Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 6:36-38

One of the very important and practical and human lesson that Jesus was trying to teach his disciples was that they will be treated the same way as they themselves treat the others. Even in the prayer that he taught his disciples we find this element present: forgive us as we forgive our debtors. So dealing with the neighbour was essential in the life of a disciple.

In this basic principle of relationship with the others Jesus speaks of mercy, judgment, condemning, forgiving and giving. These are the five factors with which we often find ourselves in relationship with the others. Judging and condemning are the qualities reserved only to God and man should never use these qualities (Rom Ch. 14). Being merciful, forgiving and giving are the qualities in which a man should try to be like God.

மனித உறவு பரிமாற்றத்தில் இருக்கிறது. பரிமாற்றத்திற்கான அடிப்படை பண்புகள்: இரக்கம் காட்டுதல், தீர்ப்பளித்தல், கண்டனம் செய்தல், மன்னித்தல், கொடுத்தல் ஆகும். இவைகளில் தீர்ப்பளித்தல், கண்டனம் செய்தல் ஆகிய இரண்டும் கடவுளுக்கு மட்டுமே உரியவை, மனிதன் பயன்படுத்தக் கூடாது (உரோ 14). மற்ற மூன்று குணங்களிலும் (இரக்கம் காட்டுதல், மன்னித்தல், கொடுத்தல்) மனிதன் கடவுளைப்போல் இருக்கவேண்டும்.

GOSPEL READING: Mt 17:1-9

Peter, James and John are there with Jesus. When these three are there, then there is something very important is going to take place. They are invited to experience something very special, which in turn would be one of the basics for the kingdom. This experience is given right at the beginning of their journey towards Jerusalem (still they are in Galilee) and they are asked not to reveal this until after his resurrection. So this experience is something to do with his death and resurrection.

They all have a vision of Moses and Elijah. Moses was the first one to experience Yahweh and share this experience with the enslaved Israelites. This sharing of God experience became the foundation for their liberation. Elijah was the first prophet who made the Israelites (who were enslaved to the Canaanite religion) re-live the God experience on mount Carmel. So the vision made them to reflect on God experience.

The experience on this mountain top is an experience of the Glory of Jesus. This will lead to another mountain top experience on Calvary. The second experience will be an experience of the Cross. One experience leads to the other. The experience of the glory will help (or should help) the awaiting experience of the cross. A disciple should learn to see glory in the cross and learn to see the cross in the glory.

தாபோர் மலை அனுபவம் அவசியமானது. இது கல்வாரி மலை அனுபவத்திற்கு முன்னோடியாக இருக்கிறது. தாபோர் மலை அனுபவம் பற்றி உயிர்ப்புக்கு முன் யாரிடமும் கூறக்கூடாது என்பது அந்த அனுபத்தை முக்கியப்படுத்துகிறது. தாபோர் மலை அனுபவமும் இறப்பு (கல்வாரி மலை அனுபவம்) உயிர்ப்பு போன்ற நிகழ்வுகளோடு இனைந்தது.