10.08.2025 (19th Sunday of Ordinary Time)

 Sunday Liturgy

18th Sunday of Ordinary time 

Faith and Readiness

The source text is a meticulously designed, child-friendly exposition of two foundational Christian theological concepts: "Faith," primarily referencing Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19, and "Being Ready for Jesus," derived from Luke 12:32-48. It employs a warm, pastoral, and sermon-like style, specifically tailored for a young audience through direct address, such as "my dears" and "my dear children." The text's pedagogical strength lies in its use of relatable analogies (e.g., "superpower" for faith, the "seed" analogy), engaging biblical storytelling (Abraham's journey, the master and servants parable), and a clear breakdown of complex ideas into simple, actionable components. This approach effectively bridges abstract theology with practical, daily-life applications pertinent to children, such as helping with chores, being kind to siblings, attending Mass, praying, and reading the Bible.

The paramount objective for the Tamil translation is to preserve the original text's inherent simplicity, warmth, and directness, ensuring theological accuracy without resorting to overly academic or complex language. This requires a meticulous selection of Tamil equivalents for abstract theological terms (e.g., "faith," "superpower," "ready," "servant") to ensure they maintain their child-friendly resonance and positive connotations. Particular emphasis will be placed on rendering practical applications in a manner that is both culturally relevant and actionable within a Tamil-speaking Christian context. It is crucial to convey the active and dynamic nature of "faith" and "readiness" as presented in the source text. Maintaining the overarching pastoral, encouraging, and loving tone of the original is essential for effective spiritual formation and connection with the young audience.

Analysis of the Source Text: Pedagogical and Theological Foundations

Deconstruction of "What is Faith?"

This section introduces the concept of "Faith" by directly referencing Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19. It defines faith in an accessible manner as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." This foundational biblical definition is presented in a way that is immediately understandable to a young audience.

A key pedagogical element is the immediate employment of a highly engaging and child-friendly analogy: "Faith is like a superpower!" This creative comparison instantly captures a child's imagination, making an abstract theological concept tangible and exciting. Following this, the "seed" analogy is introduced as a universal illustration: "Think about a seed. When you plant a tiny seed, you have faith that it will grow into a big, beautiful plant, even though you can't see the roots growing underground." This example grounds the concept of unseen certainty in a relatable, observable natural phenomenon, making it easier for children to grasp.

The narrative then utilizes Abraham's story to demonstrate active faith: "Abraham had this kind of faith. God told Abraham to leave his home and go to a place he didn't even know. Abraham didn't ask, 'Why?' or 'Where?' He just trusted God and went. That's what faith is—trusting God even when we don't know the whole plan". This storytelling approach makes the concept memorable and illustrates its practical, obedient application. The theological nuance in the definition of faith emphasizes "being sure" and "certain," aligning with the biblical understanding of faith as assurance and conviction. Abraham's example further highlights "trusting God even when we don't know the whole plan," underscoring faith as active trust, reliance, and obedience, rather than mere intellectual assent.

A critical observation for cross-cultural pedagogy revolves around the analogical transference. The source text's pedagogical strength for children relies heavily on its use of concrete analogies like "superpower" and "seed" to explain the abstract concept of "faith." While the "seed" analogy is largely universal, the "superpower".