Dr. I. P. Thayaparan’s book is an attempt to provide a comprehensive understanding of the gospel passage (Luke 13:10-17) by employing a synchronic approach and using his theological conclusions to the Sri Lankan Tamils’ liberation struggle. In it, he calls the mission of the Sri Lankans to continue Jesus’ mission of releasing and restoring the identity and dignity of the Tamils. I greatly appreciate his methodology and its application to our situation.

Rt. Revd. Dr. Justin B. Gnanapragasam
Bishop of Jaffna

This book is the result of a deep theological reflection carried out on the real-life situation of long-suffering people. The right hermeneutical approach to the study of a biblical passage involves the interfacing of the text with the context of the reader. That is done in an exemplary fashion by the author.

Prof. Thomas Malipurathu, SVD
Emeritus Professor, JD, Pontifical Athenaeum, Pune

This book is a remarkable contribution that demonstrates exegetical clarity and theological precision in interpreting Luke 13:10-11. The author’s scholarly approach and deep engagement with the text reveal the relevance of Jesus’ liberative mission, offering fresh insight into identity and dignity as core elements of healing. Particularly commendable is the hermeneutical application of the theme to the Sri Lankan context, making the study both timely and contextually transformative.

Prof. Thomas Karimundackal, SJ
Professor, JD, Pontifical Athenaeum, Pune

The author attempts to draw the meaning of the text in line with the theology of the Gospel of Luke. The methodology employed is synchronic analysis, which is a significant contribution to Lucan studies. The study also includes a contextual application of the text to the struggles of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Revd. Prof. G. Pilendran
Emeritus Professor, University of Jaffna

Iruthayanathar Petrus Thayaparan is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary, which is affiliated to the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome, and obtained the bachelor’s degrees B.Ph. and B.Th. He completed his Licentiate in Sacred Scripture (L.S.S.) at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and holds a Doctorate in Biblical Theology (S.T.D.) from the Jnana Deepa, Pontifical Athenaeum in Pune. At present, he serves as the Rector and lecturer in Scripture at St. Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary.