Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MARK 5:1-20

This story is quite interesting but very revealing. The man had been dwelling among the tombs (only dead people are in the tombs and he was almost like a dead person) and no one could subdue him (he was like a wild animal) and he was crying out and bruising himself with stones (there was so much anger in him and it turned against himself) and he felt that God himself was tormenting him.

After encountering Jesus he was ‘sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear’. The anger had left him (he was sitting relaxed) and clothed (all his animal nature had gone out of him). And the healed man wanted to be a disciple of Jesus and Jesus sent him to his own. This is the transformation one receives when meeting Jesus. He becomes a human person in right mind, and wanting to be a disciple.

கல்லறைகளே அம்மனிதரின் உறைவிடம் (அவன் இறந்தவன்). அவரை எவராலும் ஒருபொழுதும் சங்கிலியால்கூடக் கட்டி வைக்க முடியவில்லை (அவன் ஒரு விலங்கு போல). தம்மையே கற்களால் காயப்படுத்திவந்தார் (அவருக்கு இருந்த கோபம் அவருக்கே எதிராக திருப்பப்பட்டது). இயேசுவை எதிர்கொண்டபின் அவர் ஆடையணிந்து அறிவுத் தெளிவுடன் அமர்ந்திருப்பதைக் கண்டு மக்கள் அச்சமுற்றார்கள். இயேசுவை எதிர்கொள்ளும் ஒவ்வொருவரும் அறிவுத் தெளிவுடன் மனிதனாகி சீடனாக இருக்க விரும்புவர்.

GOSPEL READING (Mt 5:1-12)

Jesus was more than a teacher. He was not just telling them to follow few rules that would make them reach the goal that they wanted to reach. It is true that he had taken the place of a teacher by taking his place on the mountain and making the disciples and the people to sit in front of him. He played the role of a teacher but his teachings were totally of a different nature.

Jesus was not pronouncing the timeless truths about life. He was not talking about human behaviour. (Often the mourners go un-comforted and the meek do not inherit the earth). He was announcing blessings and giving wonderful news. He was not giving good advice rather he was giving good news. With the arrival of the kingdom that he was ushering in, this was what would happen to the people.

The kingdom that Jesus was proclaiming was going to change everything and bring in a different way of life. The kingdom of God was for the people who were poor in spirit, who were meek, who were peace makers etc. The world on the other hand was working for success and gain and possession. The people in the kingdom were living a style of life which was different. Hence they were blessed and it was the time to celebrate and rejoice.

இயேசு ஒரு ஆசான் மட்டுமல்ல. ஒரு ஆசான் நிலைபாட்டை எடுத்துக்கொண்டு அவர் இறையாட்சியின் நற்செய்தியை அறிவித்தார். அவருடைய அறிவிப்பு வாழ்க்கை முறையை மாற்ற வழிவகுத்தது. அவர் உலக ஆதாயத்தைப் பற்றி பேசவில்லை. வெற்றிகளைப்பற்றி அறிவிக்கவில்லை. அவர் பேறுகளைப்பற்றி பறைசாற்றினார்.