Probably the most famous and most quoted of the theologian Paul Tillich’s sermons contains an assertion that, due to God’s grace and grace alone, all God’s children are ‘accepted’. Sadly, this insight has become misinterpreted and distorted, and portrayed as a form of ‘cheap grace’ based on a confusion that being ‘accepted’ means being ‘approved’ and there is no concept of justice.

The challenge of the passage from Luke is to balance grace and judgement. The theme of repentance is probably most vivid in Luke’s Gospel, starting in chapter 3 with John the Baptist calling for God’s chosen people to repent. Repentance is crucial. Changes of life and attitudes are required.

Jesus is presented by Luke as challenging the misconception that the fortunes of individuals and the victims of natural disasters are the result of God’s favour, or anger. Instead, Jesus articulates a warning that with grace comes responsibility to change, and destructive arrogance and behaviour never characterise the recipients of grace.

Jesus makes clear that, in the character of God, there is no ‘either grace or judgement’. Time and again, in the parables recounted by Luke, there is the invitation to turn again and live differently because of grace. Grace calls for a revaluation and reassessment of behaviour: a change in lives, which demonstrates to the world that God’s acceptance of us as members of the Church means that we have a new attitude, new values and a distinctly different way of living. Just as the passage in Isaiah 55 today celebrates the generosity and kindness of God providing all sorts of good and bountiful provisions, Jesus emphasises the gift of grace leading to change of life. There is a balance in the divine nature between justice and mercy, righteousness and grace.

Jesus makes it clear that, while God is loving and generous, God will not allow grace to be abused. The receipt of grace leads to a transformation of life. If it fails to do so, it is wasted and ineffective. Acceptance does not mean blanket approval, but an encouragement to embrace and adopt new life-giving attitudes and actions as a way of life for the recipient of grace. It is not always an easy or attractive option. In the biblical passage while the fig tree is offered some degree of extended life, and hope of escape from destruction, it is clear this is a limited possibility based on its growth, development, and ‘fruit bearing’.

Job’s comforters, and some other biblical passages, might suggest that good fortune is a sign of God’s favour and, like the disciples, see illness, physical disability, suffering, misfortune or persecution as indications of God’s anger. Jesus categorically refutes such ideas. Instead, he teaches a gospel of grace which has profound effects on character and behaviour as a result. Repentance and reformation are part of the care of people by God. There is no uncertainty in Jesus and his message of God’s willingness to bestow grace. On the contrary, Jesus is highlighting the hesitation of many, and our lack of readiness to respond creatively to the love of God. All sinners need both grace and repentance to be the people whom God intended us to be.

The novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, begins with the crucial description of an incident of transformative grace in action. After receiving the hospitality and kindness of the bishop, the protagonist (for Valjean is hardly a hero) steals the silver from the bishop’s home. The ex-convict is later captured and brought to the home of the bishop. The bishop pretends that the silver was a gift and thrusts the silver candlesticks into the hands of the ex-convict. In his conversation with Valjean he makes clear this gift confers responsibility on him to act and live differently. The result of his grace and kindness is the underlying theme of the entire narrative. The former thief is now to live generously and creatively in the service of others who are suffering or in danger. It is not a story of rewards and generosity being an easy option, but one where sacrifice and responsibility are to be embraced and grappled with daily.

Unmerited grace brings challenging options for life and our living. What might the grace of God be asking us to do, or change, in our lives? What new ways of servicing and engaging with our community are we being invited to embrace? What individual habits, action and attributes are we being challenged to abandon? Grace AND responsibility.