Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MARK 10:46-52

When Jesus asked Bartimaeus, the blind man, ‘What you want me to do for you?’ he meant to ask him whether he was ready to give up his begging. He was asking him whether he was ready for a different way of life. He was asking him whether he was ready to earn his living (working and not sitting on the road side begging). Bartimaeus was challenged to change his way of life.

Bartimaeus was ready for that and that was the reason that he threw his cloak. Cloak was used to spread on the ground to gather his begging. Jericho was not a cold place which needed a cloak to put on and that too during the day. Bartimaeus accepted the challenge even before he got the sight. He was not only ready for a new way of life but he was also ready to choose the best way of life- to follow Jesus.

‘உமக்கு நான் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என விரும்புகிறீர்?” என்று இயேசு கேட்டபோது அது அவனுக்கு ஒரு சவாலாக இருந்தது. அவன் தனது வாழ்வுமுறையை மாற்றி அமைக்க துணிவாய் இருக்கிறானா என்றுதான் இயேசு கேட்டார். அவரும் தம் மேலுடையை (பிச்சை எடுப்பதற்கு உதவிய) எறிந்து விட்டு அவரை பின்தொடர்வதின் வழியாக சவாலை ஏற்றுக்கொண்டதாக காட்டுகிறான்.

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 13:1-9

Jesus had taken two events that had taken place in Jerusalem to teach the people how they should read the message of heaven in those events. There were historical events. Pilot was wicked (even the secular historians would agree to this) that he was ruthless and unreasonable. He would attack the public and kill them if he feared any upheaval. He had done so in the temple itself thus disrespecting and being insensitive to the religious feelings of the people. The other event was what had taken place in Siloam.

Be it a political event or a natural historical event the people interpreted it wrongly. Any unnatural death was due to their sins. People faced death or negative consequences in life because of their sins or because they were guilty. Jesus read it with the message from heaven. Jesus brought in the message of repentance. Repentance and turning towards God are the essential messages of the kingdom.

இயேசு இரண்டு வரலாற்று நிகழ்வுகளை எடுத்து அவைகளுக்கு விண்ணக செய்தியை கொடுக்கிறார். மக்கள் அரசியல் காரணமாகவும்> வரவாற்று நிகழ்வு காரணமாகவும் இறந்தனர். அதற்கு மக்கள் கொடுக்கும் இயல்பான விளக்கம்: பாவம். இந்த நிகழ்வுகளிலும் இயேசு விண்ணக செய்தியை கொடுக்கிறார்: மனம் மாறுதல். இதுவே இறையாட்சியை உருவாக்கும்.