Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 12:13-21

One’s life does not consist of possessions.

Jesus was talking to poor people. His listeners were poor. They lived in anxiety and worry. To these he was giving his message of the kingdom. This message was not just good advice on how to live a happy, carefree life. It was a challenge to the very centre of the world. His challenge was to the people who were living a secure and sure life.

Kingdom of God is about God’s ownership of things and God’s control of things and events. Man has to relax on the knowledge that God is in control. It is like the birds and flowers who communicate the message that God is the creator and God gives good things to his creatures. Jesus does not ask to get rid of possessions rather he is telling his listeners to share and not to be greedy about. He is telling them to have treasures of the kingdom: to possess the values and priorities of God here on earth. (What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? Mt 16:26)

நற்செய்தி வாசகம்: லூக்கா 12:13-21

மிகுதியான உடைமைகளைக் கொண்டிருப்பதால் ஒருவருக்கு வாழ்வு வந்துவிடாது.

இயேசு உடைமைகளுக்கு எதிராக பேசவில்லை. ஆனால் பொருள்கள்மேல் நம்பிக்கை கொண்டிருப்பவர்களை சாடுகிறார். இறையாட்சி அவர்களுக்கு சவாலாய் இருக்கிறது. படைப்பனைத்துமே கடவுளின் உடைமை. படைப்பனைத்தையும் பாதுகாத்து பராமரிப்பவர் கடவுள். இந்த கடவுள் அறிவும் கடவுளின் மதிப்பீடுகளுமே வாழ்வுக்கு இன்றியமையானது. (மனிதர் உலகம் முழுவதையும் ஆதாயமாக்கிக் கொண்டாலும் தம் வாழ்வையே இழப்பாரெனில் அவருக்குக் கிடைக்கும் பயன் என்ன? அவர் தம் வாழ்வுக்கு ஈடாக எதைக் கொடுப்பார்? மத்தேயு 16:26)

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.