Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Dec 1 - St Edmund Campion (1540-81) Jesuit priest, Martyr and martyr
Summary: Edmund Campion was the first Jesuit priest to be executed in England under the Statutes of the Elizabethan Act of Supremacy in 1581. He had spent two years in Ireland as a civil servant before going to the continent to become a Jesuit priest. After service in Prague and Vienna, he returned to a mission in England for two years before he was discovered, tried and executed.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Becoming an Anglican Clergyman?
Edmund was the son of a Catholic bookseller, whose family converted to Anglicanism. Edmund was awarded a scholarship to Saint John’s College, Oxford, under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth I's court favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. He grew up in Queen Mary's reign when Catholicism was in the ascendancy, but after Elizabeth became queen (1558), he took the Oath of Supremacy recognising her as head of the Church of England on the occasion of his degree in 1564. At Oxford he was much sought-after as a speaker, and was talked of as a possible Archbishop of Canterbury. Queen Elizabeth offered him a deaconate in the Church of England, but, increasingly troubled by the Supremacy issue, he felt unable to go forward to ordination.
In Ireland 1569-71
While he was struggling with his conscience, he went to Ireland to take part in the proposed establishment of the University of Dublin. Here he enjoyed the protection of Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney and the friendship of Sir Patrick Barnewell at Turvey. While in Ireland he occupied himself with writing a history of Ireland (first published in Holinshead's Chronicles).
Douai, Rome, Prague and Vienna 1571-80
In 1571 he left Ireland secretly and went to Douai where he was reconciled to the Catholic Church and received the Eucharist that he had denied himself for the previous 12 years. He entered the English College founded by William Allen, another Oxford religious refugee. After obtaining his degree in divinity, he walked as a pilgrim to Rome and joined the Jesuits. Ordained in 1578, he spent some time working in Prague and Vienna.
England 1580-81
He returned to London as part of a Jesuit mission, crossing the Channel disguised as a jewel merchant, and worked with Jesuit brother, Nicholas Owen. He led a hunted life, preaching and ministering to Catholics in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Lancashire. At this time also he wrote his Decem Rationes ("Ten Reasons") against the Anglican Church, 400 copies of which found their way to the benches of St Mary's, Oxford, at the Commencement, on June 27, 1581.
Martyrdom
Captured by a spy, Campion was taken to London and committed to the Tower. Charged with conspiring to raise a sedition in the realm and dethrone the Queen he was found guilty. Campion replied: "If our religion do make traitors we are worthy to be condemned; but otherwise we are and have been true subjects as ever the queen had. In condemning us, you condemn your own ancestors, you condemn all the ancient Bishops and Kings, you condemn all that was once the glory of England...." After spending his last days in prayer, Edmund was led with two companions to Tyburn and hanged, drawn and quartered on December 1, 1581.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Becoming an Anglican Clergyman?
Edmund was the son of a Catholic bookseller, whose family converted to Anglicanism. Edmund was awarded a scholarship to Saint John’s College, Oxford, under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth I's court favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. He grew up in Queen Mary's reign when Catholicism was in the ascendancy, but after Elizabeth became queen (1558), he took the Oath of Supremacy recognising her as head of the Church of England on the occasion of his degree in 1564. At Oxford he was much sought-after as a speaker, and was talked of as a possible Archbishop of Canterbury. Queen Elizabeth offered him a deaconate in the Church of England, but, increasingly troubled by the Supremacy issue, he felt unable to go forward to ordination.In Ireland 1569-71
While he was struggling with his conscience, he went to Ireland to take part in the proposed establishment of the University of Dublin. Here he enjoyed the protection of Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney and the friendship of Sir Patrick Barnewell at Turvey. While in Ireland he occupied himself with writing a history of Ireland (first published in Holinshead's Chronicles).
Douai, Rome, Prague and Vienna 1571-80
In 1571 he left Ireland secretly and went to Douai where he was reconciled to the Catholic Church and received the Eucharist that he had denied himself for the previous 12 years. He entered the English College founded by William Allen, another Oxford religious refugee. After obtaining his degree in divinity, he walked as a pilgrim to Rome and joined the Jesuits. Ordained in 1578, he spent some time working in Prague and Vienna.
England 1580-81
He returned to London as part of a Jesuit mission, crossing the Channel disguised as a jewel merchant, and worked with Jesuit brother, Nicholas Owen. He led a hunted life, preaching and ministering to Catholics in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Lancashire. At this time also he wrote his Decem Rationes ("Ten Reasons") against the Anglican Church, 400 copies of which found their way to the benches of St Mary's, Oxford, at the Commencement, on June 27, 1581.
Martyrdom
Captured by a spy, Campion was taken to London and committed to the Tower. Charged with conspiring to raise a sedition in the realm and dethrone the Queen he was found guilty. Campion replied: "If our religion do make traitors we are worthy to be condemned; but otherwise we are and have been true subjects as ever the queen had. In condemning us, you condemn your own ancestors, you condemn all the ancient Bishops and Kings, you condemn all that was once the glory of England...." After spending his last days in prayer, Edmund was led with two companions to Tyburn and hanged, drawn and quartered on December 1, 1581.__________________________
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Memorable Sayings for Today
“True conversion is a process that takes place over a period of time
and involves a willingness to exercise faith.”
~ Sister Bonnie L. ~
The true convert does not receive the gospel
as an addition to his previous life,
but in exchange for it.”
~Paul Washer ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 1st December, 2025
Monday of the First Week of Advent
Isaiah is the great 8th Century, Old Testament prophet of the Coming Messiah.
READING
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah 4:2-6
The fruit of the earth will be the pride and of Israel's survivors of the remnant of Israel.
That day, the branch of Lord shall be beauty and glory,
and the fruit of the earth shall be the pride and adornment of Israel's survivors.
Then those who are left of Zion and remain of Jerusalem, shall be called holy
and those left in Jerusalem, noted down for survival.
When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughter of Sion
and cleansed Jerusalem of the blood shed in her
with the blast of judgement and the blast of destruction
the Lord will come and rest on the whole stretch of Mount Sion
and those who are gathered there a cloud by day, and smoke and by night the brightness of a flaming fire.
For, over all the glory of the Lord will be a canopy and a tent
to give shade by day from the heat and a refuge and shelter from the storm and the rain.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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(Alternate First Reading )
A reading from the prophet Isaiah 2: 1-5
The Lord draws all nations together into the eternal peace of His kingdom.
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come the mountain of the Temple of the Lord shall tower above the mountains and be lifted higher than the hills. All the nations will stream to it, peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:
'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the Temple of the God of Jacobthat he may teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion, and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem'.
He will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war.
O House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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Responsorial Psalm Ps 121:1-2,4-5. 69. R/v c/f v1
Response I rejoiced when I heard them say: 'Let us go to God's house!
1. I rejoiced when I heard them say: 'Let us go to God's house'.
And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Response
2. It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord.
For Israel's law it is, there to praise the Lord's name.
There were set the thrones of judgement of the house of David. Response
3. For the peace of Jerusalem pray: 'Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls, in your palaces, peace!' Response
4. For love of my brethren and friends I say: 'Peace upon you!'
For love of the house of the Lord I will ask for your good. Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 79:4
Alleluia, alleluia!
God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And also with you
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 8:5-11 Glory to you, O Lord.
Many will come from east and west to take their places in the kingdom of heaven.
When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. '
Sir,' he said 'my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.'
'I will come myself and cure him' said Jesus.
The centurion replied, 'Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man:
Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.'
When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him,
'I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.
And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob
at the feast in the kingdom of heaven'.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Scripture Reflection Monday, First Week of Advent Matthew 8:5-11
Today’s responsorial psalm is from a small collection of pilgrim psalms in the Book of Psalms, psalms prayed by pilgrims on their journey to Jerusalem and its Temple, the House of God. ‘I rejoiced when I heard them say, “Let us go to God’s house”’. There is a great sense of expectant longing in these pilgrim psalms for the meeting with the Lord that awaits the pilgrim in the Temple, where it was believed that God had chosen to dwell. That sense of expectant longing is very much the mood of Advent. Advent is the season that calls out to us to be pilgrims once more. For us Christians, it is Jesus who is now the House of God, the one in and through whom God has chosen to dwell. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.
In Advent we are journeying with expectant longing towards the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel. At a deeper level, we are journeying towards what Jesus in the gospel reading calls the feast in the kingdom of God, that banquet of eternal life at which many will be present from north, south, east and west, alongside the great patriarchs of Israel. We are called to make this journey with the same attitude of expectant longing shown by the Roman centurion in today’s gospel reading, when he said to Jesus, ‘Just give the word and my servant will be healed’. As we continue on our pilgrim way, we are invited to keep on entrusting ourselves to the Lord’s word, in that same spirit of hopeful faith shown by the centurion.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from Fr Martin Hogan's book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is Near to You, on your lips and in your heart published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Liturgical Readings for: Monday, 1st December, 2025
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, fáidh 4:2-6
Sa lá sin, beidh geamhar an Tiarna faoi loinnir agus faoi mhaise,
agus toradh na talún mar ghlóir agus mar scéimh
ag iarmhar Iosrael.
An dream a mhairfidh de Shíón, fuíoll áir Iarúsailéim
tabharfar naoimh orthu uile
agus clárófar ar rolla na beatha iad in Iarúsailéim.
Truailliú iníon Shíón, nuair a bheidh sí nite ag an Tiarna,
agus Iarúsailéim glanta aige den fhuil a doirteadh
le siorradh an bhreithiúnais agus siorradh an loiscthe,
tiocfaidh an Tiarna a chónaí i ngach uile chuid de Shliabh Shíón
agus orthu siúd a thagann le chéile ann,
ina néal agus ina dheatach de lá, agus d’oíche, ina chaor thine luisneach.
Óir os a chionn ar fad, beidh glóir an Tiarna
ina léibheann agus ina both chun scáth a thabhairt sa lá in aghaidh an teasa,
agus chun bheith ina tearmann agus ina dídean in éadan báistí agus stoirme
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
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(Malairt Sliocht as Leabhar fáidh Íseáia 2:1-5)
Seo linn, téimis suas go sliabh an Tiarna go teach Dhia Iacóib.
Fís Íseáia mhic Ámóz i dtaobh Iúdá agus Iarúsailéim.
Titfidh sé amach san am atá le teacht go mbeidh an sliabh a bhfuil teach an Tiarna air os cionn na sléibhte, agus go dtógfar níos airde ná na cnoic é. Tiocfaidh na ciníocha go léir ina sruth go dtí é; is iomaí pobal a rachaidh ann agus a déarfaidh:
'Teact' linn, téimis suas go sliabh an Tiarna go Teach Dhia Iacóib,
chun go múine sé dúinn a shlite agus go siúlaimis a bhealaí.”
Óir ó Shíón rachaidh an dlí amach, agus ó Iarúsailéim briathar an Tiarna.'
Beidh smacht aige ar na ciníocha agus déanfaidh sé réiteach idir an iomad pobal, agus buailfidh siad a gclaímhte amach ina soic chéachtaagus a sleánna ina gcorráin.
Ní thógfaidh na ciníocha an claíomh in aghaidh a chéile a thuilleadh ná ní chleachtfaidh siad cogadh níos mó.
A theaghlach Iacóib, tagaigí,agus siúlaimis i solas an Tiarna!
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
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Salm le Freagra Sm 121 :1-2,4-5. 69. R/v c/f v1
Freagra Rinne mé gairdeas nuair a dúradh liom: 'Téimis i dteach an Tiarna.'
1. Rinne mé gairdeas nuair a dúradh liom: 'Teimis i dteach an Tiarna.'Tá ár gcosa ina seasamh cheana féin i do dhoirse, a Iarúsailéim. Freagra
2. Rinneadh cathair Iarúailéim a thógail go dluth is go daingean.
Is chuici a ghabhann na treibheanna suas, treibheanna an Tiarna. Freagra
3. Ar son mo bhráithre agus lucht mo pháirte: 'Go raibh síocháin ionat!'
Ar son theach an Tiarna, ár nDia, iarraim do leas. Freagra
Comhgháir/Alleluia Sm 79: 4
Alleluia, alleluia!
Cuir ar ais sinn, a Thiarna na slua;
taispeáin dúinn do ghnúis ghrianmhar, dár saoradh.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 8:5-11 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Tiocfaidh mórán anoir agus aniar agus beidh siad ina súí chun boird i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
San am sin tar éis dul isteach i gCafarnáum d’ Íosa, tháinig taoiseach céad chuige ag achainí air: “A Thiarna,” ar seisean, “Tá mo ghiolla ina luí sa bhaile ina phairiliseach agus é á chrá go léanmhar.”Dúirt Íosa leis: "Rachaidh mé ann á leigheas.”
Ach dúirt an taoiseach céad á fhreagairt: “A Thiarna, ní fiú mé go dtiocfá isteach faoi dhíon mo thí. Ná déan ach an focal a rá agus beidh mo ghiolla leigheasta. Óir is duine mé féin atá i mo ghearroifigeach agus tá saighdiúirí agam fúm, agus deirim leis seo:
‘Imigh!’ agus imíonn, agus leis seo eile: ‘Tar!’ agus tagann, agus le mo sheirbhíseach: Déan seo!’ agus déanann.”
Nuair a chuala Íosa é, bhí ionadh air, agus dúirt leo seo a bhí á leanúint:
'Deirim libh go fírinneach, ní bhfuair mé a leithéid seo de chreideamh ag duine ar bith in Iosrael.
Deirim libh, tiocfaidh mórán anoir agus aniar agus beidh siad ina súí chun boird le hAbrahám
agus le hÍosác agus le Iacób i ríocht na bhflaitheas'.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 7th December, 2025
- 07-12-2025-
Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle A
John the Baptist is a prophetic voice for all ages: his message speaks to us today of conversion as part of the Christian way of living. Conversion calls for us be tolerant of each other and be united in mind and heart.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 11:1-10
He judges the wretched with integrity.
A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests,
a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
(The fear of the Lord is his breath.)
He does not judge by appearances,
he gives no verdict on hearsay, but judges the wretched with integrity,
and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land.
His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked.
Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips.
The wolf lives with the lamb, the panther lies down with the kid,
calf and lion cub feed together with a little boy to lead them.
The cow and the bear make friends, their young lie down together.
The lion eats straw like the ox.
The infant plays over the cobra's hole; into the viper's lair the young child puts his hand. They do no hurt, no harm, on all my holy mountain, for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters swell the sea.
That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 71:1-2, 7-8, 12-123, R/v7
Response In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.
1. O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king's son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgement. Response
2. In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.
He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great River to earth's bounds. Response
3. For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless.
He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor. Response
4. May his name be blessed for ever and endure like the sun.
Every tribe shall be blessed in him, all nations bless his name. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans 15:4-9
Christ is the Saviour of all people.
Everything that was written long ago in the scriptures was meant to teach us something about hope from the examples scripture gives of how people who did not give up were helped by God. And may he who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant with each other, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It can only be to God's glory, then, for you to treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you.
The reason Christ became the servant of circumcised Jews was not only so that God could faithfully carry out the promises made to the patriarchs, it was also to get the pagans to give glory to God for his mercy, as scripture says in one place:
'For this I shall praise you among the pagans and sing to your name.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Lk 3:4, 6
Alleluia, alleluia!
Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew3:1-12 Glory to you, O Lord
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.
In due course John the Baptist appeared;
he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message:
'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand'.
This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said:
'A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'
This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.
But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them,
'Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming?
But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father", because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones.
Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire.
I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am,
and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn;
but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.'
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 7th December, 2025
- 07-12-2025-
AN DARA DOMHNACH DEN AIDBHINT Bliain A
CÉAD LÉACHT
Sliocht as Leabhar Íseáia, Faidh Is 11:1-10
Tugann sé breithiúnas cothrom i leith na ndearóile.
Tá bachlóg ag eascar as bun chrann Ieise, agus gas ag teacht óna fhréamh;
tá spiorad an Tiarna ag lonnú air, spiorad na heagna agus na tuisceana, spiorad na comhairle agus na cumhachta, spiorad an eolais agus eagla an Tiarna. (In eagla an Tiarna is ea tá a dhúil.)
Ní thugann sé breith de réir na cosúlachta, ná ní chuireann tuairim de ar scéal scéil.
Ach déanann sé cóir agus ceart do na dealbha
agus tugann breithiúnas cothrom i leith dearóile na tíre.
Bata is ea a bhriathar a bhuaileann an t-anduine,
agus gaoth an fhocail uaidh, maraíonn sé an t-urchóideach.
Is í an chóir bréid cheangail a choime,
agus tá an dea-rún ina chrios ar a chorróga.
Tá an mac tíre ina chónaí leis an uan,
an pantar sínte le taobh an mheannáin ghabhair;
tá an gamhain agus an coileán leoin ar marthain in éineacht
agus gasúr óg á mbuachailleacht.
Tá an bhó agus an béar ag snaidhmeadh caradais, agus a gceanna beaga in aon ál le chéile; tá an leon ag ithe cocháin ar nós na mart.
Tá an leanbh cíche ag súgradh faoi phrochóg an chobra, ar phluais na nathrach leagann an naíonán a lámh.
Díth ná dochar ní dhéantar níos mó ar fud mo shléibhe bheannaithe go léir,
óir tá an talamh lán le heolas ar an Tiarna mar a líonann an fharraige leis an lán mara.
Sa lá sin, beidh beangán ó fhréamh Ieise ina sheasamh mar chomhartha do na ciníocha.
Beidh na náisiúin ag dul ina mhuinín agus beidh a áit chónaithe faoi mhaise agus faoi ghlóir.
Briathar Dé. Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 71:1-2, 7-8, 12-123, R/v7
Freagra Bláthóidh síocháin agus fhíréantacht lena linn nó go meathfaidh an ghealach.
1. Tabhair do bhreithiúnas, a Dhia, don rí agus d'fhíréantacht do mhac an rí.
Go dtuga sé ceartbhreithiúnas ar a 
agus cothrom do na bochta. Freagra
2. Bláthóidh síocháin agus fhíréantacht lena nó go meathfaidh an ghealach.
Beidh a réimeas ó mhuir go muir, ón Abhainn Mór go críoch na cruinne. Freagra
3. Óir saorfaidh sé na bochta nuair a ghlaofaidh siad air agus na hainniseoirí gan chúnamh.
Glacfaidh sé trua don duine lag agus sábhálfaidh sé an duine dealbh. Freagra
4. Go moltar a ainm go brách an fad a bheidh an ghrian ann.
Is tríd a bheannófar gach treibh; beidh gach cine á mholadh. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as Litir Naomh Pól chuig na Rómhánaigh 15:4-9
SlánaIonn Críost gach aon duine.
Abhráithre, gach ar scríobhadh fadó is dár dteagascna a scríobhadh é chun go mbeadh an fhoighne agus an sólás atá le fáil sa scrioptúr ina n-ábhar dóchais againn. Go dtuga Dia na foighne agus an tsóláis daoibhse a bheith báúil le chéile de réir mheon Chríost Íosa ar shlí go mbeidh sibh d’aontoil agus d’aonghuth ag moladh Dé agus Athair ár dTiarna Íosa Críost.Bíodh glacadh agaibh le chéile, mar sin, mar a ghlac Críost libh féin chun glóire Dé. Is é atáim a rá gur ar son fírinne Dé a tháinig Críost ag freastal ar lucht an timpeallghearrtha chun na gealltanais a tugadh do na patrarcaí a dhaingniú agus san am céanna chun go dtabharfadh na gintlithe glóir do Dhia ar son a thrócaire, mar atá scríofa:
“Molfaidh mé thú dá bhrí sin i measc na náisiún, agus canfaidh mé do d’ainm le duan.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Vearsa Lc 3:4, 6
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Ullmhaigí bóthar an Tiarna, déanaigi díreach a chosáin.
Agus feicfidh an uile cholainn shánú Dé.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha3:1-12 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Déanaigí aithrí mar tá ríocht na bhflaitheas in achmaireacht.
Sna laethanta sin, tháinig Eoin Baiste i láthair agus é ag seanmóir i bhfásach Iúdáia:“Déanaigí aithrí,” deireadh sé, “mar tá ríocht na bhflaitheas in achmaireacht.”
Ag tagairt dó seo a bhí an chaint a dúirt Íseáia fáidh:
“Glór duine ag éamh san fhásach:
‘Réitígí bóthar an Tiarna, déanaigí díreach a chasáin.’”
Agus Eoin féin, bhí éadach de rón camaill air, agus crios leathair faoina choim, agus is é bia a bhíodh aige, lócaistí agus mil fhiáin. Ansin, bhí na daoine ag teacht amach chuige ó Iarúsailéim agus ó Iúdáia go léir agus ó cheantar uile na hIordáine, agus iad ag fáil bhaiste uaidh in abhainn na hIordáine ag admháil a bpeacaí.
Nuair a chonaic sé mórán de na Fairisínigh agus de na Sadúcaigh ag teacht chun baisteadh chuige, dúirt sé leo:
“A sceith na bpéisteanna, cé thug leid daoibhse teitheadh ón díbheirg atá le teacht? Tugaigí, más ea, toradh uaibh is dual don aithrí, agus nárab áil libh a rá libh féin: ‘Tá Abrahám mar athair againn,’ óir deirim libh gur féidir le Dia clann a thógáil d’Abrahám as na clocha seo. Anois féin, tá an tua le fréamh na gcrann, agus gach crann nach dtugann toradh fónta uaidh, gearrfar anuas agus caithfear sa tine é.
Táimse do bhur mbaisteadh le huisce, i gcomhair na haithrí;
ach an té atá ag teacht i mo dhiaidh is treise é ná mise,
agus ní fiú mé a bhróga a bhaint de: baistfidh seisean sibh leis an Spiorad Naomh agus le tine.
Tá a cháiteog ina láimh aige agus déanfaidh sé a láithreán buailte a léirghlanadh;
cruinneoidh sé a chuid arbhair isteach sa scioból, ach dófaidh sé an lóchán le tine dhomhúchta.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
