Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 8:12-20

Jesus bears witness about himself. So the Pharisees question him. They refuse to accept his testimony. Since it is a testimony about oneself it cannot be verified. The Pharisees are looking for verification. Verification has to be given from outside (external).

Jesus gives God as his verification. He has come from God and goes back to God. Not only that but also he is accompanied by God in his judgments and activities (God’s presence is with him). God’s presence and activities have to be believed and not verified. This is where the Pharisees go wrong. Instead of believing they are looking for verification.

இயேசு தன்னைப்பற்றி சான்று பகர்ந்தாலும் அவருடைய துவக்கமும் முடிவும் அவருக்கு நன்கு தெறிந்திருந்தது. தன்னில்> தன்னோடு> தனக்கு முன்னும்> தனக்குப் பின்னும் செயலாற்றும் கடவுளை இயேசு நன்கு அறிந்திருந்தார்> இதனால் இயேசுவைப் பற்றி சான்றுகள் தேவையில்லை. நம்பிக்கை ஒன்றுதான் தேவை.

GOSPEL READING: Jn 11;1-45

When Jesus heard the news of Lazarus he remained in the place where he was for another two days. Why did he do that? And what did he do in those do days? Certainly he prayed those two days. Because later when he was at the tomb of Jesus he prayed to the Father saying thank you Father for having heard my prayer. So he prayed those two days for Lazarus and probably for his own self because after this incident he would journey to Jerusalem.

Waiting was not a time of wasting for a believer. Waiting patiently for the will of God to be revealed was also a time of prayer. It was a time of prayer in trying to discern the will and the plan of God. Once Jesus had discerned the will of God he was ready to meet the dead and challenge the death. It was no longer he who was acting but it was God who was acting in and through Jesus.

Belief in the person of Jesus and believe that he was the resurrection was essential for the work of miracle. People in general, and Martha and Mary in particular, were people of faith. They believed in the resurrection. Yet they were surrounded with facts and figures of death and realities. Jesus made them realize that life (with its facts and figures) should be accompanied by faith and faith alone would make them see God in events.

உயிர்பின்மேல் உள்ள நம்பிக்கை அடித்தளமானது. இந்த நம்பிக்கைதான் மறுஉலக வாழ்வை இங்கே இப்போதே வாழச்செய்கிறது. காலம் தாழ்த்துவது இறைசித்தத்திற்காக மன்றாடுவதற்கான காலம். மன்றாட்டு அவசியம்.