Breaking the Word

Gospel Reading: Lk 16:19-31 

Jesus is telling a story with two acts and two scenes. In the first act of the story, Jesus is presenting an earthly scene. The rich man is closed in purple dress and fine linen. He is feasting everyday. He is always presented in the dinning room, whereas the poor man Lazarus sitting at the gate (outside the house). He has no food and he is begging and dogs are around him.

The second act of the story, Jesus is presenting a heavenly scene. The poor man is carried by the angels whereas the rich man was buried in the bosom of the earth(soil). The poor man Lazarus is in the bosom of Abraham and he is inside the house whereas the rich man is far outside the heavenly realities (there is an abyss between them). The rich man is longing for water to quench his thirst and he is longing for comfort.

So the difference between the heavenly realities and the earthly realities is so shown by the wealth one posses or not and much more with the attitude that one has with regard to the wealth. The attitude should be one of sharing. If there is no sharing in the earthly scene, there is no heavenly scene for him.

நற்செய்தி:  லூக் 16:19-31

இயேசு இந்த உவமையில் உலக நடப்பைப் பற்றியும், விண்ணக நிகழ்வைப் பற்றியும் பேசுகிறார். உலக நடப்பிலே ஏழை, பணக்காரன் என்ற பிரிவு இருக்கிறது. ஆனால் பணக்காரனிடம் பகிர்வு மனப்பான்மை இல்லை. விண்ணக நிகழ்விலே பகிர்வு மனப்பான்மை இல்லாதவனுக்கு இடமில்லை: குடிக்க நீருமில்லை> ஆதரவு அளிக்க ஆட்கள் இல்லை (அபிரகாம்). மண்ணக பகிர்வே விண்ணகத்திற்கு உயர்வு.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 20: 17-28

Jesus speaks of two handing over. One is by the Scribes and the chief priests and they condemn him to death. Jewish leaders condemn Jesus to death: they are ones who pass judgement on Jesus. Then he is handed over to the gentiles (Romans) who execute the judgement. The gentiles mock him, scourge him, crucify him and kill him.

But he will be raised on the third day. Human beings, be they Jews or Romans, can only plot to kill him and in fact kill him. For them death is an end and they think that they will silence him and make him inactive. God’s actions are different. God’s actions are life giving and do impossible things. God’s actions are positive, creative, life-giving.

Disciples and their relatives (and friends) think of only this world and its position and posts. Their thinking is more of earthly. Human beings in general speak of earthly things, leaders think of condemning others judging and executing the judgements. God only thinks of life and others. So too Godly people will speak and act.

நற்செய்தி வாசகம்: மத்தேயு 20:17-28

மனிதர்கள் (சீடர்களும்கூட) இயல்பாக உலகு சார்ந்த சிந்தனைகளை கொண்டவர்கள். புதவி, பட்டங்கள்தான் மனிதனின் சிந்தனை உலகம். தலைவர்கள் (பரிசேயர்கள், சதுசேயர்கள்) மற்றவர்களை தீர்ப்பிடுவதிலும் தண்டிப்பதிலும் இருக்கிறார்கள். இறைவன், இறைசார்ந்த மக்கள் வாழ்வு, வாழ்வு கொடுத்தல், மறுவாழ்வு, உயிர்ப்பு போன்றவற்றை சிந்தித்து செயல்படுத்துகிறார்கள்.