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Background
 This reflection
continues to lay the
foundation. This
unit may, in fact,
be the most
difficult, not in
terms of
understanding the
text but in
discerning the
difference between
our responsibility
and our response-ability.
At the root of this
reflection is the
question: Do we live
under the law, which
prescribes behavior
and limits response,
or under grace,
which frees us to
respond with the
same limitless love
that God blesses us
with each day?
Reading
Forgiveness
Times 77
Matthew 18:21–22
Reflection
Peter
thought he would be
right on target by
offering to forgive
his brother seven
times, which is the
biblical, symbolic
number of completion
or perfection. How
could Jesus possibly
ask for more? Seven
would be the perfect
fulfillment of one's
responsibility!
Jesus
had another
suggestion: Instead
of thinking of it as
your responsibility,
Peter, try thinking
in terms of your
ability to respond.
What's
to prevent you from
forgiving eight
times? Certainly not
any laws. How about
nine times? Would
that use up your
whole supply of
forgiveness? Do you
think you could
forgive 12 times?
Would that bruise
your ego? Well then,
Peter, might you be
able to respond with
forgiveness...say,
77 times?
Whether
it's forgiving or
giving gifts, caring
for others or caring
for ourselves,
writing a check or
checking in on a
sick friend, our
ability to respond
is always greater
than is our
responsibility.
Responsibility
says: This is the
minimum I must do.
That's law language.
Our ability to
respond, however, is
as limitless as
God's love for us.
That's grace
language. And grace
is the language
Jesus would have us
learn to speak for
the rest of our
lives. Grace is the
language of
response-ability.
Discussion
| 1. |
What
are some of
your
responsibilities
— at work,
at home, in
the
congregation,
in the
community?
In what
specific
ways is your
ability to
respond
greater than
your mere
responsibility? |
| 2. |
If
the law says
you must
give 10
percent,
does that
limit or
curtail your
giving? How
or how not? |
| 3. |
Do
you believe
God is
extravagant
with you? If
so, how? If
not, why? |
| 4. |
If
you are
reflecting
in a group,
divide into
two groups.
Debate response-ability
versus responsibility
as a way of
life. If you
are doing
this
reflection
by yourself,
write down
the pros and
cons of
each. Which
way of life
do you
prefer? |
Prayer
Extravagant God, you
lavish upon us more
love than we are
able to accept, more
power than we are
able to use, more
gifts than we are
able to appreciate.
Open us to your
love, your power,
your gifts, that our
response-ability
might be grace-full.
Amen
Written
by Susan K. Wendorf
for Women of the
ELCA. Copyright ©
1995 Women of the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
All rights reserved.
May be reproduced
for use by Women of
the ELCA in
congregations
provided each copy
carries the
copyright notice
above. For
all other purposes, contact
us.
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