Day 21: Forgiveness
Luke 23:32–38
There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they
are doing.”
Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Secrets of Heaven 1093
The Lord never curses anyone; He does not even get angry. It is we instead who curse ourselves by turning our backs on the Lord.… The Lord is as far from cursing or being angry at anyone as heaven is from earth. He is all-knowing and
all-powerful and rules the universe in wisdom, so He is infinitely above all weakness. How can anyone believe that He would indulge in anger against such wretched dust as we human beings are, who hardly even know what we are doing and on our own can do nothing but evil? For this reason, the Lord never feels anger but only pity.
Reflection
The Lord forgave those who were torturing him on the
cross. How does this fact affect your own need to forgive or to be forgiven?
