Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 20:17-28

Jesus answers the mother but the content of the answer is addressed to the sons (disciples). In his answer he reproves the ignorance and error of their request. They dreamed of a temporal kingdom but Christ’s kingdom was not of this world. They did not know what it was to sit on the right and left of the Father.

The disciples thought, when they had left all what they had for Christ, and had gone about the country preaching the gospel of the kingdom, all their service and sufferings were over, and it was now time to ask, What shall we have? As if nothing were now to be looked for but crowns and garlands; whereas there were far greater hardships and difficulties before them than they had yet met with. They imagined their warfare was accomplished when it was scarcely begun.

சீடர்கள் இயேசுவோடு பயணித்து இறையாட்சியை போதித்திருக்கிறார்கள். புதுமைகள் ஒருசில செய்திருக்கிறார்கள். துன்ப துயரங்களில் அதிகமாக இன்னும் பங்கேற்க வில்லை. அதற்குள் அவர்கள் பலன்களை எதிர்பார்கிறார்கள். பலன்களை எதிர்நோக்கி வாழ்வது இறையாட்சிப்பணி வாழ்வு அல்ல.

GOSPEL READING: Mt 23:1-12

Moses was God-sent to the people of Israel who were in Egypt. The Mosaic law, the Torah, was good and God-given. Hence they should be observed without any hesitation. Even if these laws were pronounced by wrong people from wrong places at the wrong time. The central theme of the Mosaic law was love of God and love of the neighbour.

Pharisees and the Scribes were preaching these laws and they were going on about Moses: Moses said this, Moses said that, do this, don’t do that etc. But they concentrated on the outward show. They were worried about large prayer-cases (known as Phylacteries which contained the prayer and this was worn on their hand and head). They also wore long prayer tassels (at the four corners of their outer garment). These were worn to show that they were pious and praying.

Jesus wanted his followers and disciples to wear humility, calling God as father and Messiah as Master. (These were the new phylacteries and tassels and places of honour etc). So the pious, religious, prayer garments were not the external and visible things but they were internal and more of attitude towards God and one another. Mosaic law should be observed with internal attitudes rather them external prayer-kit.

மறைநூல் அறிஞரும் பரிசேயரும் இரு வழிகளை பின்பற்றுகிறார்கள். அவர்கள் பேசுவது ஒன்று ஆனால் செயல்பாடு மாறுபட்டு இருக்கிறது. அவர்கள் மனதில் இருப்பது ஒன்று வெளிஅடையாளம் வேறு. அவர்கள் விரும்புவது ஒன்று ஆனால் அவர்கள் வாழ்க்கை வேறுபடுகிறது. சீடர்கள் அவ்வாறு இருக்கக்கூடாது.