Reading 45
Father, forgive them
The reading
Luke 23:32-46
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.”
One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
The companions
Psalm 22:1-18 (selected)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent. But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying, “He trusts in the LORD. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.” But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts. Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help. I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted within me. You have brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing.
Isaiah 53:4-12 (selected)
Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth. Although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light and be satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of himself; and he will bear their iniquities. Because he poured out his soul to death, and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The note
Forgiveness normally arrives after an apology. Someone admits it, then you decide. Here the order is reversed. The soldiers are dividing his clothes while he says it. Nobody has asked. Nobody is sorry. Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
That is not forgiveness as a response. It is the position he was already in.
Then the man beside him. He has nothing to offer and no time left to change anything. He asks only to be remembered. What comes back is today, and with me. No probation, no conditions, no chance to prove himself.
Luke adds two things without explaining them. The land goes dark. The temple veil, which closed off the room nobody could enter, tears in two. Something shut is now open. He dies with his last words addressed to his Father.
This week
There is someone you are waiting on. You will forgive them when they admit what they did, and they have not, and they may not. This week, stop waiting. That does not mean telling them, or reopening it, or pretending it did not happen. It means deciding, privately and specifically, that where you stand toward them no longer depends on their apology arriving. Say the name once, out loud, and release the debt.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain). The divine name is rendered “the LORD” in the companions.
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