Joy Barachina Lojo: I’ve read this book and I think I like it… It gave me a lump in my throat… It’s so touching, especially the line, “For you a thousand times over.” I would love to see the film too. Have you seen the film version yet?

Arpith Jacob: Janie, I thought about the exact same thing when reading the book: “Self redemption.” That one scene where Amir almost allows himself to be beaten up by Assef is supposed to feel like his redemption.

Jane Susanna G: @Joy, yeah I enjoyed the book and saw only the last part of the film cozi I didn’t know it was on Star Movies and just happened to turn the TV on… I suppose you read the whole post in my blog?
@Arpith, this ain’t the whole post… click on “View original post”…

Pete Gackenbach: Janie, good stuff. I think that you’re saying that true redemption cannot be divorced from love, which definitely appeared to be the case for Amir. (despite maybe even good intentions). What does that look like for humans? even as Christ-followers, I’m not sure how we can achieve redemption from each other apart from our actions. Clearly that’s … Read more

Jane Susanna G: @Pete, did you read the complete post on my blog? I kind of felt Amir did all that he did only for selfish reasons of having himself redeemed… I’m not so sure he actually “loved” Sohrab at all… his actions stemmed more from guilt… that’s something we all struggle with… the need to be good again…

Jane Susanna G: I really should add this: KINDLY CLICK ON “VIEW ORIGINAL POST” BELOW THE NOTE TO READ THE COMPLETE POST.

Pete Gackenbach: yeah i read it, i completely agree w/ you that he seemed to be motivated primarily by guilt rather than love and made it a personal journey to vindicate himself. I’m just asking, what would it looked like for him to have loved Sohrab, b/c there is an aspect of risk in love, I mean Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his friend. God has redeemed us and is reconciling us to Him and that’s what you wrote about, and there’s nothing we can do to earn or deserve that, but as far as man to man goes, I think that redemption and reconciliation looks different. I don’t know…

Jane Susanna G: True… for me, Amir’s act of risking his own life to save Sohrab’s would have been more justified if he had done it out of love… Like I said in my blog post, I’m ok with him going to such a great extent (even if it were a real-life story) as long as it was love that motivated him, not guilt…
Redemption is something that God has already done for us, nothing more we can do about it. Period. Reconciliation is more of a choice we as humans make (this is just my opinion – am not being theological or anything). I can choose to not accept the redemption that Christ has already given us, thereby not being reconciled to God and un-accepting of His grace, forgiveness, freedom and redemption. That’s really stupid of me to do if I were to do it… because it’s a gift, and it’s free… why would I NOT want it???
Not sure I answered your question… but that’s my take…
They are different even to the common man… Look at the dictionary meaning…

Jane Susanna G: Redemption is the action of saving or being saved from sin.
Reconciliation is the restoration of friendly relations.
That’s why I feel Redemption is something God has already done, whereas reconciliation is a choice we make for ourselves… whether or not we want to accept His redemption and thereby be reconciled to Him. Makes sense?

Pete Gackenbach: I think that’s the heart of your blog post and it got me thinking about whether humans are capable of redemption or just reconciliation. I think that there are two distinct issues involved, one is our spiritual status before God as a result of sin and the other is human relationship in a world born into sin. When talking about our human depravity which has already been settled by God’s redemption which is freely given to us, there is nothing that we can do, but receive it. HOwever, I think that when it comes to our fellow brethren I think there can and maybe has to be an element of action in our redemption and reconciliation. I mean I look at Boaz as a kinsman redeemer and a Christ-figure and I suppose that we are called to love like Christ loved the church.

Jane Susanna G: Oh, you’re talking about reconciliation human to human… I was referring to reconciliation between God & man… But yeah, I do agree with you, about man-man reconciliation and loving as Christ loved the church… I love the example God set – God so LOVED the world that He GAVE… True love is always followed by action… Loving means giving of yourself, your time, your resources… whatever it takes…