Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MARK 8: 22-26

People brought the blind man to Jesus. They had faith in Jesus. They believed that Jesus would heal this man too. We are not told whether the blind man had any faith in Jesus. Because the blind man had not seen Jesus working miracles (he would have heard about Jesus). Jesus healed this blind man because of the faith of the people who brought him to Jesus.

Jesus led the man away from the crowd and also away from the village. Jesus did not look for publicity. Jesus did not do anything for the self-glory or honour. He did them for the good of the individual and for the glory of God. It was so personal that the touched the individual. He also requested the individual not to publicize what had happened.

இயேசுவின் புதுமைகள் கடவுளின் மகிமைக்காகவும் தனிமனிதனின் நலனுக்காகவுமே. தனிமனிதனின் நம்பிக்கையை கூட அவர் எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. பொதுமக்களின் பார்வைக்கோ அல்லது பாராட்டுக்கோ அவர் செயல்படவில்லை.

GOSPEL READING: MARK 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to take bread with them for their journey. This is natural and understandable. But the disciples had forgotten the miracles that Jesus had done in front of their eyes. He had fed four thousand and five thousand at two different occasions and they themselves had gathered the leftovers in baskets. And yet they were talking about lack of bread with them.

The disciples were forgetful, lack of understanding, less of comprehension, hard hearted, little remembrance etc. These are the ways in which the disciples are described by Jesus in this story. But this story takes place just after the Pharisees had asked for a sign. The disciples seemed to be like the Pharisees. They too had seen so many healings and miracles and casting out of the demons and yet they are like the Pharisees: men of little faith or no faith and that was the reason why Jesus warned the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees.

இயேசு தனது சீடர்களை சாடுகிறார். ஏன் இன்னும் உணராமலும் புரிந்துகொள்ளாமலும் மழுங்கிய உள்ளத்தினராயும் கண்ணிருந்தும் குருடர்களாயும் காதிருந்தும் செவிடர்களாயும் இருக்கிறீர்கள் என்று வினவுகிறார். இது பரிசேயர்களின் மனநிலையை ஒத்தது. இது நம்பிக்கை இல்லாதவரின் மனநிலை. எனவேதான் பரிசேயர் புளிப்பு மாவைக்குறித்து கவனமாயிருக்கச் சொல்லுகிறார்.