Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 5:38-42

This teaching of Jesus seems very strange to the modern world. People want to oppose evil and fight for justice. In the name of justice they are ready even to fight, upset and destroy evil. St. Paul had understood this message of Jesus rightly and that is why he says ‘overcome evil by doing good’ –Rom 12:21

Jesus gives example of doing good instead of evil. First he says don’t oppose evil (When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well); secondly he advices to return more that what is due (If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well); and finally he suggests to be more generous than what is required (Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles).

இயேசுவின் போதனை வித்தியாசமாய் இருக்கிறது. உலகு அனைத்தும் நீதியையும் நீதிக்கான போரையும் பற்றி பேசுகிறது அனால் இயேசுவோ தீமை செய்பவரை எதிர்க்க வேண்டாம் என்று கூறுகிறார். தீமைக்குப் பதிலாக நன்மையைச் செய்யச்சொல்லுகிறார்.

GOSPEL READING: Jn 3:16-18

Trinity and Godhead has only one purpose. It is to give eternal life the ones who believe. Trinity on its own will remain a theological statement except for this. And this passage beautifully summarises the meaning of trinity and the purpose for which the trinity is present and believed upon. One God in three person has this to communicate: man should not be lost or condemned but be saved.

Trinity is expressed in love. God loved the world so much. God’s love was visible in His sacrifice of the only beloved son. Love is seen in sacrifice. Sacrifice itself was to share eternal life or to rather to give eternal life to the believers. Only believers receive this gift. The gift is given freely without and conditions. And the sole purpose is to save the world. There is no either or from God’s point of view. God’s action is only to save. God’s action can only save the people.

Trinity is presence. This is where, Jesus before he left this world sent the Holy Spirit to be with the believers; that the salvation that was effected by the sending of the son by the father and the sacrificial love of the son be continually present in the world and made continually present for the believers and the believers to come. Trinity has one purpose that is to save the world; and it has only one means that is by the sacrificial love; and it has one method and that is by the continual presence.

மூவொரு கடவுள் என்பது ஒரு கோட்பாடு மட்டும் அல்ல. மூவொரு கடவுளை புரிந்து கொள்வது மிக மிக கடினம். ஆனால் மூவொரு கடவுளுக்கு ஒரு குறிக்கோள் (பணி) உண்டு: அனைவருக்கும் மீட்பு. மீட்பை அன்பு (பலிகொடுக்கும்) வழியில் நிறைவேற்றுகின்றனர். அதே மீட்பு என்றும் (வருங்காலங்களிலும்) தனது உடனிருப்பின் வழியாக வெளிப்படுத்தப்படுகிறது.