Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: Mt 3:13-17

The passage speaks about the baptism of Jesus. Here the baptism reveals that Jesus is recognized by two persons and they are bear witness to Jesus. This is what happens at every baptism. It is the recognition of the one who is baptized.

God recognizes who Jesus is. The voice from the heaven declares: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The recognition reveals to where the person belongs to and how he is related to. Baptism shows the belonging and the relationship. Jesus belongs to God and he is the beloved son of Him.

John (in his person the society or the people) recognizes who Jesus is. John recognizes him to be person belonging to God and hence he is to be treated with respect and reverence and esteem. Baptism makes everyone a person of esteem, respect and reverence. And everyone should be treated so with respect, reverence and esteem because he belongs to God and he is related to God.

கடவுளைச் சார்ந்தவன் கடவுளிடமிருந்து அங்கீகாரம் பெறுகிறான். சமுதாயமும் அவனை மதிப்போடும் மறியாதையோடும் பாசத்தோடும் அவனை ஏற்றுக்கொள்கிறது. இதுவே திருமுழுக்கு.

GOSPEL READING Jn 3: 22-30
John justifies the action of Jesus and at the same time reveals his own identity. John says that he is only a forerunner. He has come to prepare the way for him. But both Jesus and John are doing the same activity. Both of them are baptizing. Since the activities are similar people are not able to distinguish one from the other. The question is: are they both messiahs?
Jesus is the Messiah and hence John says that he is not the one. There could be only one messiah and hence the other is not and he himself is only a precursor. John makes the distinction clear. One is a friend and the other is the bridegroom. As friends they may look equal but one among the two is the bridegroom. This brings joy and happiness.
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இயேசுவும் யோவானும் திருமுழுக்கு கொடுத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள். பணியிலும் போதனையிலும் இருவரும் ஒன்றாகத் தோன்றினாலும் இருவரும் மெசியா அல்ல. ஒருவர்தான் மெசியா மற்றவர் அவரின் நண்பரே.