Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING (Jn 10:1-10 )

A thief and a robber is the one who does not enter through the gate. The thief tries to avoid meeting the gatekeeper and the shepherd. The gatekeeper is the one who guards the sheep and protects the sheep from being stolen. The shepherd is familiar with the sheep. The thief avoids the gatekeeper because he does not want to guard the sheep and protect them rather he wants to steal the sheep. For the thief, the sheep do not have any other value but their usefulness (material).

Shepherd enters through the gate and the gatekeeper is familiar with him and also the sheep. Sheep recognize his voice; they follow him; he walks ahead of them. The familiarity between the sheep and the shepherd and the close relationship between them are important. Sheep are not things to be used in fact they are persons (he calls them by name). There is personal and familiar and close relationship.

Jesus is the shepherd and that gate. In him and through him there is life, salvation and protection. The sheep that enter through him and follow him and listen to his voice are they that have protection, salvation and life. Jesus is the only shepherd: there has never been one before (because all those who came before him were thieves and robbers); and there will not be another after him.

நல்ல ஆயன் ஆடுகளோடு உறவு கொண்டுள்ளான். ஆடுகள் பொருள்கள் அல்ல மாறாக உறவுகள். ஆகவேதான் ஆடுகள் செவிமடுக்கின்றன. பின்பற்றுகின்றன. ஆடுகளுக்கு பெயர்களும் உண்டு. இயேசுவே நல்ல ஆயன்.

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 6:60-69

There were many who listened to Jesus. Among the listeners there were also people who just listened to his word and understood those words as mere words. They accepted that those words had only the material meaning. For them the words just explained the realities of the world as they were. Because of this many left him from following.

There were also disciples who accepted and believed that the words of Jesus had meaning beyond human understanding. They accepted the words of Jesus as divine word and the words had eternal significance. Disciples like Peter only could say that Jesus had the words of eternal life. And they could not but cling on to it.

இயேசுவின் வார்த்தையை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும் விதத்தில்தான் ஒருவரின் சீடத்துவம் இருக்கிறது. இயேசுவின் வார்த்தையை சாதாரண வார்த்தையாக ஏற்றுக்கொள்கிறவன் அவரோடு இருக்கமாட்டான். அவரைவிட்டு போய்விடுவான். ஆனால் இயேசுவின் வார்த்தையை இறைவார்த்தையாக ஏற்றுக்கொள்பவன் நிலைவாழ்வை பெறுகிறான்.