Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 1:16,18-21,24a

Mystery of Jesus’ incarnation should be adored and not pried into. Because it was the will of the Father and work of the Holy Spirit that made incarnation a reality. Trinity is in action. It is like the work of creation. Man is not even a witness to the work of creation. He is only an admirer and adorer.

The decision (intention) of Joseph was justifiable because he was thinking in terms of Mary, the woman. When Joseph was invited to see the events in God’s perspective he could only oblige. When Joseph realized that it was the fulfillment of the scriptures he could do nothing but oblige. Joseph was in sleep when he was thinking in human terms; but he was awake when he started to see things and accept things in God’s perspective.

மனித பார்வையில்> உலக பார்வையில் நோக்கும்போது யோசேப்பு எடுத்த முடிவு சரியாகத்தான் தோன்றுகிறது. ஆனால் அது உறக்கத்தில் காண்பது. உறக்கம் தெளிந்த பிறகு (இறைவெளிபாடு கிடைத்தபின்) பார்ப்பது இறைகண்ணோட்டத்தில் பார்ப்பதாகும்; அதுதான் சரியானதும்கூட.

GOSPEL READING: Mt 23:1-12

Moses was God-sent to the people of Israel who were in Egypt. The Mosaic law, the Torah, was good and God-given. Hence they should be observed without any hesitation. Even if these laws were pronounced by wrong people from wrong places at the wrong time. The central theme of the Mosaic law was love of God and love of the neighbour.

Pharisees and the Scribes were preaching these laws and they were going on about Moses: Moses said this, Moses said that, do this, don’t do that etc. But they concentrated on the outward show. They were worried about large prayer-cases (known as Phylacteries which contained the prayer and this was worn on their hand and head). They also wore long prayer tassels (at the four corners of their outer garment). These were worn to show that they were pious and praying.

Jesus wanted his followers and disciples to wear humility, calling God as father and Messiah as Master. (These were the new phylacteries and tassels and places of honour etc). So the pious, religious, prayer garments were not the external and visible things but they were internal and more of attitude towards God and one another. Mosaic law should be observed with internal attitudes rather them external prayer-kit.

மறைநூல் அறிஞரும் பரிசேயரும் இரு வழிகளை பின்பற்றுகிறார்கள். அவர்கள் பேசுவது ஒன்று ஆனால் செயல்பாடு மாறுபட்டு இருக்கிறது. அவர்கள் மனதில் இருப்பது ஒன்று வெளிஅடையாளம் வேறு. அவர்கள் விரும்புவது ஒன்று ஆனால் அவர்கள் வாழ்க்கை வேறுபடுகிறது. சீடர்கள் அவ்வாறு இருக்கக்கூடாது.