Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: Mt 4:1-11

Jesus was tempted by the devil. How could this be so? Hebrews 4,16 says: “…one who has been tempted in every way, yet without sin”. He had a great vision at Baptism and then he was confirmed in his vocation and just at this moment there came the devil to distort him from his vocation. His vocation was to be a son of God and to serve the people being truly human.

The tempter tempted him on the very strength of his vocation. (You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased). The tempter attacked the strength of the person to make him weak at that. The tempter prompted him for satisfaction of the flesh (turn stone into bread); promised him power over the whole world (…will give all these to you…).

Jesus was well aware of the game. He relied on God and the word of God. He was committed to loving and serving God alone. Jesus overcame these trials at the beginning of his ministry or else he would have faced them later on in the midst of his ministry. Jesus focused his eyes on God and kept the word of God in his heart and moved on with the work of the kingdom of God.

சாத்தான் இயேசுவை சோதித்தது அவருடைய அடிப்படை இயல்பையே (இறைமகன்). இயேசுவின் பலம் அவர் இறைமகனாய் இருப்பதே. சாத்தான் அவரை ஊன்உடலின் மகனாக (அப்பம்), உலகின் மகனாக (செல்வம்) சோதிக்கிறான். ஆனால் இயேசு தனது இறைமகன் இயல்பை (இறைவார்த்தை, இறைவனை நம்புதல், இறைவனை சோதியாதிருத்தல்) விட்டுக்கொடுக்கவில்லை.

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 5:27-32

Jesus associated with the sinners and tax collectors. He related with them much more than the so called righteous ones. Jesus also sat at table with them for a dinner. One of his close collaborators was a tax collector (Levi). Jesus neglected the Pharisees and the scribes. This attitude of Jesus and this action of Jesus raised questions in the mind of the people.

Jesus was right in saying that it was the sick that needed physician. Healthy do not have the need of visiting the doctor. Jesus was very sure of his mission and the role that he was sent to play. This helped him to identify his target. He was in the world to call sinners to repentance. They were also called to follow him. Call to repentance is a call to follow.

இயேசு பாவிகளை அழைக்க வந்தார். பாவிகள் மனம் மாற அழைக்கப்பட்டார்கள். அவர்களை சீடர்களாகவும் அழைத்தார். மனம் மாறுதல் சீடர்களாவதற்கான அடிப்படை தேவை. இதற்காகவே தான் வந்ததாக இயேசு கூறுகிறார். பணியில் தெளிவு இருந்ததால் தேர்தலிலும் தெளிவு இருந்தது. உறவிலும் தெளிவு இருந்தது. அவர்களோடு உண்டார், பழகினார், வாழ்ந்தார்.