Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 2:13-25

All the Jews went up to Jerusalem. Every Jew was expected to go to Jerusalem three times a year (for the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Booths). These three feasts are feasts of harvest (of Barley, Wheat, and fruits). Jerusalem Is the only place where God dwells and every male came to meet the Lord with grateful hearts. Jesus also went to Jerusalem to meet the Lord (with grateful heart).

Instead of experiencing the Lord with grateful hearts (in the Temple) Jesus found a marketplace. Marketplace is an area where one finds material things and business with money and there is no place for God. Temple instead of being a place of God experience has become a place of earthly, material experience.

Jesus wanted this temple (material, earthly place) to be destroyed. His own body (in return the body of the followers) will become the temple of God. God will be experienced in persons and people. Resurrection is the only proof that the body is the temple of God. Every person who has the experience of the risen Lord will be the temple of God (even here on the earth).

எருசலேம் கோவில் கடவுளின் திருத்தலம். கடவுள் குடியிருக்கும் இடம். இறைவனை சந்திக்க இறைவனுக்கு நன்றி செலுத்த ஒவ்வொரு இஸ்ராயேலனும் ஆண்டுக்கு மூன்றுமுறை செல்லவேண்டும் (ஒருமுறையாவது கண்டிப்பாகச் செல்லவேண்டும்). ஆனால் கோவில் கடவுளை இழந்து பொருள்களைக் கொண்டு ஒரு சந்தையாக மாறிவிட்டது. தனது உடலையே கோவிலாக கொண்டு உயிர்ப்பையே அதற்கு அடையாளமாக இயேசு போதிக்கிறார். இயேசுவில் உயிர்ப்பு அனுபவம் பெற்ற ஒவ்வொருவருமே இறைவனின் திருத்தலம்.

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

This parable is an answer to the Pharisees. They questioned him regarding his link with the tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were socially wrong (they collected tax for the Romans and indirectly they welcomed Roman rule which again indirectly denied the rule of God). Sinners were morally wrong (they did not practice the religion particularly they did not practice the Mosaic religion and the traditions that followed).

The parable which Jesus was addressing them with was to tell them that God was waiting for the return of the sinners. God wanted them to come back to him. He was waiting for them. But the leaders were not allowing them to return nor did they help in any way to help them to return. Instead they tried to prevent them from entering into religion.

பரிசேயருக்கும்> மறைநூல் அறிஞருக்கும் இந்த உவமையைச் சொல்லுகிறார். அவர்களுடைய மனநிலை மன்னிப்பை வழங்காத மனநிலை. ஆனால் அவர்கள் வழிபடும் கடவுளின் மனநிலை வேறு. பாவிகள் மனம்திரும்பி வரவேண்டும் என்றும் அவர்களுக்காக காத்துக்கொண்டிருக்கும் மனநிலைதான் கடவுளின் மனநிலை.