«Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do» (Luke 23:34).
FEW YEARS AGO, as I looked through the magazines that were placed on a church magazine rack that were to give away, I saw a cover that caught my eye. The photo of LeBron James appeared on the cover, at that time the best basketball player in the world, wearing the uniform of the Cleveland Cavaliers, his «new» team. It was an article written by Martin Surridge, an English teacher from Lynden, Washington.
The main point of the article was simple, but powerful: Why were Cleveland fans willing to forgive LeBron, being that there was nothing to forgive? In the author’s opinion, LeBron James did not betray his Cleveland Cavaliers team when, as a free agent, he chose to play for the Miami Heat. True, it was Cleveland who originally hired him, and it was in the state of Ohio that LeBron was born. However, didn’t he have every right to sign with the team of his choice?
After four years in Miami, during which time LeBron was the deciding factor for the Miami Heat to win two NBA championships, the basketball superstar decided to return to Cleveland. And then appeared by the thousands the T-shirts stamped with the message: «We forgive you, LeBron.»
What were they forgiving? Professor Surridge asks. There was nothing to forgive! Besides, he adds, if when he left Cleveland, LeBron did something wrong, that forgiveness should have been granted when he left, not when he returned. It was then, not now, when he needed to be acquitted of his guilt the most.
What Professor Surridge says makes sense. If, for example, someone has robbed me, my forgiveness for the thief must occur while the thief is still in possession of my money, not when he has returned it to me, because then how easy it would be for me to forgive!
Reading Sturridge’s article transported my mind to other scenes of disloyalty, treason, and forgiveness. I thought of Peter in the temple courtyard, denying the Lord. Of Judas, selling Him for thirty silver coins. I remembered the words of the apostle John as he wrote of the mission that brought the Son of God into our world: He came to His own, but they did not receive Him. I also remembered the scenes of Calvary.
When did Jesus forgive His detractors? As He suffered the intense pain of the nails, and His blood ran down His brow? While insults were still being heard, our beloved Savior exclaimed, «Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do» (Luke 23:34). If this isn’t forgiveness, then what is?
Oh, divine love, that You did not wait for us to reconcile with You in order to deliver Your Son to death, and a death on the cross!
Thank You, Father, for giving Your Son to die for us when we were still Your enemies; and because You made provision to forgive us before we deserved Your forgiveness.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Colaboradores: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
