This text is the latest in a series about Marilynne Robinson’s book Gilead. To read the text above, click here.
Reading proposed by the author this week: p. 183 to 262.
- One of the greatest loves in Robert Boughton’s life?And his greatest anguish.
- Too.
- Is your son Jack.
- Here.
- Gilead’s author Marilynne Robinson examines a type of familiar character from a privileged point of view.
- We see not the prodigal son from his father’s point of view.
- But from his father’s best friend.
- John Ames also has a fatherly role in Jack’s life (the young man is his godson).
- But he looks more like his older brother (see Luke 15.
- 11ss).
- Ames describes himself as the good son who never leaves his father’s house.
- “one of those righteous for whom the Jubilee in Paradise will be relatively small”(p.
- 289) (see Luke 15.
- 7).
The Great Brother
As the older brother of the parable of the prodigal son, Ames is offended by Jack’s careless immorality. “I don’t know how a child can cause such disappointment,” he said, “without leaving room for hope” (p. 91). ). As he remembers, was there anything diabolical? With petty theft and other illegal crimes. His youthful antics were not funny and tender, but malevolent.
But jack’s greatest of all sins was to get a poor peasant out of wedlock pregnant, and then to abandon the girl, who died of a common infection. The Boughton family’s shameful act of charity came too late to save her. it was just terrible What is a fact?, he says (p. 231).
On some level, Reverend Ames believes that “is God’s grace sufficient for any crime?”(P. 189). This principle is deeply rooted in Robinson’s own commitment to Calvinism, as expressed through his essays in The Death of Adam (New York: Picador, 2000) and elsewhere. She writes that we are all absolutely? In other words, too?Unworthy and dependent on the free intervention of grace ?.
John Ames believes in sin and grace as much as Robinson. Besides, do you think Boughton’s love for his disobedient son?Is he the most loved? (p. 91)?illustrates a compassion like Christ’s. However, he is also furious at the extravagance of his friend’s paternal affection, which he considers excessive indulgence. If Boughton had the chance, would he forgive each of his son’s crimes?past, present and future. Ames finds it difficult not to be offended by this grace, although he knows that his feelings are at odds with his theology:
At least once a week, throughout my adult life, I have said that there is a real asymmetry between our Father’s love and our merit; However, when I see this same asymmetry between human parents and children, I’m always a little irritated (p. 92).
Ames’ struggle to reconcile the true gravity of human sin with the free grace of God’s forgiveness is hampered by his special role in Jack’s life. The child was born long before Ames had his own son and, as a gift from Christian friendship, Boughton named him John Ames. Jack is the namesake of Ames, his alterego; in fact, he is “another self, a much-loved self. “
However, when Ames celebrated Jack’s baptism, he felt his heart strangely cold toward the child. Because of his own guilt and shame, he has always had trouble loving his godson as his friend intended, or as he understands that a pious shepherd must love. considers his toy to be a potentially dangerous person (where will the growing friendship between Lila and Robby lead?) and probably unedyprisingly, someone who never regrets and never really changes (p. 191).
“I don’t forgive you, ” said Ames, wouldn’t I even know where to start?(P. 200).
The Little Brother
Like Reverend Ames, Jack Broughton fears it will be unforgivable. Although it’s agnostic, (? I find myself in a state of categorical disbelief?P. 267), Jack always wonders if there’s a grace for him. This is the personal question behind the philosophical question he asks about predestination in one of the book’s central dialogues: “Do you think certain people are determined and irretrievably destined for perdition?(p. 183).
Ames and Boughton are wrong to see this subject as primarily theological, rather than intensely pastoral. But Jack really wonders about himself: can he be saved or is he beyond any hope of redemption?Surprisingly, is Lila?not the shepherds?who understands the real question and gives the most useful answer: “A person can change. Can everything change? (p. 187).
Father’s Blessing
Although Reverend Ames does not give Jack the spiritual help he needs, it is not without fear Do he thinks he is called to save the prodigal son and grant him grace, this ecstatic fire?(P. 239), but he struggles in his soul: “I deeply regret not being able to speak to him as a shepherd?”(p. 227).
Ames begins to desire to be able to somehow compensate for the cold baptism of the child; Would you like to put your hand on your forehead and take the blame off?(P. 244). Under the circumstances, he does all he knows how to do and prays for Jack, praying to God that wisdom will take care of him as a good shepherd.
These prayers are answered at the climax of the book, which brings balm to Gilead. After revealing he had a woman of color?[Black] and a son (p. 263), Jack decides to leave Galaad, even if that means abandoning his father in his last days?A sin That Ames knows was “the kind of thing only your father could forgive?”(p. 291). Reverend Ames meets Jack at the bus stop and asks him to bless him, pray for God’s protection, and utter one last blessing: “Lord, bless John Ames Boughton, this beloved son, brother, and father and father” (p. 292).
These are words of love of sumptuous grace that God generously bestows on all his prodigal children. They are words of blessing for both of us: for John Ames and for John Ames Boughton, the older brother and the younger brother. For Reverend Ames, speaking these words on behalf of his namesake is worth seminary, ordination, and all his years of ministry; it is also the final preparation you need to die in peace.
For reflection and discussion: All father-son relationships in Gilead are marked by a certain form of estrangement and abandonment. According to Reverend Ames, “a man can know his father, or his son, and yet there can only be loyalty, love and mutual misunderstandings between them?”(p. 14). This is true for Ames himself, whose father cannot understand why he remains in Gilead, and whose son is too young to understand most of what his father wants to convey.
How has the relationship with your father (or other family member) hindered your spiritual progress or helped you understand God’s grace?How can a father grant grace to his children without apologizing for his sins or without being too forgiving?and daughters on your prayer list Where have you seen God’s grace working to restore the children who have turned away from him?
[1] “Another Me, a More Beloved Self,” in the original. Another being, a loved one,” in the translation of Maria Helena Rouanet (p. 230) (translator’s note).
Translation: Leonardo Bruno Galdino. © 2016 Faithful Ministério. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: Prodigious grace for a dying pastor.
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.