"Father, Forgive Them ... "

Meditations and prayers on the last words of Christ
Our first steps into Holy Week/Sunday, March 28, 2010

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,Jesus
resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51)

RESOLUTELY. This is a word filled with both focused intent and unimaginable love for it is the word used to describe Jesus’ journey to the cross. He resolutely set his sights on Jerusalem and on the
cross with each of us in mind. We are disciples among the
Twelve…disciples asking the same questions, hearing Jesus’ prayers for
us, looking at the same Lord and hearing the same nails being pounded
into the same cross. Holy Week is a difficult week for sure. We find
ourselves standing in the shadow of the cross and looking into the
face of our crucified Lord. We will cry out “what wondrous love is
this?” … and in the same breath whisper, “I so need you to do this for
me.” We cannot live in the power of the resurrection if we haven’t
walked with Jesus to the cross and paused to look and listen.

You are now invited, each day of this week, to personal meditations
based on Jesus’ words from the cross.


"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING."

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be
executed. When they came to the place called The Skull, there they
crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other
on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they are doing.” (Luke 23:32-34)

What Wondrous Love is this…offering such a prayer in his first words
as he hung on the cross? What Wondrous Love is this, that the Son of
God should plea for mercy and forgiveness for those who accuse and
crucify him, those who deny him and hide from him, and those who turn
their backs on him by omission? What Wondrous Love is this that Jesus
should exert such painful and physical effort to pray to his Father
(and our God) for each one of us? Those who have received and felt
the healing of God’s forgiveness understand this Wondrous Love. It is
the love of Jesus Christ who spent his last efforts on the cross and
his last breaths to ask for forgiveness on our behalf. And to Jesus,
these words were important enough to say first … before all other
words.

Reflection:
1.)Where do these words need to be taken to heart in my own life?
2.)To whom do I need to offer such forgiveness as this?

Prayer: Wondrous Love…. Your first words disturb me. I so need to
hear your words of forgiveness for those things I have just placed at
your feet (and for those things left unsaid). And yet, in receiving
your forgiveness, you look into my heart and say “Go and do likewise”.
Heal my soul with your forgiving, wondrous love, O Lord. I pray that
I will show others mercy just as you have shown me mercy … that I will
be forgiving as you have forgiven me. Amen.

anna