Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 1:1-17

Genealogy is important for the identity of a person. For a man from modern society this is strange. Modern man finds his identity in his qualifications and in his ability and in his successes. But a biblical man finds his identity in his relationship with the past and the predecessors and vocation from God.

Abraham has his identity in his vocation. God called him and his history began (and the history of the biblical people) with that. David has identity in his relationship with the past and in his vocation from God. Abraham was called to be the first man in God’s history and David was the king recognized by God and called by God. Jesus, following this tradition, becomes the first man of the new history and the first person to be called to be the leader.

விவிலிய மக்களுக்கு மூதாதையர் பட்டியல் அவசியம். ஒரு மனிதனின் அடையாளம் அவருடைய மூதாதையர் வரலாற்றில் இருக்கிறது. ஆபிரகாமின் வரலாறு அவருடைய அழைப்பில் இருந்தது. தாவீதின் வரலாறு அவருடைய அழைப்பிலும் அவருடைய மூதாதையர் பட்டியலிலும் இருக்கிறது. அதேபோல் இயேசுவும் இறைவன் படைக்கும் புதிய வரலாற்றின் முதல் மனிதனாக அழைக்கப்படுகிறார்.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 7:19-23

John was one of the prophets and he was only a voice in the desert asking the people to prepare the way of the Lord. John had declared his identity in front of the people. Through this passage the author is trying tell the people from Jesus’ own mouth who he was. So the disciples of John came and asked him who he was.

The questions that are raised are in the area of discussing the identity of Jesus and at the same time the question is as regards who the messiah was. John had clearly denied it and he has openly declared that he had come only to prepare the way of the one who was mightier than he was.

The preaching and the doings of Jesus clearly presented who Jesus was. (Same way the identity of John was clearly represented in the clothing and the preaching and the doings.) People expected a messiah who was different from Jesus. Jesus has said clearly that this was the messiah that he has come to reveal. John has sent disciples to confirm this image of messiah to his disciples and the public.

இயேசு யார் என்றும் அவரது அடையாளம் என்ன என்றும் மெசியா எப்படிப்பட்டவர் என்றும் விளக்கங்கள் கூறுவதே இன்றைய நற்செய்திப்பகுதி; திருமுழுக்கு யோவான் தன்னைப்பற்றி தெளிவாக கூறிவிட்டார். இயேசுவும் தான் எப்படிப்பட்ட மெசியா என்றும் தெளிவு படுத்திவிட்டார். மக்களின் எதிர்பார்ப்பு !!!