Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 14:1-12

Herod was a slave of his own situation. And the situation overpowered him so much that all what he thought was in relation to the situation. His brother’s wife Herodias and John the Baptist whom he murdered on account of her was in his thought always. He was so much possessed by the situation that anything that happened and everyone whom he met reminded of his own mistake.

Herod heard of Jesus. He thought it was John the Baptist whom he killed. He feared people. He swore things beyond his capacity (he was not in control of himself). He was distressed. These are the few statements made about Herod in this story. These do in no way speak of a person who was a king. Instead they speak of a person who was caught up in situation of slavery.

ஏரோது தனது சூழலிலேயே மாட்டிக்கொண்ட அடிமை. சூழல்தான் அவனை வழிநடத்தியது. அவனால் சுயமாக சிந்திக்க இயலவில்லை. பயமும் வருத்தமும்தான் அவனுக்குக் கிடைத்தது. அவனுக்கு அவனே அடிமை.

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 11:19-27

Martha was the sister of Mary Lazarus. These three were also friend of Jesus. Jesus visited them often and as often as he visited Jerusalem. He never stayed in Jerusalem and even when he had to be in Jerusalem he stayed at Bethany the village of these three. Bethany was about two to three kilometers from Jerusalem.

Martha is the first woman disciple to make such a belief statement on Jesus (Samaritan women also made a similar statement in chapter four). As Peter had made a statement regarding Jesus so here Martha makes. Martha statement makes known to the people some of the major factors of faith in Jesus. She believed that Jesus was the Messiah; he was the son of God and she also made that Jesus was the expected one. Martha also got the best statement form Jesus: (“I am the resurrection and the life;).

மார்த்தா இயேசுவைப்பற்றிய பல உண்மைகளை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறாள் (இயேசுதான் மெசியா என்றும் இறைமகன் எனவும் வெளிப்படுத்துகிறாள்): இயேசுவையும் வெயிப்படுத்த வைக்கிறாள் (உயிர்த்தெழுதலும் வாழ்வு நானே. என்னிடம் நம்பிக்கை கொள்பவர் இறப்பினும் வாழ்வார்).