Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 8:18-22

Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.

Jesus belongs to the road, to the countryside, to the lanes, to the streets in fact he belongs to wherever the people of God are. He has no personal place for rest like the foxes and birds. His place is where the people are particularly the poor people of God. Anyone who wants to follow Jesus has to throw himself to the open, to emptiness, to nothingness.

At the time of Jesus and even now for a devout Jew, the first thing that he would do in the morning is to recite the “Hear O Israel…”. This is the most important thing for a Jew and there is nothing more important than this. But the Rabbis would say that even before reciting this prayer burying one’s father come first. What Jesus was doing takes precedence even before this.

நற்செய்தி வாசகம்: மத்தேயு 8:18-22

போதகரே, நீர் எங்கே சென்றாலும் நானும் உம்மைப் பின்பற்றுவேன்.

இயேசு ஓய்வு எடுக்க பதுங்கு குழியோ, கூடோ கிடையாது. அவருக்கு தெருக்களும் திறந்த வெளிகளுமே இருந்தது. அங்குதான் ஏழைகள் இருந்தார்கள். அவரை பின் செல்ல விரும்புபவன் ஏழையாக இருக்க வேண்டும் மேலும் இதையே முதன்மை படுத்தவேண்டும்.

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 9:51-62

He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,

Every Jew was supposed to travel to Jerusalem three times a year. At least once a year they travelled to Jerusalem. This was to fulfill the demands of the law. Jesus and his parents followed this very strictly. (Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover Lk 1: 41). Going to Jerusalem was to meet the Lord God.

Jesus’ decision to go to Jerusalem was not only to fulfill the demands of the rule but also to fulfill the will of the God for him. Will of God for him was to die in the hands of the leaders for the salvation of the people. Jesus accepted this plan willingly and he exhorted his disciples also to do the same. They should also reach their own Jerusalem which God has prepared for them.

நற்செய்தி வாசகம்: லூக்கா 9:51-62

எருசலேமை நோக்கிச் செல்லத் தீர்மானித்து

எருசலேமை நோக்கிச் செல்லும் பயணம் இறைசந்திப்புக்காகவே. இது ஒவ்வொரு ய+தனுக்கும் பொருந்தும். இயேசுவுக்கு அந்தப்பயணம் இறைவனின் இறைசித்தத்தை நிறைவேற்றுவதற்காகவும் கூட. இதைத்தான் சீடர்களுக்கும் போதித்தார் இயேசு.