Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 18:21-19:1

Forgiveness is the hallmark of Christians. Unforgiving Christian is a contradiction. Forgiveness is the outcome of compassion. Compassion is again a Christian virtue. Jesus had compassion on the people and that was what made him associate with the people and he was able to do more miracles.

But to what extend (how many times) should one forgive his brother. This is where all the followers of Jesus reach a breaking point. Each one has his own scale and follows it as he wishes. Like Peter (seven times), each one thinks that he has forgiven completely and to the maximum extend and justifies himself in his own heart. But Jesus, on the other hand, follows totally a different scale (seventy-seven times).

மன்னித்தல் கிறிஸ்தவ பண்புகளில் அடித்தலமான ஒன்று. மன்னிக்காதவன் கிறிஸ்தவன் அல்ல. ஆனால் எத்தனை முறை மன்னிப்பது என்பதுதான் கேள்வி. ஒவ்வொருவரும் தன் சகோதரனை நிறைவாக மன்னிப்பதாக நினைக்கிறான் (நான் எத்தனை முறை அவரை மன்னிக்க வேண்டும்? ஏழு முறை மட்டுமா?). ஆனால் இயேசுவின் எண்ணிக்கை மாறானது. அதுதான் சரியானது.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 18:15-20

Two most important virtues or practices of Christianity are presented here by Jesus. They are reconciliation and prayer. Here Jesus gives the process of reconciliation. Here again it is not for the sinner to make the first more rather it is the brother (against whom one has sinned) of the sinner. Then he should make effort with two or more brothers and then take the matter to the church. It is not the sinner who makes this process.

The second practice of piety is prayer. Prayer should be done in a community. It is the community of believers. Where there is a community of believers there the presence of God is experienced. When prayers are said in a group then there is greater advantage of being heard.

கிறிஸ்தவ வாழ்வுக்கு அடித்தளமான இரண்டு பண்புகள் இங்கே பேசப்படுகின்றன. அவை: ஒப்புறவு> ஜெபம். இவை இரண்டும் உறவை வளர்ப்பதற்கும் இறைஉறவில் வளர்வதற்கும் அவசியமானவை.