Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 1:16,18-21,24a

Mystery of Jesus’ incarnation should be adored and not pried into. Because it was the will of the Father and work of the Holy Spirit that made incarnation a reality. Trinity is in action. It is like the work of creation. Man is not even a witness to the work of creation. He is only an admirer and adorer.

The decision (intention) of Joseph was justifiable because he was thinking in terms of Mary, the woman. When Joseph was invited to see the events in God’s perspective he could only oblige. When Joseph realized that it was the fulfillment of the scriptures he could do nothing but oblige. Joseph was in sleep when he was thinking in human terms; but he was awake when he started to see things and accept things in God’s perspective.

மனித பார்வையில்> உலக பார்வையில் நோக்கும்போது யோசேப்பு எடுத்த முடிவு சரியாகத்தான் தோன்றுகிறது. ஆனால் அது உறக்கத்தில் காண்பது. உறக்கம் தெளிந்த பிறகு (இறைவெளிபாடு கிடைத்தபின்) பார்ப்பது இறைகண்ணோட்டத்தில் பார்ப்பதாகும்; அதுதான் சரியானதும்கூட.

GOSPEL READING: Jn 4:5-42

Any devout Jewish man, at the time of Jesus, would not have allowed himself to be alone with a woman. He would not entertain a conversation with a woman. The risk would be very high. Yet Jesus is talking to a woman. This woman is a Samaritan. Samaritans and Jews were always in war especially after the return from exile in Babylon. The Jews would not have anything to do with the Samaritans, especially they would not share eating and drinking. Here Jesus is asking for water from her. This particular woman was of bad character. She was coming to the well at a time when no one would be around. (To avoid meeting people or seen by people). Jesus was there right at that time of her coming.

Anyone seeing Jesus talking to a woman, a Samaritan woman, and a woman of bad character would think differently of Jesus. But Jesus was talking about living water. This water was to give new life to the one who drinks. The new life that Jesus was talking about was eternal life. The woman did not understand what Jesus was meaning about the water. Jesus always made use of the context (here the well and water) to speak of the kingdom and values of the kingdom.

When the woman realized that he was a prophet, she immediately changed the topic of discussion from about her to religious theme: worship. She brought out the debate about the place of worship: Mount Zion or Mount Gerizim. Jesus again explained beautifully the point in discussion by saying worship was not limited by place or space. Worship of God should be in truth and spirit because God himself is spirit. This revealed that Jesus was the Messiah who was to come.

யூதர்கள் பொது இடங்களில் பெண்களோடு பேசமாட்டார்கள்> அதுவும் சமாரியப் பெண்களோடு. மீட்புப்பணி செய்ய இயேசு எங்கும் செல்லத் தயார். இயேசு பேசுவதெல்லாம் இறைவனைப் பற்றி. இறையாட்சியைப்பற்றி.