Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 1:26-38

Mary was a virgin but she was betrothed to a man named Joseph. She was a historical person with sociological background and controlled by geographical and temporal limits. Such a person was encountered by an eternal, limitless, beyond space and time God. At this juncture she could only utter ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’.

Mary believed in a God who created the heavens and the earth. She believed in a God who redeemed her ancestors from slavery. She believed in a God who walked along with her forefathers through the thick and thin of the history. She believed in a God who controlled the nature and history. Nothing was impossible for this God. When such a God addressed her she could only say ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’.

மரியா படைப்பின் கடவுளை நம்பினாள். தனது முன்னோரை அடிமைத்தனத்திலிருந்து மீட்ட கடவுளை நம்பினாள். தனது முன்னோரோடு வரலாறு படைத்த கடவுளை நம்பினாள். இயற்கையிலும் வரலாற்றிலும் தன்னை வெளிப்படுத்திய கடவுளை நம்பினாள். கடவுளால் இயலாதது ஒன்றுமில்லை என்று நம்பினாள். இந்த கடவுளை எதிர்கொள்ளும்போது> ‘நான் ஆண்டவரின் அடிமை@ உம்சொற்படியே எனக்கு நிகழட்டும்” என்று மட்டும்தான் சொல்ல முடிந்தது.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 11:28-30

Jesus invites people. When he began his ministry he invited people to the kingdom. He called for repentance. He invited people to return to the father. His whole mission was this. His invitation was God centered. He never moved away from this invitation and God centeredness. For him everything was for God and with God.

Here he invites people to himself. This is addressed to the people who are burdened. He promises rest but a rest with a yoke. He teaches them the life without yoke is not possible. But a yoke like that of his is bearable. Yoke of Jesus gives rest to the people; it is easy to carry. But all those who come to Jesus should learn to be meek and humble. It is this that makes find rest and helps them to bear the yoke with ease.

இயேசுவின் அழைப்பு பெருஞ்சுமை சுமந்து சோர்ந்திருப்பவர்களுக்கு. அவர்கள் எதிர்பார்த்திருப்பதும் ஆறுதலும் இளைப்பாறுதலுமே. அதற்கு தேவையானது கனிவும் மனத்தாழ்மையும் தான். எங்கே கனிவும் மனத்தாழ்மையும் உள்ளதோ அங்கே ஆறுதலும் இளைப்பாறுதலும் உண்டு.