Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 8:1-4

Great crowds followed him. I wonder about the reaction of the crowds on seeing Jesus talking to a leper. Jesus asked the leper to go and do as Moses prescribed. Probably this was to tell the people that Jesus was within the limits of Mosaic tradition. Crowds would have wondered about Jesus relating to leper and yet following the traditions of Moses.

A person with leprosy was considered impure in the Old Testament. He was forbidden to associate with the rest of the people. The people of Israel were called to be Holy as God the Father was Holy. Being holy also means being healthy (wholly). So unhealthy signs are signs of impurity and they have to be dissociated from the rest. Here Jesus associates with the leper to show that sickness does not in any way defile the person.

தொழுநோயாளர் தீட்டுப்படடவராக கருதப்பட்டார். அவர் மற்ற மக்களோடு உறவாட முடியாது ஏனென்றால் மற்றவர்கள் தூயவர்களாய் இருந்தார்கள். “தூய குருக்குலம்”. ஆனால் இயேசு நோயையும் மனிதனையும் இணைத்துப் பார்க்கவில்லை.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 16:13-19

Leadership of the Church is given by Jesus to Peter. Leader of the Church should be firm like a rock. He should be willing to be the foundation stone: unnoticed and unrecognized. He should also be ready to carry the weight of the whole structure. He should also make sure that the netherworld (evil) does not overtake the Church.

All these are done to him only when he openly declares that Jesus is the Messiah and the only son of the living God. Only when Peter declared Jesus as Messiah, he is given the role of a leader. Faith of Peter and public acknowledgement of Peter about Jesus makes Peter the foundation of the Church.

பேதுருவின் நம்பிக்கை அவரது தலைமைத்துவதிற்கு அடித்தளமாகிறது. நம்பிக்கை கடவுளின் வெளிப்பாட்டை மையமாகக் கொண்டுள்ளது. அடித்தளம் என்ற முறையில் அவருடைய பொருப்புகளும் பணிகளும் தீயோனிடமிருந்து திருச்சபையைக் காப்பாற்றுவதே.