Breaking the Word – Page 2240 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

06.09.11 NEW ISRAEL

Posted under Reflections on September 5th, 2011 by

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all. (Lk 6:12-19)

Jesus went up the mountain and prayed the night through. He wanted to be alone and he wanted to spend his time in prayer to God. The prayer showed that he was doing something that belonged to God. The work that he was about to do was something personal. He needed the approval of God or the support of God. The content of his prayer is not known.

He had many followers. He needed a core team to assist him in his work. He had to choose from among his followers. God chose the twelve tribes of Israel while there were in Egypt. Here Jesus chose twelve to be the founders of the new Israel or the kingdom. The twelve tribes were together formed one nation. The twelve apostles were to represent the twelve tribes who in turn would form one people.

He went about preaching and healing. People flocked to him because they were healed and cured of the evil spirits. The kingdom or the new Israel was to be healed of their illnesses. He was forming a people who were whole, integral, and healthy. In the Old Testament he formed the people who were redeemed from slavery. Jesus was in the process of forming a new Israel.

05.09.11 SYNAGOGUE

Posted under Reflections on September 4th, 2011 by

On another sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. (Lk 6:6-11)

There were three different types of people in the synogogue. One was Jesus type. Second was sick persons. The third type was the Pharisees and the scribes. Jesus was quite regular for his prayers in the synogogue and he taught regularly (another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught). He practiced his religion and the traditions. He was also regular for his visit to Jerusalem. Jesus went there to teach.

Sick person was there probably to pray for God’s mercy and healing. He was a man of faith and that was the reason why he went to the synagogue. He was surprised that he got what he wanted through the person of Jesus. He obeyed Jesus and he was healed. He believed that God was in Jesus and worked through him.

Pharisees and scribes were there to fulfill the traditions. They were also regular for their prayers and teachings and religious practices. But they were also there to check on people to see whether they practiced the religion strictly. They did not allow people to do anything more than what was required. They wanted them to practice the religion only and they did not even allow them to do good.