Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Jan 17 - St Anthony of Egypt, (2) Third Century)
Summary of St Anthony of EgyptAnthony is regarded as the founder of the monastic life although he did not create a monastery himself,
Fr John Murray PP profiles him here and gives us some hints how we can follow his footsteps.
Many centuries ago, when people first began to reflect about life, one wise man told a story about a cave and those who dwelt inside it. At the cave's entrance there was a fire, and those who dwelt in the cave had the fire at their backs with the result that all they saw was their own shadows thrown up on to the wall they faced. This was reality for them: these images without substance, mere shadows.
In time, there were some who had enough courage to look round and realise that the fire caused the shadows; but a lot of darkness remained, and things were not yet clear. Eventually one man went beyond the cave into the daylight, and he saw the sun. Needless to say, he could not maintain his gaze for long, but he came to know that this was what gave light to everything around, and he rejoiced in this knowledge.
Seeing the light
The saints are those who venture out of the cave and look at the sun. They are not afraid of its light. Whereas most people cannot stand too much reality, these men and women know that they cannot stay for ever in the cave with its shadows and false images. Something inside drives them to seek the warmth and light of the sun. St. Anthony of Egypt was one man who was not afraid to venture out of the cave and face reality. There were three key moments in his life when he did this; but first a few details about his life and culture.
Anthony was born in the year 251 at a village near Memphis in upper Egypt. His parents were Christian and well-to-do. When they died - he was only twenty years of age - he found himself in possession of a large estate and with the care of a younger sister.
Treasure in heaven
Then came the first moment of reality, when he heard the words of the gospel, 'Go, sell what you have and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven'. That is exactly what he did. Having seen to the care of his sister, he himself retired into solitude to live a life of prayer and fasting. Anthony is called the 'Father of monasticism' and rightly so, for countless millions have followed his example through the centuries.Council of bishops
A second moment of reality came for Anthony when the bishops of the Church were gathered in the city of Alexandria. Despite the victory of the council of Nicea in AD 325, the Arian cause had grown in strength. This heresy claimed that Jesus was not truly God, but a mere creature.
Anthony, this unlettered man, saw differently, and claimed that the Arians 'did not differ from the heathens themselves who worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator'. Even the pagans rejoiced at his wisdom and he converted many back to the faith.
It was not uncommon for the great and the good to seek the advice and counsel of this holy man. In AD 337, Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, wrote a letter to Anthony seeking his prayers. Anthony, seeing his fellow monks' surprise, said, 'Do not wonder that the emperor writes to us, a man even as I am; rather be astounded that God should have written to us, and that he has spoken to us by his Son'.
Face to face
The third moment of reality in the life of Anthony came at his death. His life had been long - 105 years no less. He had founded monastic settlements, and led many into a committed following of the Lord and Saviour whom he loved. But when the time came for him to die, he slipped away as if he were passing into sleep. He was not afraid. He looked forward to seeing the Son face to face. With his friends gathered round him, he distributed his few possessions, just as he had done eighty years before with the parental estate. 'Farewell, my children,' he said. 'Anthony is departing and will no longer be with you.' He stretched out his feet, and calmly ceased to breathe. The year was 356, and the date was 17 January.
A space to meet God
Two things I ask you to do as you consider this less well-known Anthony.
Firstly is to think of and pray for those men and women in the convents and monasteries up and down the country. Their way is no escape from life, for these are the people who have emerged from the cave, and they see for real.
Secondly - today - find a space in your life to meet the God who is Reality itself. This may mean rising early in order to pray, or stopping the car in a lay-by for ten minutes after work before heading home. Or it may mean switching off the box and its daily dose of 'reality', in order to pray together as a family. Whatever you do, seek to see the sun, and you will be following Anthony, the man who was for real.
This article first appeared in The Messenger (January 2005), a publication of the Irish Jesuits.
Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 17th January, 2026
Saturday of the First Week of Ordinary Time, Year 2
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins today.
Saint of the Day: Jan 17th; St Anthony of Egypt: Abbot
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first book of Samuel. 9: 1-4, 17-19, 10:1a
The Lord told Samuel, ‘That is the man of whom I told you; Saul shall rule my people.'
Among the men of Benjamin there was a man named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah; a Benjaminite and a man of rank. He had a son named Saul, a handsome man in the prime of life. Of all the Israelites there was no one more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders taller than the rest of the people. Now some of the she-donkeys of Saul's father Kish had strayed, so Kish said to Saul, 'My son, take one of the servants with you and be off; go and look for the she-donkeys'. They passed through the highlands of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but did not find them; they passed through the land of Shaalim, they were not there; they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.
When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, 'That is the man of whom I told you; he shall rule my people'.
Saul accosted Samuel in the gateway and said, 'Tell me, please, where the seer's house is?'
Samuel replied to Saul, ' I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place. You are to eat with me today. In the morning I shall take leave of you and tell you all that is in your heart'.
Samuel took a phial of oil and poured it on Saul's head; then he kissed him, saying, 'Has not the Lord anointed you prince over his people Israel? You are the man who must rule the Lord's people, and who must save them from the power of the enemies surrounding them.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 20: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Response O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king; how your saving help makes him glad!
You have granted him his heart's desire; you have not refused the prayer of his lips. Response
You came to meet him with the blessings of success, you have set on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked you for life and this you have given, days that will last from age to age. Response
Your saving help has given him glory. You have laid upon him majesty and splendour,
you have granted your blessings to him for ever.
You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence. Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 118: 29
Alleluia, alleluia!
Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, and teach me your commands.
Alleluia!
or Lk 4: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord has sent me to bring the Good News to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 2: 13-17 Glory to you, O Lord.
I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.
Jesus went out again to the shore of the lake; and all the people came to him, and he taught them.
As he was walking on he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus, sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, 'Follow me'. And he got up and followed him.
When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinners were also
sitting at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers. When the scribes of the Pharisee party saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?'
When Jesus heard this he said to them,
'It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Saturday First Week in Ordinary Time Mark 2:113-17
In today’s gospel reading the religious experts, the scribes, express surprise at the company Jesus kept. They ask his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ Someone like Jesus, a religious teacher, was expected to keep better company than that; he should be in the company of religious people like himself. However, Jesus clearly did not restrict his company to those who were seen to have measured up in some way. He was happy to keep the company of those who were considered sinners, just as doctors are normally found in the company of the sick, at least during their working hours.
The gospel reading reminds us that the Lord is happy to be in our company, even when we have fallen short of what some people expect of us, even when we are far from being all that God is calling us to be. Our failings and weaknesses do not drive the Lord away or drag him down, rather his presence to us in our failings and weaknesses lifts us up. We can always come before the Lord in our brokenness and he never drives us away. His table is always set for us and there is always a place for us there, regardless of where we are on our life journey.
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The Scripture readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
Saint of the Day: Jan 17th ; St Anthony of Egypt: abbot
Born in 251 in upper Egypt; Anthony died in 356. At an early age he gave away his possessions and sought the austere life and solitude in the desert. Yet he remained involved in the theological controversies of his day, defending the divinity of Christ. He attracted disciples who formed communities of hermits. He lived a long life here with God.
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
Anthony,
(Abba Antonius, ' Father of All Monks', was written by St Athanasius shortly after his death. It influenced the conversion of St Augustine and St Martin of Tours and became a classic of monasticism in the Middle Ages. Antony lived at first in total solitude but later allowed a monastic community to be formed around him.
Early Life
Antony was born in Upper Egypt in 251 to wealthy Christian parents, who died when he was about eighteen. Hearing in church the saying of Jesus in Mt 19:21: "If you wish to be perfect, then sell what you have and give it to the poor and come follow me", he did just that. He first made provision for the care of his younger sister with a community of nuns and then himself became a disciple to a local hermit. Gardening and the weaving of palm mats became his way of life and his discipline.
The desert - his demonsFor Anthony the real desert was his own personality, where facing his interior demons and overcoming them was victory. According to Athanasius, the devil afflicted Anthony with boredom, laziness, and sexual images; these he overcame by discipline and prayer.
When the devil saw Anthony's intense ascetic life and devotion, he was envious and beat him mercilessly, leaving him unconscious. Anthony's friends from the local village came and found him in this condition, carried him to a church where he recovered.
Total Solitude
Later Anthony went further out to a deserted fort at Pispir so he could be in total solitude. Here the devil resumed his warfare against him, this time in the form of wild animals who seemed as if they would destroy him. But when he emerged after twenty years (286-306), and people expected him to have wasted away, or gone insane, to their amazement he was healthy, serene, and had a bright light in his eye.
The Nearby CommunityDespite seeking solitude, Anthony understood that discernment and relationship with others in charity were central in the spiritual life. He did not himself create a monastery, but a community grew up nearby him based on his example. Disciples sought him out for "words of wisdom" and those who wished to follow him needed the company of others to survive the harsh conditions.
Visits to Alexandria
During the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Maximin (311), Anthony went to Alexandria openly wearing his identifying white tunic to encourage other Christians, but he was not put to death. On another occasion he went to Alexandria to encourage Athanasius in his struggle against the Arians. On this occasion Athanasius gave him his own cloak as a gift.
Emperor Constantine
It is said that the Emperor Constantine wrote to him seeking his prayers. Antony, seeing the surprise of those around him, said: "Do not wonder that the emperor writes to us, a man even as I am; rather be astounded that God should have written to us, and that he spoke to us by his Son."
[caption id="attachment_74836" align="alignright" width="335"]
Entrance to St Antony's Cave where St Antony spent forty years in solitude.[/caption]Visit to Paul the Hermit
Anthony knew he was not the first nor the only hermit in the desert. Jerome tells us that shortly before the death of the first hermit Paul (345), Anthony went to visit him. A raven miraculously appeared to supply a loaf for their meal and they engaged in playful conversation. Anthony asked Paul to take him as his companion. Paul urged him rather to go and bring the cloak that Bishop Athanasius had given him. Anthony went out to fetch the cloak coming back as soon as he could, fearing Paul might die while he was out. This indeed is what happened.
To help bury Paul, two lions appeared and scooped out a grave with their paws. Antony removed the tunic of leaves Paul had sewn for himself as his garment and buried the holy man in the cloak of Athanasius he had brought.
Each Easter and Pentecost ever after he always wore Paul's tunic.
[caption id="attachment_74837" align="alignright" width="260"]
Sayings of St Anthony[/caption]Some of the Sayings and a Story of Antony
Here are some of the sayings and a story of St Anthony:
This is the great work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.
Whoever has not experienced temptation cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Without temptations no-one can be saved.
Do not trust in your own righteousness do not worry about the past, but control your tongue and your stomach.
I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, "What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Humility."
A Story of Humour
A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him,
'Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it.' So he did.
The old man then said, 'Shoot another,' and he did so.
Then
the old man said, 'Shoot yet again and the hunter replied
'If I bend my bow so much I will break it.'
Then the old man said to him,
'It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs.'
When he heard these words the hunter was pierced by compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.
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Memorable Sayings for today
What hermits realise most of all is that when we are very quiet
we begin to be deeply connected to everything else and to God..
~ c/f Alan Wattts ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Saturday, 17th January, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an Chéad leabhar Samúéil. 9: 1-4, 17-19; 10:1
Sin é an fear a dúirt mé leat! 'Sin é an té a bheidh ag rialú mo phobail.'
Bhí duine de mhuintir Bhiniáimin darbh ainm Cís, mac Aibíéil, mac Zarór, mac Bhacórat, mac Aifía; Biniáimineach ba ea é agus fear an-saibhir. Bhí mac aige darbh ainm Sól, fear óg dathúil a bhí i mbláth a mhaitheasa. Ní raibh fear níba dhathúla ná é i measc na nIosraelach go léir; bhí airde an chinn aige ar an gcuid eile den phobal. Chuaigh asail Chís, athair Shóil, ar strae, agus dúirt Cís lena mhac Sól:
“A mhic, tabhair leat duine de na seirbhísigh, agus cuir chun bóthair; imigh leat a chuardach na n-asal.” Ghabh siad trí ardáin Eafráim, agus trí chríoch Sháilíseá, ach ní bhfuair siad na hasail. Ghabh siad trí chríoch Sheáilím, ach ní raibh siad ann. Ghabh siad trí chríoch Bhiniáimin, ach ní bhfuair siad iad.
Nuair a chonaic Samúéil Sól, dúirt an Tiarna leis: “Sin é an fear a dúirt mé leat! Sin é an té a bheidh ag rialú mo phobail.”
Dhruid Sól le Samúéil sa gheata agus dúirt: “Inis dom, más é do thoil é, cá bhfuil teach fhear na bhfíseanna?”
D’fhreagair Samúéil Sól: “Mise fear na bhfíseanna. Gabh suas romham don ardionad. Íosfaidh sibh bia liomsa inniu. Scaoilfidh mé uaim thú ar maidin amárach agus inseoidh mé duit a bhfuil ar d’intinn agat.
Samúéil soitheach ola ansin agus dhoirt ar cheann Shóil é agus phóg é agus dúirt: “Nach ndearna an Tiarna thú a ungadh le go mbeifeá i do thaoiseach ar do phobal Iosrael? Rialóidh tú pobal an Tiarna agus saorfaidh tú iad ó chumhacht a naimhde atá ina dtimpeall. Beidh sé seo mar chomhartha agat gur cheap an Tiarna thú i do thaoiseach ar a oidhreacht.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 20: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Freagra Gairdíonn an rí as do chumhacht, a Thiarna
1. Gairdíonn an rí as do chumhacht, a Thiarna, cá hionadh lúcháir air de chionn do chúnaimh!
Thug tú mian a chroí go deimhin dó, is níor eitigh tú air achainíocha a bhéil. Freagra
2. Tháinig tú ina airicis le beannachtaí búidhe, agus chuir tú coróin de ghlanór ar a cheann.
D’iarr sé an bheatha ort agus bhronn tú fadsaol air a mhairfidh go brách ó aois go haois. Freagra
3. Is mór é a ghradam de bharr do chúnaimh. Bronnann tú maorgacht agus maise rómhór air.
Rinne tú ábhar beannachta go brách de; cuireann do láithreacht ríméad is lúcháir air. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Marc 2: 13-17 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Ní fíréin a tháinig mé a ghlaoch ach peacaigh.
San am sin chuaigh Íosa amach arís cois na farraige, agus bhí an slua go léir ag teacht chuige agus eisean á dteagasc. Agus ag dul thar bráid dó, chonaic sé Léiví mac Alfáias ina shuí in oifig an chustaim agus dúirt leis: “Lean mise.” D’éirigh seisean agus lean sé é.
Agus nuair a bhí sé ag bord ina theach, bhí mórán poibleacánach
peacach ina suí le hÍosa agus lena dheisceabail, mar bhí mórán díobh á leanúint. Nuair a chonaic scríobhaithe na bhFairisíneach go raibh sé ag ithe leis na peacaigh agus na poibleacánaigh, dúirt siad lena dheisceabail:“Cén fáth a mbíonn sé ag ithe agus ag ól le poibleacánaigh agus le peacaigh?”
Ar a chloisteáil sin d’Íosa dúirt sé leo: “Ní ag na daoine atá slán a bhíonn gá le lia ach ag na daoine atá tinn. .”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 18th January, 2026
-18-1-2026-
Second Sunday in Ordinary time
This week choices are the key; for Jesus; the Spirit, for Paul: apostleship,
for us: baptism. All are called to holiness and witness.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 49:3.5-6
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
The Lord said to me,
'You are my servant Israel in whom I shall be glorified';
I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord, my God was my strength.
And now the Lord has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him:
'It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel;
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.'
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 39: 2, 4, 7-10, R/v 8, 9,
Response Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
1. I waited, I waited for the Lord and he stooped down to me;
he heard my cry. He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God. Response
2. You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim Instead, here am I. Response
3. In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will.
My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart. Response
4. Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O Lord. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 1:1-3
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!
or Jn 1: 14. 12
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us;
to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to John 1:29-34 Glory to you, O Lord
Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, 'Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.' John also declared,
'I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit."
Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.'
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 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 18th January, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as Leabhar Íseáia 49:3.5-6
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha, chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.
Dúirt an Tiarna liom,
“Is tú mo ghiolla Iosrael trína saothróidh mé glóir dom féin.”
Bhí maise orm i súile an Tiarna, ba é mo Dhia mo neart.
Agus anois tá an Tiarna tar éis labhairt,
an té a dhealbhaigh mé ón mbroinn i leith i mo ghiolla dó,
le go mbailínn Iacób ar ais chuige,
le go gcruinnínn Iosrael le chéile dó:
“Is fánach an mhaise duit a bheith i do ghiolla agam
chun treibheanna Iacóib amháin a thabhairt chucu féin,
chun ar slánaíodh d’Iosrael a thabhairt ar ais.
Ceapfaidh mé thú i do sholas do na ciníocha,chun go dté mo shlánú go críocha na cruinne.”
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 39: 2, 4, 7-10, R/v 8, 9,
Freagra Féach, táim ag teacht, a Thiarna, chun do thoil a dhéanamh
1. Bhí dóchas agam, bhí dóchas agam sa Tiarna, agus chlaon sé a chluas chugam
agus d'éist le m'éamh.
Chuir sé amhrán nua i mo bhéal, amhrán molta dár nDia. Freagra
2. Íobairt ná ofráil níor thoil leat ach d'oscail tú cluasa dom.
loseadh níor theastaigh uait, ná íobairt in éiric an pheaca.
Ansin dúirt mé: 'Féach, táim ag teacht.' Freagra
3. 'I rolla an leabhair tá scríofa i mo thaobh: is ail liom do thoil a dhéanamh, a Dhia,
agus tá do dhlí go domhain i mo chroí.' Freagra
4. D'fhoilsigh mé d'fhíréantaeht sa mhórdhail. Feach, níor chuir mé cosc le mo bheola:
is eol duitse é, a Thiarna. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as céad Litir Naomh Pól chuig Coirintigh 1:1-3
An té is Tiarna orainne agus orthusan: grásta chugaibh agus síocháin ó Dhia ár nAthair agus ón Tiarna Íosa Críost.
Mise Pól, a bhfuil glaoite air de dheoin Dé chun bheith ina aspal ag Íosa Críost, agus an bráthair Sóstainéas in éineacht liom, chuig eaglais Dé i gCorant, chucu sin atá coisricthe in Íosa Críost agus a bhfuil glaoite ina naoimh orthu mar aon leis an uile dhuine a ghlaonn i ngach áit ar ainm ár dTiarna Íosa Críost, an té is Tiarna orainne agus orthusan: grásta chugaibh agus síocháin ó Dhia ár nAthair agus ón Tiarna Íosa Críost.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Alleluia Véarsa Eoin: 1:14. 12
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Rinneadh feoil den Bhriathar agus chónaigh sé inár measc,an uile dhuine a ghlac é,
thug sé de cheart dóibh go ndéanfaí clann Dé díobh.
Alleluia!
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Eoin 1:29-34 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
“Seo é Uan Dé a thógann peaca an domhain.
San am sin chonaic Eoin Íosa ag teacht chuige agus dúirt sé:
“Seo é Uan Dé a thógann peaca an domhain. Eisean an té a ndúirt mé faoi:
‘Tá duine ag teacht i mo dhiaidh a bhfuil tosach aige orm, mar bhí sé ann romham.’ Níorbh aithnid dom féin é, ach is chun, go nochtfaí d’Iosrael é a tháinig mé ag baisteadh le huisce.”
Agus thug Eoin fianaise:
“Chonaic mé,” ar sé, “an Spiorad, mar cholm, ag tuirlingt air ó na flaithis agus ag fanacht air. Níorbh aithnid dom féin é, ach an té a sheol mé ag baisteadh le huisce, dúirt seisean liom:
‘An té ar a bhfeicfidh tú an Spiorad ag tuirlingt agus ag fanacht air, eisean an té a bhaisteann leis an Spiorad Naomh.’ Chonaic mé agus is finné mé gurb é seo Mac Dé.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
