Blogging Lent - Father, Forgive Them
Father, forgive them; for they do not what they are doing (Luke 23:34).
Father, forgive them. Forgive them. Jesus isn’t talking about himself forgiving those who were crucifying him. Doubtless, he already has forgiven them. But he asks his Father to forgive them.
Throughout his life, Jesus declared to sinners who have to come to him in faith that their sins are forgiven. He says it in a passive voice. Not I forgive you for your sins, but Your sins are forgiven. Maybe because forgiving sin that didn’t appear to be committed against him was already audacious. In the shock maybe they wouldn’t have heard the truth of the statement he made. They might think who does this guy think he is? instead of I have been set free from my guilt.
But on the cross, Jesus makes a special petition to the Father as if the forgiveness of the soldiers wasn’t sure yet.
Father, forgive them. They’re just obeying orders, following the law, submitting to the authorities you have set above them. They don’t know they are killing the Son of God. They don’t know they are killing Life.
How many times have I sinned without knowing it? I’m sure I have spoken words innocently that have nevertheless cut someone. (It’s happened often enough to me). How many stray words would I want to take back?
How many actions are there in my life that withheld love or kindness (or, worse, have caused harm) because I wasn’t paying enough attention? I was just going through the motions. I was only doing my job.
+ Dear Lord, forgive me for things I have done and the things I have left undone that were sin against you or your creation. I was clueless. I didn’t know what I was doing because I was just going through the motions of my day, fulfilling my responsibilities, but not being watchful for where your will could be accomplished through me. Open my eyes. Make me less of a lifeless automaton and more like your Son who is full of life. Amen.
jose says:
February 7th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Here are links to other folks who are Blogging Lent this week.
Nichole blogs about sheep.
Dave paints a picture of grace
Kenny had to blog twice
kenny says:
February 8th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
This paragraph has really stuck with me this week:
“How many times have I sinned without knowing it? I’m sure I have spoken words innocently that have nevertheless cut someone. (It’s happened often enough to me).”
It made me sorry to realize I’d surely done this to people as well, and not known it.
And I really like your prayer to become more aware of what you’re doing, and less of an automaton who just falls into the rythyms of a fallen world.
smlwoman says:
February 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Is It Human to Forgive
I hope I did this right. It’s not short, but my thoughts rarely are.
jos' says:
February 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Kenny,
I guess that theme of being really alive is a theme I keep coming back to.
Jody,
Thanks for joining in. Lent is already been really helpful to my prayer life because of everyone participating.
Roman says:
November 5th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Oooo! This is a point mentioned. I like when everything in place while it is understandable to mere mortals.