Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 6:1-6, 16-18

Every religious practice is to build the right relationship: with God, with the other and with oneself. Fasting, alms-giving and prayer are the pious practices of Judaic religion and they were to build right relationship. Fasting stands for one’s relationship within oneself. Alms-giving represents one’s relationship with the other. Prayer speaks for one’s relationship with God.

“O man, he has told you what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic 6:8). This verse also speaks of the three relationships. Probably Jesus had this verse at the back of his mind when he spoke of the religious practices.

பக்தி முயற்சிகள் எல்லா மதங்களிலும் உண்டு. அடிப்படையில் அவைகள் உறவை வளர்ப்பதற்கே. இறைவனோடு கொண்டுள்ள உறவு (ஜெபம்)> மனிதனோடு கொண்டுள்ள உறவு (உதவுதல்)> தன்னோடு கொண்டுள்ள உறவு (நோன்பு) ஆகிய மூன்றும் அடிப்படையானவை.

GOSPEL READING: MARK 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to take bread with them for their journey. This is natural and understandable. But the disciples had forgotten the miracles that Jesus had done in front of their eyes. He had fed four thousand and five thousand at two different occasions and they themselves had gathered the leftovers in baskets. And yet they were talking about lack of bread with them.

The disciples were forgetful, lack of understanding, less of comprehension, hard hearted, little remembrance etc. These are the ways in which the disciples are described by Jesus in this story. But this story takes place just after the Pharisees had asked for a sign. The disciples seemed to be like the Pharisees. They too had seen so many healings and miracles and casting out of the demons and yet they are like the Pharisees: men of little faith or no faith and that was the reason why Jesus warned the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees.

இயேசு தனது சீடர்களை சாடுகிறார். ஏன் இன்னும் உணராமலும் புரிந்துகொள்ளாமலும் மழுங்கிய உள்ளத்தினராயும் கண்ணிருந்தும் குருடர்களாயும் காதிருந்தும் செவிடர்களாயும் இருக்கிறீர்கள் என்று வினவுகிறார். இது பரிசேயர்களின் மனநிலையை ஒத்தது. இது நம்பிக்கை இல்லாதவரின் மனநிலை. எனவேதான் பரிசேயர் புளிப்பு மாவைக்குறித்து கவனமாயிருக்கச் சொல்லுகிறார்.