#JESUS2018 - Daily DevotionalsSample

ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY

Jesus became the ball of responsibility. After Pilate did not want to get his hands dirty, he sent Jesus to Herod. He did what was most “necessary” and sent Jesus back to Pilate. Both of them passed the buck of responsibility to remain blameless.

This reminds me of the last parliamentary elections. My acquaintance said: “I am not going to vote. At least then I won’t be to blame!” She thought this was the best way to avoid blame for a bad government. But she forgot that by doing this she was co-responsible for the high distribution of votes for the radical parties. She forgot that she cannot defer her responsibility.

Pilate and Herod thought the same thing. Both rulers pushed the responsibility away from themselves, so they would not be guilty. And even though Pilate washed his hands as a sign of innocence, he was co-responsible for Jesus’ death, just as Herod was. They could have prevented it. But because of fear they pushed away the responsibility to “be off the hook”.

They blew their chance of assuming their responsibility and swimming against the stream to make a difference.

The decision of swimming against the stream und assuming responsibility is hard work and very risky, but it also brings about change.

ACTION STEP:

Where do you have the possibility today to assume responsibility in your everyday life – in the life with your colleagues at work, you co-workers, your boss, your classmates, teachers or other people around you – and to courageously make a positive difference through an action, word or statement?

Desirée Rosemann, ICF Salzburg