Abraham

Harris B Bechtol explains that when Abraham was given the task of sacrificing Isaac, this was done out of, as Derrida called it, “secrecy”   This meant for Derrida that Abraham was acting with a “lack of knowledge,” whereby Abraham could not articulate or explain to others. This expectation was followed by Abraham out of “faith,” as the writer of the book of Hebrews would call it. Bechtol also has the following interpretation of Abraham’s situation. “Abraham responds ‘absolutely … without hoping for a reward, without knowing why yet keeping it secret’ (Jacques Derrida in Gift of Death p 73). The economy of Abraham’s sacrificial responsibility is an an-economy, an economy without circular exchange or reciprocity” We, like Abraham, are asked to do things that often do not make sense to us.  Jesus makes it clear we are to forgive others, even of the egregious things. It happens that one offends another and one carries the guilt with them (as with Albert Camus’ Stranger) for the rest of their life. Can one be forgiven of the most heinous things, certainly one might think so; but it is not easy.  Haven’t you hurt someone and hoped that you would receive forgiveness? Has anyone hurt you and you did not feel as though you could forgive them? So, does it matter what feelings go along with forgiveness, or is forgiveness between you and the other(s) and God. Christ brings to the earthly relationship a heavenly meaning.  What is bound on earth will be bound in heaven, if in Christ’s name one makes a move of forgiveness; it is set aright in heaven, 7 times 70.  In these situations the binding and the numbers mean everything for those involved.