Original scientific paper
Obstacles and Forgiveness - Crisis of Disciples Faith (Lk 17,1-6)
Marinko Vidović
orcid.org/0000-0003-0746-023X
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split
Abstract
In this work the author starts from the observation of the disciples’ reactions to Jesus’ proclamation and activity, especially in Luke’s gospel, and then investigates one of their specific reactions found in Lk 17,5-6, where the disciples the only time, which is expressly stated, act as apostles. It is about the apostles’ petition/request addressed to Jesus to do something with their faith. Placing that text in the context of the entire Luke’s gospel and in its nearer context, the author points out that their petition is caused by the difficulty and crisis of faith provoked by Jesus’ speech about the need of avoiding the obstacles and forgiving to those who cause harm to others. It is impossible to actively resist the evil, to avoid it or to forgive the perpetrator of evil without proper relying on God’s almighty power as Jesus testified. The apostles recognize that and therefore ask Jesus to give them a new quality of faith. However, forgiving does not mean supporting evil, but it is a call and opportunity for the perpetrator to take the paths of good. For such a forgiving attitude in a believer’s life it is not enough to have faith, as the author points out in the conclusion, but to have a new quality faith, the kind of faith that Jesus asks for, the faith he testified in his proclamation and activity. Such faith does what seems impossible to the human, and it is the true faith, despite the various crises through which it passes.
Keywords
forgiveness; faith; crisis; apostles; obstacle; sin
Hrčak ID:
79517
URI
Publication date:
3.4.2012.
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