Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: Mt 17:1-9
Jesus went up a high mountain. Usually when Jesus goes up any mountain it was for prayer and he always went alone. He never took anyone with him. This time he took with him three witnesses and he did not take all his disciples. This was a personal experience of Jesus (like prayer) yet it had to be witnessed to communicate something. And this communication should take place only after his resurrection.

There was transfiguration before the three of them. They saw a different face of Jesus. Till now they saw him like anyone of them. But now he appeared differently for them. The changes are compared to light and sun. His face was like sun. No one could look at his face directly. Again his clothes were white as light. Light is bright and it could not be seen directly. Jesus was other worldly person (not earthly let us say)

Rightly so there were two more persons talking to him and they were from the other world. There were with him Moses and Elijah. These were the proponents of belief in one true God. Moses had the experience of one true God on Mount Sinai and Elijah made the people to believe in one true God on Mount Carmel. Jesus joins these two on this mount to continue the same: he has come to reveal the one true God

இயேசு மலைமேல் ஏறிச்செல்கிறார். ஜெபிப்பதற்கல்ல. தன்னைப்பற்றிய உண்மையை வெளிப்படுத்த. தூள் இவ்வுலகைச் சார்ந்தவன் அல்ல என்பதை வெளிப்படுத்த. ஆகவேதான் மோசேயும் எலியாவும் தோன்றுகிறார்கள். இவர்களட அனைவரும் ஒரே கடவுளை அறிவித்தவர்கள். மறுஉலகம் கடவுளைச் சார்ந்தது.

GOSPEL READING: Mt 15.1-2,10-14

Human traditions played and play an important role in the lives of any society. Israel society was also filled with many traditions. One of such traditions was that a person who is to support his elderly parents got freed from this duty (law of God) by following a tradition that was made by men. The tradition was that the man should openly declare that the money that was due for the support of the parents was offered to God.

But the law of God said that every person should honour his parents which implied taking care of them right through their old age. The traditional practice helped the Jews to escape this duty of the son to his parents. Neglecting the duty to the parents and offering them to God does not please God says Jesus. Traditions are of lesser value than the law of God.

சமூக பழக்கவழக்கங்கள் இறைசட்டங்களைவிட உயர்ந்தவை அல்ல. யூதர்கள் சமூக பழக்கவழக்கங்களை கடைபிடித்து இறைசட்டங்களை மறந்தனர். இறைச்சட்டம் சொல்லுவது பெற்றோரை பேணிகாத்தலாகும். ஆனால் சமூக பழக்கவழக்கங்கள் சொல்லுவது பெற்றோரை பேணிகாக்க வைத்திருந்த பணத்தை இறைவனுக்கு அர்பணிக்கப்பட்டது என்று கூறினால் பெற்றோரை பேணிக்காக்கும் கடமையிலிருந்து விடுபடுகிறான். இதை இயேசு சாடுகிறார்.