Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MARK 6:17-29

Herodias was holding a grudge against John. It is an un-forgiving attitude leading to bitterness. This is an internal attitude and it can cause great harm physically and mentally. Being patient with one another and forgiving one another are the remedies to overcome bitterness. Forgiveness makes free the one who is holding a grudge. Herodias was overburdened with grudge that it blinded her completely and she could not see anything good but evil.

Herod feared John. Fear is a vital response physical or emotional danger. Fear is a sense of worry or tension but its sources may not be clear. Here Herod is not sure of whom Jesus was; but because Jesus was speaking doing similar things like John, Herod feared him to be John. Fear is subservient to grudge and that was what happened in this case as well.

John was open minded person and he spoke openly of the truth. Openness does not lead one to fear death. John was preaching of forgiveness and reconciliation. He was just the opposite of Herodias and Herod put together in this story. When power is added to grudge and fear then evil and destruction are the consequences. But forgiveness and truth are the basic Christian virtues.

காழ்ப்புணர்வு என்பது மன்னிக்க மனமில்லாத நிலை. காழ்ப்புணர்வு காலக்போக்கில் அழிவுக்கு வழிவகுக்கும். ஏரோது பயந்து அஞ்சி வாழ்ந்து வந்தான். பயம் என்பது ஒரு இனம் புரியாத கவலை. யோவான் உண்மையே பேசி திறந்த மனதினனாய் வாழ்ந்து வந்தார். மன்னிப்பை போதித்து வாழ்ந்து வந்தார்.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 25:1-13

Kingdom of heaven is like a wedding feast (celebration) and the main feature in this celebration is meeting the bridegroom. All the other aspects of the celebration are not mentioned in this story (aspects like wedding meal etc). Here the main event is meeting the bridegroom. The bridegroom is delaying in coming. His delay is long. His arrival is at midnight (no wedding celebration will begin at midnight).

Those who came to receive the bridegroom were all tired and fell asleep. They were all the same in this (falling asleep). The wise ones were prepared for the delay. Their lamps were burning as the others’. The foolish ones were ready for a long delay. They had brought a little oil that could go for a short time only. The wise ones were prepared for any length of delay.

விண்ணரசு ஒரு திருமணத்திற்கு ஒப்பாகும். மணமகனை எதிர்கொள்ளுதல்தான் முக்கியமான நிகழ்வு. மணமகனின் வருகைதான் காலம் தாழ்த்தி நடக்கிறது. எவ்வளவு காலம் காத்திருக்க வேண்டும் என்பதுதான் கேள்வி. முன்மதி உடையவர்கள் எவ்வளவு காலமும் காத்திருக்கவும் தயார்நிலையில் இருக்கிறார்கள். அறிவிலிகள் குறைந்த காலமே காத்திருக்க தயாராய் இருக்கிறார்கள். மணமகனை எதிர்கொள்ள எவ்வளவு காலமும் காத்திருக்க தாயார்நிலையில் இருப்பவர்கள்தான் உண்மை நண்பர்கள்.