Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MARK 6:1-6

Jesus is in his home place. His relatives and friends observe in him the divine wisdom and the divine power working in him. But they were fully aware of his human origin and that he has spent his time before public ministry here among them (he himself was the Carpenter – probably he took the job after his father Joseph). His people were offended at this. Jesus’ disciples observed this and this could have been a very good lesson for them too.

How did Jesus respond to this situation? At first he excused this (A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house). However he did do some good among them. But he could not do much among them. He marveled at their unbelief. Their unbelief was seen in their unwillingness to see God working in and through Jesus. They refused to see God in Jesus. In short they were blind to God. Finally he went about the nearby villages and worked miracles among them.

இயேசுவில் இறைஞானமும் இறைசக்தியும் செயல்பட்டது. இறைவன் இயேசுவில் இயேசு வழியாக செயல்பப்டார். ஆனால் அவருடைய உறவினரும் நண்பர்களும் இயேசுவில் இறைவனைக்கான தவறினர். இதைக்கண்ட இயேசு வியந்து அங்கு புதுமைகள் அதிகம் செய்யவில்லை. மற்ற இடங்களில் அவர் செயல்பட்டார். இறைவன் இருக்கிறார் அவர் மனிதனில் செயல்படுகிறார் என்பதை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். அது எங்கேயும்> எப்படியும்> யாருக்கும் நடக்கலாம்.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 9:14-17

Fasting was one of the major religious practices of the Jewish religion. Pharisees in general fasted twice a week (Lk 18:12). They trusted in themselves that they were righteous. Not only that but they also thought that they had made God their debtor and hence they could demand anything from God at their wish. This attitude led them to despise others and look down upon them.

Jesus preached about the non importance of fasting. Fasting had no merit on its own. It had a secondary role only because it depended on the presence of the bridegroom. Now Jesus has brought a new way of life, a new way of approaching God and relating to God. This new way of life should not be compared with or linked to the old ways. New way has its own merits and benefits.

பரிசேயர்கள் நோன்பு இருத்தலுக்கு அதிக முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுத்தார்கள் (லூக் 18:12). இதன் பயனாக தங்களையே நேர்மையாளர்கள் என்று பிறர் அறியச் செய்தார்கள். கடவுள்கூட தங்களுக்கு கடன்பட்டவர் என்று கருதினர். பிறரைப்பற்றி தாழ்வான எண்ணம் கொண்டிருந்தனர். இயேசு புது விதமான வாழ்வுமுறையை போதிக்கின்றார். இதை பழைய வாழ்வோடு ஒப்பிடக்கூடாது ஒப்பிடவும் முடியாது.