Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 5:1-12

This is the first time that Jesus is starting his teaching ministry in Matthew’s gospel. Till now it was his private life at home and then he was baptized, then again he was calling his disciples and doing healing ministry. Here now he has gathered enough followers and listeners and he begins his teaching.

It is not a theoretical teaching of some rules and rubrics rather it is about the people. It reflects the target group he is addressing and the target groups for whom he is going to work. The people are identified. These are the people of God: those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn the meek, the merciful etc.

மத்தேயு நற்செய்தியில் இயேசு முதல்முறையாக போதிக்கிறார். இதுவரை பெற்றோரோடு இருந்தவர்> திருமுழுக்குப் பெற்றபின்> சீடர்களை அழைக்கிறார்> புதுமைகள் செய்கிறார்> மக்கள் கூட்டம் அவரை பின்தொடர்கிறது. அவர் திருவாய் மலர்ந்து கற்பித்தவை அவர் யாருக்காக பணிசெய்யப்போகிறாரோ அவர்களைப்பற்றியதாக இருக்கும் எனவும் கருதலாம்.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 14:1-6

The Pharisees were the ones who practiced the law to the minute details and made it possible to be lived in every way. They became models of those who practiced and models for those who want to practice or those who have to practice. They were the visible signs of the ‘lived rules’.

In the story there was man suffering from dropsy. Nothing is said about his attitude to Sabbath laws. He was a suffering man. Immediately Jesus takes his side and argues for him. Jesus does not take the law for argument or the legal side to plead for the cause of the suffering man. He makes use of the human condition as an argument to prove his point. (if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?)

இயேசு சட்டத்தைப்பற்றி விவாதிக்கவில்லை. அவருக்கு மனிதம்தான் முக்கியம். அதுவும் துன்பத்தில் இருக்கும் மனிதன்தான் தேவை. மனிதம் நிறைவுபெற வேண்டும் என்பதே இயேசுவின் பணி.