Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 4: 43-54

Here the miracle takes place from a distance. Usually Jesus touches the sick or the dying person, or at least the sick person would be at close vicinity. The healed person would see Jesus or hear him or touch him etc. Here the sick person is far away (it seems to be a day’s journey).

Jesus is addressing a crowd which did not believe in him (that a prophet has no honor in his native place). The royal official also did not express his faith in him. Only when the miracle took place (it was recognized after a day) the whole household believed in him. Here in this story even faith is not required to do the miracle. Only God does so (as he created things out of nothing and when there was no one even to believe in him he created the world). God’s work precedes even faith.

இயேசுவின் புதுமைகள் கடவுளின் படைப்பைப் போன்றது. நம்பிக்கை கொள்ளும் மனிதனைப் படைக்கும் முன்னரே இறைவன் மற்றவற்றை படைக்கிறார். மனிதனின் நம்பிக்கை கூட தேவையில்லை இறைவனின் செயல்களுக்கு. இறைவனின் செயல் எவ்வொன்றும் புதுமையே. இறைவனின் செயல் காலம்> இடம்> பொருள் இவற்றிற்கெல்லாம் அப்பாற்பட்டது.

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 15:1-3,11-32

Welcoming and dining with someone is a sign of relationship. When one welcomes someone into his home he indirectly acknowledges the respect he has for the other; and he considers him as his equal; and he values his presence; and he esteems him and so on. Dining with him further reveals his fellowship with him. As the food is for life so his relationship is to continue.

Sinners were despised by the Pharisees and Scribes. They were sinners because they broke their relationship with God. The publicans were relating to Romans (pagans) and not with the people of God and hence they lost their relationship with God. This was the image of God for the Pharisees and the Scribes. But the real image of God is different and Jesus has the right image of God: God rejoices and relates with the repentant.

புpறரை வரவேற்று அவர்களோடு உணவு அருந்துவது உறவை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறது. பாவிகள் உறவற்ற (உறவை அறுத்த) மக்கள். இயேசு உறவை உறுவாக்க (மீண்டும் கட்டி எழுப்ப) வந்தவர். இறைவன் உறவை கொடுக்கிறார் (கொடையாக) மனம்திரும்பி வருபவன் அதைப் பெறுகிறான். இதுதான் கடவுளுக்கு மகிழ்ச்சியை கொடுக்கும். இதுதான் இயேசு வெளிப்படுத்தும் கடவுள்.