Here’s a reflection on Luke 23: 34. It was written by William Loader.
'Father,
forgive them!'
A
reflection on Luke 23:34
The
war crimes tribunal was assembled. Caiaphas and his cohorts, Pilate and his,
were marched in. There were other charges against Pilate. For this session all
stood accused of conspiracy to murder an innocent man, Jesus from Nazareth.
The
judge read the charges.
Immediately
from the gallery a voice cried out, ‘But he said, "Father, forgive them
for they know not what they do."’
The
judge responded: ‘Forgiveness is only possible when people realise what they
have done. Until then their guilt remains and failing to appreciate the
dimensions of their act they cannot forgive themselves and cannot receive
forgiveness from others.’
‘Crucify
them! Crucify them!’ others shouted.
The
judge replied: ‘Why answer violence with violence? Why mourn love with hate?’
‘Let
us beat them, whip them, punish them,’ cried others.
‘Punishment,’
replied the judge, ‘is an admission of failure, a strategy of despair.’
‘What,
then, are we to do with these who killed the Christ?’ the crowd retorted.
The
judge stood to his feet, looking left and right, then turning to the accused,
he said: ‘Your sentence is to hear the story again and again every year, until
you recognise your part in the drama, see yourselves in the scene.’
The
crowd was silent. One by one they rose from their places and made their way
sheepishly to the door, until only the judge, the attendants and the accused
remained. ‘Take them away,’ he said. ‘Place them in the garden beyond the
flaming sword and let the story begin afresh.’
~
written by William Loader, and posted on Bill
Loader’s Home Page. http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/Fatherforgivethem.htm
