Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Aug 24 - St Bartholomew (1st century) apostle
Summary: St Bartholomew, Apostle, martyr
Named in the list of apostles and generally identified with Nathaniel of Cana, the "Israelite without guile" (John 1:47) who was led to Jesus by the apostle Philip (Feast: 3 May). Said to have preached the gospel in India and in Armenia, where tradition indicates he was martyred.
Bartholomew is identified with Nathanael, from Cana in Galilee. Bartholomew appears to be a family or surname, formulated with reference to the father's name. It means "the son of Tolmay". He is said to have preached the gospel in India or Armenia. An extraordinary tradition for the Middle Ages led to his being regarded as the patron saint of tanners.
Patrick Duffy explains what is known about him.
New Testaments Lists
In the lists of the apostles in the New Testament, Bartholomew is always placed between Philip and Matthew (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14) though in Acts Thomas comes in before him (Acts 1:13)
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee
Traditionally, Bartholomew is identified with Nathanael: a name that means "God has given". Nathanael was from Cana (Jn 21:2) and therefore may have witnessed the great "sign" made by Jesus in that place when the water was changed into wine (Jn 2:1-11).
"Can Anything good come out of Nazareth?"(Jn 1:43-51)
Nathanael is prominent in John's Gospel. In Jn 1:45 Philip meets him and tells him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the prophets, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael replied, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" "Come and see," replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, "There is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile." Jesus's interesting quotation from the penitential Ps 31(32):2. The full quotation of that verse would be: "O happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,." Jesus accepted Nathaniel as pure, no duplicity and Nathaniel accepted Jesus as 'Son of God', and 'King of Israel'.
Encounter leading to Faith
Many insights are suggested from reflection on this little scripture passage. Firstly, Nathanael's forthrightness and scepticism about a man from Nazareth!. Secondly, his being told to "Come and see", an invitation to a personal encounter leading to faith. And then "in whose spirit is no guile".
The reference seems to startle Nathanael: is there a suggestion that his meeting with Jesus is a conversion experience, that his sin is no longer held against him? Is he startled that Jesus knows so much about him, his inner thoughts: "How do you know me?" he asks. Jesus promises Nathanael that like Jacob in his dream, he will have an even greater revelation of the mystery of God: "You will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending".
The historian Eusebius in the fourth century reports that Bartholomew went to India. Another tradition locates him on apostolic activity in Armenia.
Flayed before martyrdom?
In the Middle Ages there was a tradition that Bartholomew was flayed - that is, his skin was removed from his body before he was martyred. In the bottom corner of Michelangelo's Last Judgment painting on the wall of the Sistine Chapel St Bartholomew is depicted holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin.
Also in Milan Cathedral (see image right) there is an extraordinary statue by Marco d'Agrate of St. Bartholemew draped with his own skin (1562).
He has been referred to as the patron saint of tanners!
Named in the list of apostles and generally identified with Nathaniel of Cana, the "Israelite without guile" (John 1:47) who was led to Jesus by the apostle Philip (Feast: 3 May). Said to have preached the gospel in India and in Armenia, where tradition indicates he was martyred.
Bartholomew is identified with Nathanael, from Cana in Galilee. Bartholomew appears to be a family or surname, formulated with reference to the father's name. It means "the son of Tolmay". He is said to have preached the gospel in India or Armenia. An extraordinary tradition for the Middle Ages led to his being regarded as the patron saint of tanners.
Patrick Duffy explains what is known about him.
New Testaments Lists
In the lists of the apostles in the New Testament, Bartholomew is always placed between Philip and Matthew (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14) though in Acts Thomas comes in before him (Acts 1:13)
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee
Traditionally, Bartholomew is identified with Nathanael: a name that means "God has given". Nathanael was from Cana (Jn 21:2) and therefore may have witnessed the great "sign" made by Jesus in that place when the water was changed into wine (Jn 2:1-11).
"Can Anything good come out of Nazareth?"(Jn 1:43-51)
Nathanael is prominent in John's Gospel. In Jn 1:45 Philip meets him and tells him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the prophets, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael replied, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" "Come and see," replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, "There is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile." Jesus's interesting quotation from the penitential Ps 31(32):2. The full quotation of that verse would be: "O happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,." Jesus accepted Nathaniel as pure, no duplicity and Nathaniel accepted Jesus as 'Son of God', and 'King of Israel'.
Encounter leading to Faith
Many insights are suggested from reflection on this little scripture passage. Firstly, Nathanael's forthrightness and scepticism about a man from Nazareth!. Secondly, his being told to "Come and see", an invitation to a personal encounter leading to faith. And then "in whose spirit is no guile".
The reference seems to startle Nathanael: is there a suggestion that his meeting with Jesus is a conversion experience, that his sin is no longer held against him? Is he startled that Jesus knows so much about him, his inner thoughts: "How do you know me?" he asks. Jesus promises Nathanael that like Jacob in his dream, he will have an even greater revelation of the mystery of God: "You will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending".The historian Eusebius in the fourth century reports that Bartholomew went to India. Another tradition locates him on apostolic activity in Armenia.
Flayed before martyrdom?
In the Middle Ages there was a tradition that Bartholomew was flayed - that is, his skin was removed from his body before he was martyred. In the bottom corner of Michelangelo's Last Judgment painting on the wall of the Sistine Chapel St Bartholomew is depicted holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin.
Also in Milan Cathedral (see image right) there is an extraordinary statue by Marco d'Agrate of St. Bartholemew draped with his own skin (1562).
He has been referred to as the patron saint of tanners!
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Memorable Proverb for Today
The prophet and the martyr do not see the hooting throng.
Their eyes are fixed on the eternities.
~ Benjamin N. Cardozo ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 24th August, 2026
Saint of the Day;08-24:- Feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle
C/f A short look at this saint’s life can be found below today's Readings and Reflection
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of the Apocalypse 21:9-14
Each of the twelve foundation stones bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The angel came to speak to me and said :
'Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.'
In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond.
The walls of it were of a great height, and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 144:10-13, 17-18
Response Your friends, O Lord,
make known the glorious splendour of your reign.
1. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God. Response
2. They make known to me your mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of your reign.
Yours is an everlasting kingdom; your rule lasts from age to age. Response
3. The Lord is just in all his ways and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him, who call on him from their hearts. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 1: 49
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:45-51 Glory to you, O Lord.
There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him,'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.'
'From Nazareth?' said Nathanael 'Can anything good come from that place?' 'Come and see' replied Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him,
'There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit'.
'How do you know me?' said Nathanael
'Before Philip came to call you,' said Jesus 'I saw you under the fig tree.'
Nathanael answered, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel'.
Jesus replied, 'You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree.
You will see greater things than that.'
And then he added
'I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man,
the angels of God ascending and descending.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection 24th August, Saint Bartholomew John 1:45-51
Bartholomew is listed as one of the twelve apostles. He has tended to be identified with Nathanael who features in today’s gospel reading. Nathanael starts off being very sceptical about Jesus, ‘Can anything good come from that place – Nazareth?’ However, he finishes by making a great confession of faith, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel’. Yet Jesus goes on to tell him that although he has journeyed from scepticism to faith he is still only at the beginning of his journey of faith. Jesus promises him, ‘You will see greater things... You will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending’.
Nathanael will eventually come to see Jesus as the meeting point of heaven and earth, the one in whom God has taken flesh. Nathanael had made great progress on the journey of faith but he will make even further progress. His initial movement beyond scepticism was inspired by the witness of one of the disciples of Jesus, Philip, who shared his faith with Nathanael and encouraged him to meet Jesus in spite of his scepticism. We are all on a journey of faith. On that journey there may be a moment or many moments of scepticism. Yet, the Lord keeps calling out to us, very often through others, and promises us that we will see greater things. If that is to come to pass, we need people like Philip to support us on every step of our faith journey and we in turn need to be a Philip to others on their faith journey.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day; 08-24:- Feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle
Named in the list of apostles and generally identified with Nathaniel of Cana, the "Israelite without guile" (John 1:47) who was led to Jesus by the apostle Philip (Feast: 3 May). Said to have preached the gospel in India and in Armenia, where tradition indicates he was martyred.
Bartholomew is identified with Nathanael, from Cana in Galilee. Bartholomew appears to be a family or surname, formulated with reference to the father's name. It means "the son of Tolmay". He is said to have preached the gospel in India or Armenia. An extraordinary tradition for the Middle Ages led to his being regarded as the patron saint of tanners.
Patrick Duffy explains what is known about him.
New Testament Lists
In the lists of the apostles in the New Testament, Bartholomew is always placed between Philip and Matthew (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14) though in Acts of the Apostles Thomas comes in before him (Acts 1:13)
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee
Traditionally, Bartholomew is identified with Nathanael: a name that means "God has given". Nathanael was from Cana (Jn 21:2) and therefore may have witnessed the great "sign" made by Jesus in that place when the water was changed into wine (Jn 2:1-11).
"Can Anything good come out of Nazareth?"(Jn 1:43-51)
Nathanael is prominent in John's Gospel. In Jn 1:45 Philip meets him and tells him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the prophets, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael replied, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" "Come and see," replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, he said, "There is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile." Jesus's interesting quotation from the penitential Ps 31(32):2. The full quotation of that verse would be: "O happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt." Jesus accepted Nathaniel as pure, no duplicity and Nathaniel accepted Jesus as 'Son of God', and 'King of Israel'.
Encounter leading to Faith
Many insights are suggested from reflection on this little scripture passage. Firstly, Nathanael's forthrightness and scepticism about a man from Nazareth!. Secondly, his being told to "Come and see", an invitation to a personal encounter leading to faith. And then "in whose spirit is no guile".
The reference seems to startle Nathanael: is there a suggestion that his meeting with Jesus is a conversion experience, that his sin is no longer held against him? Is he startled that Jesus knows so much about him, his inner thoughts: "How do you know me?" he asks. Jesus promises Nathanael that like Jacob in his dream, he will have an even greater revelation of the mystery of God: "You will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending".The historian Eusebius in the fourth century reports that Bartholomew went to India. Another tradition locates him on apostolic activity in Armenia.
Flayed before martyrdom?
In the Middle Ages there was a tradition that Bartholomew was flayed - that is, his skin was removed from his body before he was martyred. In the bottom corner of Michelangelo's Last Judgment painting on the wall of the Sistine Chapel St Bartholomew is depicted holding the knife of his martyrdom and his 'flayed' skin.
Also in Milan Cathedral (see image right) there is an extraordinary statue by Marco d'Agrate of St. Bartholomew draped with his own skin (1562).
He has been referred to affectionately as the patron saint of tanners!
******************************
Memorable Proverb for Today
The prophet and the martyr do not see the hooting throng. Their eyes are fixed on the eternities.
~ Benjamin N. Cardozo ~
******************************
Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 24th August, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an céad Leabhar Apacailipsis 21:9-14
Dhá chloch déag bhoinn faoi mhúr na cathrach, agus orthusan dhá ainm déag dháréag aspal an Uain.
Tháinig ceann de na haingil ag a raibh na seacht soitheach a bhí lán de na seacht bplá dheiridh
d’agaill sé mé á rá: “Tar, agus taispeánfaidh mé duit an nuathair, céile an Uain.”Agus rug sé leis mé sa spiorad faoi shliabh mór ard, agus thaispeáin sé Iarúsailéim, an chathair bheannaithe, dom agus í ag tuirlingt ó neamh ó Dhia, agus glóir Dé aici. Ba chosúil a lonradh le cloch rólómhar, mar chloch sheaspair ar ghile an chriostail.
Agus múr mór ard ina timpeall, ar a raibh dhá gheata dhéag, agus ar na geataí bhí dhá aingeal déag, agus ainmneacha arna scríobh ar na geataí, ainmneacha dhá threibh dhéag mhac Iosrael; bhí trí gheata ar an taobh thoir, trí gheata ar an taobh thuaidh, trí gheata ar an taobh theas, agus trí gheata ar an taobh thiar. Agus dhá chloch déag bhoinn faoi mhúr na cathrach, agus orthusan dhá ainm déag dháréag aspal an Uain.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 144 : 10-13, 17-18
Freagra A Thiarna, nochtfar do chumhacht do dhaoine glóir-réim do ríochta.
1. Ceiliúrfaidh d’oibreacha uile thú, a Thiarna; agus beannóidh do dhaoine dílse thú.
Canfaidh siad glóir-réim do ríochta; agus foilseoidh siad uile do chumhacht. Freagra
2. Ionas go nochtfar do chumhacht do dhaoine agus niamhracht agus glóir-réim do ríochta.
Mairfidh do ríochtsa feadh saol na saol, agus do cheannas go brách na breithe. Freagra
3. Is fíréanta é an Tiarna ina shlite uile; agus is naofa é ina oibreacha go léir.
Is gairid é an Tiarna dá ngaireann air, dá ngaireann air go fírinneach ó chroí. Freagra
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 1: 49
Alleluia, alleluia!
A raibí, is tú mac Dé, is tú rí Iosrael go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir NaomhEoin 1:45-51
Sin Iosraelach dáiríre nach bhfuil aon fheall ann.
Fuair Pilib Natanael agus dúirt sé leis: “ An té úd ar ar scríobh Maois sa dlí agus ar ar scríobh na fáithe, fuaireamar é, Íosa mac Iósaef ó Nazarat.”Dúirt Natanael: “As Nazarat? An féidir aon ní fónta a theacht as sin?”
“Tar agus feic,” a dúirt Pilib leis.
Chonaic Íosa Natanael ag teacht chuige agus dúirt ina thaobh:
“Sin Iosraelach dáiríre nach bhfuil aon fheall ann.”
“Cén chaoi a n-aithníonn tú mé?” arsa Natanael leis.
D’fhreagair Íosa: “Sular ghlaoigh Pilib ort,” ar sé leis, “agus tú faoin gcrann fígí, chonaic mé thú.”
D’fhreagair Natanael é: “A raibí, is tú mac Dé, is tú rí Iosrael.”
D’fhreagair Íosa:
“De bhrí go ndúirt mé leat,” ar sé leis, “go bhfaca mé thú faoin gcrann fígí creideann tú. Feicfidh tú nithe is mó ná iad seo. Go deimhin féin, a deirim libh,” ar sé leis, “go bhfeicfidh sibh na flaithis ar oscailt agus aingil Dé ag dul suas agus ag teacht anuas ar Mhac an Duine.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
N BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 30th August, 2026
Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year A
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah 20:7-9
The word of the Lord has meant insult for me.
You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced;you have overpowered me: you were the stronger.
I am a daily laughing-stock, everybody's butt.
Each time I speak the word, I have to howl and proclaim:
'Violence and ruin!'
The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long. I used to say, 'I will not think about him, I will not speak in his name any more.
Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones. The effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 62: 2-6. 8-9. R/v 2
Response For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God.
1. O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. Response
2. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory. For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise. Response
3. So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy. Response
4. For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 12:1-2
Offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice.
Think of God's mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God.
Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Eph 1: 17.18
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 16:21-27 Glory to you, O Lord
'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself
Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him.'Heaven preserve you, Lord;' he said 'this must not happen to you'.
But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God's way but man's.'
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
'For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
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, 30th August, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an dara Leabhar Ezícéal, Fáidh 20:7-9
Tá briathar an Tiarna tar éis éirí ina mhasla domsa.
Mheall tú mé, a Thiarna, agus cheadaigh mé mo mhealladh;
rug tú bua orm; ba thú ba threise.
Níl lá nach mbíonn siad ag gáire fúm, is ceap magaidh mé ag gach aon duine.
Níl uair dá labhraim an briathar nach mbíonn orm
a fhógairt in ard mo chinn: “Éigean agus díobháil!”
Tá briathar an Tiarna tar éis éirí ina mhasla domsa
agus ina ábhar magaidh ar feadh an lae.
Deirinn: “Ní smaoineoidh mé air, ní labhróidh mise níos mó ina ainm.” Ansin chonacthas dom go raibh tine loiscneach i mo chroí, í dúnta istigh i mo chnámha.
Tá mé tuirseach ó bheith ag iarraidh í a chosc. Ní fhéadaim é a fhulaingt.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 62: 2-6. 8-9. R/v 2
Freagra Tá iotá tarta ar m'anam chugat, a Thiarna, a Dhia liom.
1. A Dhia, mo Dhia thú; iarraim thú go dícheallach.
Tá íota tarta ar m'anam chugat, santaíonn mo cholainn
amhail tálamh atá tirim is spalptha cheal uisce. Freagra
2. Is mar sin a bhím ag breathnú ort sa sanctóir
chun go bhfeicfinn do chumhacht is do ghlóir.
Óir is fearr do bhuanghái ná an bheatha.
Fógróidh mo bheola do mholadh. Freagra
3. Mar sin a bheannóidh mé thú le mo bheo;
i d'ainmsé a thógfaidh mé mo lámha.
Líonfar m'anam mar le fleá,
is molfaidh mo bhéal thú le beola lúcháireacha. Freagra
4. Óir tháinig tú i gcabhair orm, agus gairdím faoi scáth do sciathán.
Tá m'anam ag cloí leat go dlúth, coinníonn do dheaslámh suas mé. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 12:1-2
Déinaigí, bhur gcoirp a thoirbhirt ina n-íobairt bheo .
A bhráithre, táim á iarraidh oraibh as ucht trócaire Dé, bhur gcoirp a thoirbhirt ina n-íobairt bheo naofa thaitneamhach do Dhia; sin é bhur n-adhradh spioradálta. Ná leanaigí patrún an tsaoil seo ach cuirigí malairt meoin oraibh féin trí athnuachan aigne ar shlí go n-aithneodh sibh cad é is toil le Dia, cad é atá maith agus taitneamhach agus foirfe.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eo 10: 27
Alleluia, alleluia!
Éisteann mo chaoirigh le mo ghlór, a deir the Tiarna
agus aithním iad, agus leanann siad mé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 16:21-27
Más áil le haon duine bheith ar mo bhuíon, séanadh sé é féin
San am sin amach, thosaigh Íosa á thaispeáint dá dheisceabail nárbh fholáir dó dul go Iarúsailéim agus mórán a fhulaingt ó na seanóirí agus ó uachtaráin na sagart agus ó na scríobhaithe, agus a chur chun báis, agus éirí an treas lá. Ach thug Peadar ar fhód ar leith é agus thosaigh ag tabhairt casaoide dó: “Go bhfóire Dia ort, a Thiarna,” ar seisean, “agus i bhfad uait sin!” Ach d’iompaigh Íosa thairis agus dúirt le Peadar:
“Siar i mo dhiaidh leat, a Shátain! is ceap tuisle dom thú, mar ní hiad smaointe Dé atá i d’aigne ach smaointe daoine.”
Ansin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
“Más áil le haon duine bheith ar mo bhuíon, séanadh sé é féin, tógadh suas a chros agus leanadh mé. Óir cibé arb áil leis a anam a shaoradh, caillfidh sé é; ach cibé a chaillfidh a anam mar gheall ormsa, gheobhaidh sé é. Óir cá fearrde duine go ngnóthódh sé an domhan go léir dá ligfeadh sé a anam féin ar ceal? Nó cad a d’fhéadfadh duine a thabhairt mar mhalairt ar a anam?
Óir tá Mac an Duine le teacht faoi ghlóir a Athar lena chuid aingeal, agus ansin cúiteoidh sé le gach duine de réir mar a rinne. Deirim libh go fírinneach, tá daoine anseo i láthair nach mblaisfidh an bás nó go mbeidh Mac an Duine feicthe acu ag teacht ina ríocht.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
