Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 14:1-12

He feared the people

Herod was a slave of his own situation. And the situation overpowered him so much that all what he thought was in relation to the situation. His brother’s wife Herodias and John the Baptist whom he murdered on account of her was in his thought always. He was so much possessed by the situation that anything that happened and everyone whom he met reminded of his own mistake.

Herod heard of Jesus. He thought it was John the Baptist whom he killed. He feared people. He swore things beyond his capacity (he was not in control of himself). He was distressed. These are the few statements made about Herod in this story. These do in no way speak of a person who was a king. Instead they speak of a person who was caught up in situation of slavery.

நற்செய்தி வாசகம்: மத்தேயு 14:1-12

அவர்களுக்கு அஞ்சினான்.

ஏரோது தனது சூழலிலேயே மாட்டிக்கொண்ட அடிமை. சூழல்தான் அவனை வழிநடத்தியது. அவனால் சுயமாக சிந்திக்க இயலவில்லை. பயமும் வருத்தமும்தான் அவனுக்குக் கிடைத்தது. அவனுக்கு அவனே அடிமை.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 13:54-58

And they took offense at him.

His own people could not accept the fact that Jesus, son of a carpenter and relative of their own household, spoke of heavenly realities the things of the world to come and in parables. Their mind set was only to speak of the realities of the day and their relevance to this day. Jesus spoke of today’s realities and their reference to the days to come.

They were right in saying that the Wisdom of this sort was not from us. They could not jump a step and say that God could have given him this wisdom or he is from God. They were so sure of today realities that they were not ready to see things in faith perspective. When we do not see things in faith perspective or divine perspective then there will be offense.

நற்செய்தி வாசகம்: மத்தேயு 13:54-58

இவ்வாறு அவரை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள அவர்கள் தயங்கினார்கள்.

எங்கிருந்து இந்த ஞானம் இவருக்கு வந்தது? எப்படி இந்த வல்ல செயல்களைச் செய்கிறார்? என்ற கேள்விகள் அவர்களை இவ்வுலகு சார்ந்த பதில்களையே எதிர்பார்த்தன. இறைசார்ந்த சிந்தனைகள் விசுவாசப் பார்வைகள் தயக்கங்களை தவிர்க்கும்.