Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 15:1-10

There were crowds travelling along with Jesus. Among these co-travelers there were two groups of people. The first group was comprised of tax collectors and sinners who went along with him willingly and listened to him with interest. They found truth and goodness in his teachings and preaching.

The Pharisees and the Scribes also listened to him but went about complaining. They could not say anything against his teaching and preaching. He was teaching the truth about God and the goodness in God and creation. They could not accept his behaviour and dealing with the sinners. This was due to their wrong understanding (I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents).

இயேசுவோடு பயணித்தவர்கள் இரு குழுக்களாக இருந்தார்கள். ஒரு கூட்டம வரிதண்டுவோரும் பாவிகளும். அவர்கள் இயேசுவை விரும்பிக் கேட்டார்கள் மேலும் உடன்பயணித்தார்கள். பரிசேயரும்> மறைநூல் அறிஞரும் (இரண்டாவது கூட்டம்) முணுமுணுத்தனர். இயேசுவின் செயல்களை அவர்கள் தவறாக கண்டார்கள் (அவ்வாறே மனம் மாறிய ஒரு பாவியைக் குறித்துக் கடவுளின் தூதரிடையே மகிழ்ச்சி உண்டாகும் என உங்களுக்குச் சொல்கிறேன்).

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus. They were not following him. They were traveling with him or along with him. They have seen many miracles they have heard him giving heart probing sermons and he was in fact out of the ordinary for the crowds. They liked him and they wanted to see more of these.

Jesus wanted them to be his followers. He did not want them to be just co-travelers. He wanted them to be followers. He also gave them criteria for being followers. They have to prefer him (Jesus) to his parents and relatives. Each one has to carry his or her own cross (no letting someone to carry the cross) and he or she has plan his goals in life and ready to renounce everything for the sake of his goal.

சீடனாய் இருப்பதற்கும் உடன் பயணிப்பதற்கும் உள்ள வித்தியாசத்தை நன்றாக கூறுகிறார் இயேசு. கூட்டங்கள் உடன் பயணித்தன. சீடன் எல்லாவற்றையும் விட்டுவிட்டு பின்செல்ல வேண்டும்.