Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 14:13-21

The disciples were like any other religious groups. They felt that they have done enough for the people. People have been healed and they have listened to their master and hence what more did they have the need of the master; and so they wanted the crowd to be dismissed.

Jesus was a different type of a leader. He did not just satisfy their requests only. He went beyond their requests and looked into their needs and had pity on them. He taught the disciples to go beyond their requests and look into their unexpressed needs.

சீடர்கள் மற்ற தலைவர்கள் பிற சபை தலைவர்கள் போல் சிந்திக்கிறார்கள். மக்கள் எதற்காக வந்தார்களோ அது நிறைவேறிவிட்டது அவாகள் திரும்பிப்போகலாம் என்று நினைக்கிறார்கள். இயேசு அவ்வாறு அல்ல. அவர்கள் விரும்பிக் கேட்காத ஆனால் அத்தியாவசியமான தேவைகளையும் நிறைவு செய்கிறார்.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 14:1-12

Herod was a slave of his own situation. And the situation overpowered him so much that all what he thought was in relation to the situation. His brother’s wife Herodias and John the Baptist whom he murdered on account of her was in his thought always. He was so much possessed by the situation that anything that happened and everyone whom he met reminded of his own mistake.

Herod heard of Jesus. He thought it was John the Baptist whom he killed. He feared people. He swore things beyond his capacity (he was not in control of himself). He was distressed. These are the few statements made about Herod in this story. These do in no way speak of a person who was a king. Instead they speak of a person who was caught up in situation of slavery.

ஏரோது தனது சூழலிலேயே மாட்டிக்கொண்ட அடிமை. சூழல்தான் அவனை வழிநடத்தியது. அவனால் சுயமாக சிந்திக்க இயலவில்லை. பயமும் வருத்தமும்தான் அவனுக்குக் கிடைத்தது. அவனுக்கு அவனே அடிமை.