletius Smotrystky, and although Josaphat had the support of the people of Polotsk, he still was not backed by the Polish bishops, who resented the fact that he insisted on retaining the Byzantine-Slavonik rite allowed by the Union.
Vitebsk
Anti-Roman sentiment was strong in the city of Vitebsk. Josaphat decided to go there in person to try to effect reconciliation. But followers of the rival archbishop assembled a hostile crowd. In the confusion a mob broke into the palace where Josaphat was staying and attacked his servants. When Josaphat tried to appeal to them, two men attacked him, one hitting him with a club the other splitting his head open with an axe. The hostile crowd seized his body and, weighting it with stones, threw it in the local River Dzvina. Four years after his death Smotrystky repented and joined in the defence of the Union.
Canonisation and influence
Josaphat was canonised by Pope Pius IX in 1867. A huge basilica modelled on St Peter's in Rome was built in his honour in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA and St. Josaphat Cathedral is a Ukrainian Catholic cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, one of the best examples of Byzantine Rite church architecture in Canada.
Josaphat was the monastic name chosen by John Kunsevich, when he became a monk and dedicated his life to reforming the Byzantine-Slavonic Church in what is now Belarus and uniting them with Roman Catholicism. His ecumenical endeavour brought him into severe conflict and ended in his brutal murder.Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Early life
Born in what is now Belarus, Ioann (as he was christened) worked for a trader who offered him a partnership and his daughter's hand in marriage. But Ioann was also interested in learning Church Slavonik, the liturgical language of the Eastern Church and encouraged by two Jesuits, he became a monk in the monastery of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius taking the name Josaphat. Here he met a kindred spirit, John Benjamin Rutsky, a convert from Calvinism, and both started a movement that developed into the Order of St Basil.
Union of Brest-Litovsk 1595
Shortly before this, the life of the Orthodox Church in the area known as Ruthenia (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, part of northeastern Slovakia and a strip of eastern Poland) had fallen into considerable decay. At this time, the metropolitan of Kiev, Michael Ragoza, sought and partially achieved a reunion between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. At a synod at Brest-Litovsk in 1595, six out of eight Orthodox bishops, including the Metropolitan Ragoza, supported the union, but the remaining two bishops, together with many delegates from monasteries and parish clergy, opted to remain in the Orthodox Church. The two sides concluded by excommunicating and anathematising one another.
The Uniate Church
As a result of this synod, there came into existence what became known as the Uniate Church, that is, those celebrating the Slavonik-Byzantine liturgy in common with the Orthodox, but re-united with Rome. While some Catholics pressured these to celebrate a Latin liturgy, Rome allowed them to keep the Slavonik-Byzantine rite. However, the Orthodox resented this development and did not feel the Uniates were the proper form of Christianity for this region.
Monk and Archbishop of Polotsk
The monastery of Holy Trinity at Vilnius was part of this movement towards re-union. John Benjamin Rutsky became abbot and many more monks joined; Josaphat was sent to Poland to organise new monasteries. Rutsky was then appointed metropolitan of Kiev in succession to Ragoza. Josaphat succeeded him as abbot but soon after was appointed archbishop of Polotsk. Here he met a situation of decay along with suspicion of his desire for reunion among the more devout church members and also among Latin-rite Poles, who looked down on the Ruthenians as a rough breed. Josaphat used monks from Holy Trinity to help him in his work of reform. He held synods in the cities, introduced a catechism he wrote himself and worked hard for the reform of the clergy. An assembly elected a rival bishop Meletius Smotrystky, and although Josaphat had the support of the people of Polotsk, he still was not backed by the Polish bishops, who resented the fact that he insisted on retaining the Byzantine-Slavonik rite allowed by the Union.
Vitebsk
Anti-Roman sentiment was strong in the city of Vitebsk. Josaphat decided to go there in person to try to effect reconciliation. But followers of the rival archbishop assembled a hostile crowd. In the confusion a mob broke into the palace where Josaphat was staying and attacked his servants. When Josaphat tried to appeal to them, two men attacked him, one hitting him with a club the other splitting his head open with an axe. The hostile crowd seized his body and, weighting it with stones, threw it in the local River Dzvina. Four years after his death Smotrystky repented and joined in the defence of the Union.(Iconostas in St. Josaphat Cathedral is a Ukrainian Catholic
Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Canonisation and influence
Josaphat was canonised by Pope Pius IX in 1867. A huge basilica modelled on St Peter's in Rome was built in his honour in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA and St. Josaphat Cathedral is a Ukrainian Catholic cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, one of the best examples of Byzantine Rite church architecture in Canada.
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Memorable Sayings for Today
The true and solid peace of nations consists
not in equality of arms,
but in mutual trust alone.
~ Pope John XXIII~
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 12th November, 2026
Thursday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Optional memorial of St Laurence O'Toole, monk,
Archbishop of Dublin, missionary in Normandy, d.1180
FIRST READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to Philomen vs 7-20
Have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but as a dear brother.
I am so delighted, and comforted, to know of your love; they tell me, brother, how you have put new heart into the saints.
Now, although in Christ I can have no diffidence about telling you to do whatever is your duty, I am appealing to your love instead, reminding you that this is Paul writing, an old man now and, what is more, still a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I became while wearing these chains: I mean Onesimus. He was of no use to you before, but he will be useful to you now, as he has been to me. I am sending him back to you, and with him - I could say - a part of my own self. I should have liked to keep him with me; he could have been a substitute for you, to help me while I am in the chains that the Good News has brought me. However, I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act of kindness, which should be spontaneous. I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord. So if all that we have in common means anything to you, welcome him as you would me; but if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, then let me pay for it. I am writing this in my own handwriting: I, Paul, shall pay it back - I will not add any mention of your own debt to me, which is yourself. Well then, brother, I am counting on you, in the Lord; put new heart into me, in Christ.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145
Response He is happy who is helped by Jacob's God.
Or Alleluia!
1. It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free. Response
2. It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the just, the Lord, who protects the stranger. Response
3. The Lord upholds the widow and orphan, but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever, Zion's God from age to age. Response
Gospel Acclamation 1 Pt 1:25
Alleluia, Alleluia!
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty, says the Lord.
Alleluia ! Alleluia!
Or Jn 15: 5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The word of the Lord remains for ever: What is this word?
It is the Good News that has been brought to you.
Alleluia !Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 17:20-25 Glory to you, O Lord
The kingdom of God is among you.
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come,Jesus gave them this answer,
'The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation
and there will be no one to say, "Look here! Look there!"
For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.'
He said to the disciples,
'A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man
and will not see it. They will say to you, "Look there!" or, "Look here!"
Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes.
But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Thursday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time Luke 17:20-25
Sometimes we can miss something of great significance. It is there before us but we do not see it. In today’s gospel reading the Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God was to come. In reply Jesus says to them, ‘You must know, the kingdom of God is among you’. They failed to see that the kingdom of God was present to them in and through the person of Jesus. They were not alert to the signs of God’s kingdom in the ministry of Jesus. The kingdom of God was there but in a less dramatic form than they expected it.
The gospel reading reminds us that the Lord is present in our lives in more ways than we realize. His presence does not always admit of observation in the words of today’s gospel reading. It will often be un-dramatic, without fanfare. Yet the Lord is really present especially in the words and deeds of people that build up and heal and bring life. The Lord has assured us that we will never be without his presence. What we need are eyes to see and ears to hear, the eyes and ears of faith. Like the disciples earlier in Luke’s gospel we need to pray, ‘Increase our faith’.
In the first reading, Paul called on Philemon to create an opening for the coming of the kingdom of God by welcoming back his runaway slave no longer as a slave but as a brother in Christ. The kingdom of God is among us. Each one of us in our day-to-day lives can make visible the presence of the kingdom of God by living the Gospel message in the power of the Spirit. Then we will put new heart into one another, in the words of today’s first 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 2024: The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Thursday, 12th November, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig Filémón Vs 7-20
Ba mhór an lúcháir agus an sólás domsa an grá sin agatsa, a bhráthair, mar go bhfuil croí á thabhairt agat don phobal naofa.
Más ea, cé go bhfuil misneach mo dhóthain agam i gCríost chun ordú a thabhairt duit an rud ceart a dhéanamh, mar sin féin is fearr liom as ucht an mhuintearais é a iarraidh d’achainí ort – mise Pól, atá i mo thoscaire agus i mo ghéibheannach freisin faoi láthair thar
ceann Íosa Críost, tá achainí le hiarraidh agam ort ar son Onaesamas, ar son an mhic úd agam a ghineas i ngéibheann. Ba bheag an chabhair duitse tráth é ach is fóinteach duitse agus domsa anois é. Is é cnú mo chroí é ach táim á chur ar ais chugat, cé go mb’fhearr liom é a choimeád agam chun freastal orm thar do cheannsa, fad atáim i ngéibheann ar son an dea-scéil.Ach níor mhaith liom aon ní a dhéanamh gan do cheadsa, le heagla gur faoi éigean a dhéanfá an mhaith agus nach de do dheoin féin é. B’fhéidir gurb é fáth a raibh sé scartha leat ar feadh tamaill, i dtreo go bhfaighfeá seilbh shíoraí air, ach ní chun go mbeadh sé ina dhaor agat feasta é ach, rud is fearr ná sin, chun go mbeadh sé ina bhráthair ionúin. Mar dá ansa liomsa é nach mó is ansa leatsa é, mar dhuine agus mar Chríostaí. Dá bhrí sin, a dhuine na páirte, fáiltigh roimhe mar a d’fháilteofá romham féin. Agus cibé eágóir a rinne sé ort nó cibé fiacha atá air, cuir ar mo chuntas-sa é. Agus dearbhaímse, Pól, duit, faoi mo láimh féin, go gcúiteoidh mé leat é; agus ní áirím go bhfuil d’anam féin mar fhiacha agam ort.
Is ea, a bhráthair, táim ag iarraidh aisce ort sa Tiarna; tabhair tógáil chroí dom i gCríost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 145
Freagra Is méanar don té a bhfuil a chúnamh i nDia Iacóib.
1. An té a sheasann lena bhriathar de shíor; agus a dhéanann ceart don dream atá faoi chois.
Is é a thugann bia don ocrach. Is é an Tiarna a scaoileann na braighdeanaigh. Freagra
2. Osclaíonn sé súile na ndall. Tógann sé suas an dream atá crom.
Cumhdaíonn an Tiarna an coimhthíoch; déanann sé tacaíocht don dílleachtaí is don bhaintreach. Freagra
3. Tugann an Tiarna grá don fhíréan; ach cuireann sé slí na bpeacach trína chéile.
Beidh an Tiarna i réim go brách, ina Dhia agat, a Shíón, ó ghlúin go glúin. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Lúcás 17:20-25 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tá ríocht Dé in bhur lár.
San am sin nuair a d’fhiafraigh na Fairisínigh de cén uair a bheadh ríocht Dé ag teacht, dúirt Íosa leo á bhfreagairt:
Ríocht Dé, ní amhlaidh a bhraitear ag teacht í, ná ní amhlaidh a déarfar: Féach, tá sí anseo’; nó:
‘Tá sí ansiúd’; óir bíodh a fhios agaibh go bhfuil ríocht Dé in bhur lár.”
Dúirt sé fós leis na deisceabail:
“Tiocfaidh an t-am ar mian libh aon lá amháin a fheiceáil de laethanta Mhac an Duine, agus ní fheicfidh sibh é.
Beifear á rá libh: ‘Féach, tá sé ansiúd’; nó: ‘Féach, tá sé anseo!’
Ná téigí ann: ná bígí ar a thóir. De bhrí, ar nós mar a scinneann an splanc ó thaobh den chruinne ina lasair go dtí an taobh eile, is amhlaidh sin a bheidh Mac an Duine ina lá féin.
Ar dtús, áfach, ní foláir dó mórán a fhulaingt agus an diúltú a fháil ón nglúin seo.'
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 15th November, 2026
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
The emphasis in the readings today is on fidelity and on dedication to duty and work. Talents and gifts are given for service of the community. The Christian is meant to be fully dedicated to working in the service of others while watching and waiting for the life to come. There is always so much good to be done for others, so little time in which to do it.
World Day of the Poor
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Proverbs 31:10-13. 19-20. 30-31
A perfect wife-who can find her?
A perfect wife-who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls.
Her husband's heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit.
Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life.
She is always busy with wool and with flax, she does her work with eager hands.
She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle.
She holds out her hand to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who is wise is the one to praise.
Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 127: 1-5. Rv:1
Response O blessed are those who fear the Lord.
1. O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper. Response
2. Your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive, around your table. Response
3. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion in a happy Jerusalem
all the days of your life. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 5:1-6
The Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night.
You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about 'times and seasons', since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, 'How quiet and peaceful it is' that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it. But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Apoc 2: 10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Even if you have to die, says the Lord,
keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life
Alleluia!
Or Jn 15:4-5
Alleluia, alleluia!
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you, says the Lord
Whoever remains in me, with me bears fruit in plenty
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 25:14-30 Glory to you, O Lord
You have shown you can be faithful in small things, come and join in your master's happiness.
Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third is one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.
The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.
The man who had received two made two more in the same way.
But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.
The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more.
"Sir," he said "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made."
His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness".
Next the man with the two talents came forward. "Sir," he said "you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made."
His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness".
Last came forward the man who had the one talent. "Sir," said he "I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back."
But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Shorter form
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:14-15.19-20
You have shown you can be faithful in small things, come and join in your master's happiness.
Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples:
" The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third is one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out. The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.
The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. "Sir," he said "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness".
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, 15th November, 2026
CHÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as leabhar Seanfhocal 31:10-13. 19-20. 30-31
Cé ar féidir leis a dhíol de bhean chéile a fháil?
Cé ar féidir leis í a fháil?
Is luachmhaire í ná péarlaí. Is inti a chuireann a fear a mhuinín go léir,agus ní bheidh aon cheal brabaigh air dá barr.
Ní dochar ach sochar a dhéanfaidh sí dó ar feadh a saoil.
Lorgann sí olann agus líon, agus oibríonn sí go dícheallach lena lámha.
Coinníonn sí an coigeal ina láimh agus beireann a méireanna ar an bhfearsad.
Caitheann sí go fial leis an duine dearóil, agus tugann sí déirc don duine bocht.
Is mealltach í an scéimh, agus is neamhbhuan í an áilleacht;
is don bhean ar a bhfuil eagla an Tiarna is dual moladh.
Tugaigí di toradh a saothair, agus moladh a gníomhartha í ag geataí na cathrach.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 127: 1-5. Rv:1
Freagra Is aoibhinn do chách lerb eagal an Tiarna.
1. Is aoibhinn do chách lerb eagal an Tiarna agus a shiúlann ina shlite.
Íosfaidh tú toradh do shaothair féin. Beidh tú go sona seanmhar. Freagra
2. Beidh do bhean amhail fíniúin thorthach i gceartlár do thí;
beidh do chlann mar bhuinneáin olóige agus iad mórthimpeall do bhoird. Freagra
3. Is amhlaidh a bheannófar an fear ar a mbíonn eagla an Tiarna.
Go mbeannaí an Tiarna thú as Síón amach gach lá de do shaol! Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as an chéad litir N.Pól chuig na Teasalónaigh 5:1-6
Ná tagadh Lá úd an Tiarna gan fhios oraibh mar a bheadh bithiúnach.
A bhráithre, maidir le hamanna agus uaineacha, ní gá scríobh chugaibh ina dtaobh. Tá a fhios agaibh féin go beacht gur mar a bheadh bithiúnach san oíche a thiocfaidh an Lá úd an Tiarna. Nuair a bheidh daoine á rá: “Táthar slán sábháilte,” ansin gan choinne is ea a thiocfaidh an tubaiste, mar a thagann an tinneas ar bhean atá trom, agus ní bheidh aon éalú acu uaithi. Ní sa dorchacht atá sibhse, áfach, a bhráithre, go dtiocfadh an lá úd aniar aduaidh oraibh mar a bheadh bithiúnach. Is clann an tsolais sibhse, a bhráithre, go huile, clann an lae. Ní leis an oíche ná leis an dorchacht sinn. Ná bímis inár gcodladh, dá bhrí sin, ar nós daoine eile, ach bímis inár ndúiseacht agus ar ár gciall.Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Comhgháir/Alleluia Eo 15: 4-5
Alleluia, alleluia!
'Fanaigí ionamsa, agus mise ionaibh,' a deir an Tiarna. '
An té a fhanann ionamsa, tugann sé toradh mór uaidh.'
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha, 25:14-30 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Bhí tú iontaofa i mbun beagán nithe; gabh isteach in aoibhneas do thiarna.
San am sin d'inis Íosa an parabal seo dá dheisceabail:
“Duine a bhí ag dul ar an gcoigríoch: ghlaoigh sé ar a sheirbhísigh agus thaobhaigh leo a mhaoin; thug cúig thallann do dhuine acu, a dó do dhuine eile, aon tallann amháin do dhuine eile – do gach duine de réir an chumais a bhí ann – agus d’fhág an tír. Ní dhearna fear na gcúig thallann aon mhoill gan cur chun gnó leo agus cúig cinn eile a ghnóthú. Mar an gcéanna d’fhear an dá thallann; ghnóthaigh seisean dhá cheann eile. Ach chuaigh fear na haon tallainne amháin agus rinne poll sa talamh agus chuir sé airgead a mháistir i bhfolach.
Seal fada ina dhiaidh sin, tháinig máistir na seirbhíseach sin ag réiteach cuntas leo.
Tháinig fear na gcúig thallann ina láthair agus thairg cúig thallann eile aige chuige agus ar seisean:
‘A mháistir, d’fhág tú cúig thallann ar iontaoibh agamsa; seo duit cúig cinn eile a ghnóthaigh mé.’
Labhair a mháistir leis: ‘Go han-mhaith; dea-sheirbhíseach iontaofa thú: bhí tú iontaofa i mbun beagán nithe; ceapfaidh mé i do cheann thú ar mhórán; gabh isteach in aoibhneas do thiarna.’
Tháinig ina láthair ansin fear an dá thallann:
‘A mháistir,’ ar seisean, ‘d’fhág tú dhá thallann ar iontaoibh agamsa: seo duit dhá cheann eile a ghnóthaigh mé.’
Labhair a mháistir leis: ‘Go han-mhaith: dea-sheirbhíseach iontaofa thú; bhí tú iontaofa i mbun beagán nithe; ceapfaidh mé i do cheann thú ar mhórán: gabh isteach in aoibhneas do thiarna.’
Tháinig ina láthair ansin an fear a fuair an t-aon tallann amháin:
‘A mháistir,’ ar seisean, ‘bhí aithne agam ort gur duine crua thú, ag baint fómhair san áit nár chuir tú síol, agus ag cnuasach as an áit nach ndearna tú scaipeadh; agus le barr eagla, chuaigh mé ag cur do thallainne i bhfolach sa talamh. Seo duit í: tá do chuid féin agat.’
Dúirt a mháistir leis á fhreagairt:
‘Drochsheirbhíseach leisciúil thú! Bhí a fhios agat go mbainim fómhar san áit nár chuir mé síol agus go gcnuasaím as an áit nach ndearna mé scaipeadh: ba cheart duitse mar sin mo chuid airgid a chur chun lucht gaimbín, agus nuair a thiocfainn gheobhainn mo chuid féin ar ais le hús. Bainigí de an tallann agus tugaigí í don duine a bhfuil na deich dtallann aige, óir, gach aon duine a mbíonn ní aige, tabharfar dó agus beidh fuílleach aige, ach an té a bhíonn gan ní, fiú amháin a mbíonn aige bainfear de é.
Agus an seirbhíseach úd gan aird, caitear amach sa dorchadas é: is ann a bheidh gol agus díoscán fiacla.’
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chríost
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SOISCÉAL Gearr
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 25:14- 15, 19-20
Bhí tú iontaofa i mbun beagán nithe; gabh isteach in aoibhneas do thiarna.
San am sin d'inis Íosa an parabal seo dá dheisceabail:
“Duine a bhí ag dul ar an gcoigríoch: ghlaoigh sé ar a sheirbhísigh agus thaobhaigh leo a mhaoin; thug cúig thallann do dhuine acu, a dó do dhuine eile, aon tallann amháin do dhuine eile – do gach duine de réir an chumais a bhí ann – agus d’fhág an tír. Seal fada ina dhiaidh sin, tháinig máistir na seirbhíseach sin ag réiteach cuntas leo. Tháinig fear na gcúig thallann ina láthair agus thairg cúig thallann eile aige chuige agus ar seisean: ‘A mháistir, d’fhág tú cúig thallann ar iontaoibh agamsa; seo duit cúig cinn eile a ghnóthaigh mé.’
Labhair a mháistir leis: ‘Go han-mhaith; dea-sheirbhíseach iontaofa thú: bhí tú iontaofa i mbun beagán nithe; ceapfaidh mé i do cheann thú ar mhórán; gabh isteach in aoibhneas do thiarna.’
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chríost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
