Sermonstudio

O God, the closer we draw to Jesus, the more wondrous are his words from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." It occurs to us that we can explain away these valiant words by reminding ourselves that after all he is God. You could expect something like this from him. But if he is flesh of our flesh, then is it expected of us to do something similar? How can this be?

You see us in court rooms, railing at those who have harmed or killed our loved ones. We search for words that will hurt the guilty, not only in this moment but for all the remaining days of his/her life. Our shrill voices carry the hatred and venom that permeates all our conscious thought. The courts and the community support our verbal spewing believing that the guilty fully deserves this acidic volley of our words.

We understand today's anger, but what of tomorrow? It is one thing to explode at the time of the criminal's sentencing, but are we to continue exploding from here on out? Who will suffer from our untamed anger? Will the criminal continue to suffer every time we vent our wrath? Or is it we -- the holders of the scorching words -- who will pay the price?

This brings us to the moment of considering forgiveness for the one who has brought chaos to our souls. Jesus forgave because of the need of those who brought him to death. We extend our forgiveness for the sake of the guilty and for ourselves. We cannot carry the burning acid in our stomach endlessly; we have need of neutralizing it. So let our words of forgiveness release the criminal and ourselves. May that experience of freedom be the harbinger of our citizenship in your kingdom.

We pray in the name of him who forgave us. Amen.