Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MARK 8:34-9:1

We have a challenging invitation from Jesus to be his disciples. He does not mince words about following him. He does not soft pedal. His demands are very clear. All what he says are based on his own life style. The things that he is doing are what he demands of his disciples. These demands are made both from his disciples and the crowd.

To be a disciple of Jesus one has to renounce his life (life is not ones own it is a free gift of God). Everyone has a cross to carry (like Jesus everyone should live his life saying ‘your –God- will be done and not mine’). Following Jesus is a journey to Calvary (everyone has his Calvary to reach up to). All these are to be done for the sake of Jesus and his gospel. All the rest are only a waste.

இயேசுவின் சீடராதலுக்கு ஒரே வழிதான். தன் வாழ்வை இழந்து (வாழ்வு கடவுளின் கொடை யாருக்கும் சொந்தமானதல்ல)@ சிலுவையை சுமந்துகொண்டு (இறைசித்தத்தை இயேசுவைப்போல் – உமது சித்தப்படியே ஆகட்டும் என்று வாழ்ந்து) இயேசுவை பின்பற்றி (இயேசுவைபோல் கல்வாரிக்கு சென்று –ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் ஒரு கல்வாரி உண்டு) வாழ்வதே சீடத்துவ வாழ்வு.

GOSPEL READING: MARK 8:27-33

Jesus had preached to the people. He had done many miracles among them. And in great number the people followed him. Surely people had their own expectations and they were also wondering at the happenings. Jesus wanted to know about their expectations and their understanding of him and his doings. They were very close to the reality but they were not exact. Peter was right in saying that he was the Messiah.

Jesus immediately gave the description of the Messiah that he was going to be. Even though the disciples might have understood rightly that Jesus was the Messiah yet they would be wrong in knowing what type of Messiah or role of the Messiah or the way Jesus was going to work out his Messiahship. This description was needed because Peter wanted a different Messiah.

இயேசுவின் போதனைகளும் புதுமைகளும் அவர் யாரென்று மக்களுக்கு புரியவைத்திருக்க வேண்டும். மக்கள் முழுமையாக புரிந்துகொள்ளவில்லை. பேதுரு இயேசுவை மெசியா என்று புரிந்துகொண்டார். ஆனால் புதுமைகள் போதனைகள் செய்கின்ற மெசியாவாக மட்டும் ஏற்றுக்கொள்கிறார். துன்பப்படுகின்ற பாடுகள்படுகின்ற மெசியாவாக இயேசுவை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியவில்லை. இதுதான் கடவுள் சிந்தனையும் கூட. இதற்கு எதிரான சிந்தனைகள் எல்லாம் சாத்தானிடமிருந்து வருபவையே.