Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Lent 208 Luke 23:32-34

During this Lenten Season, we are going to focus our attention on Jesus’ seven words from the cross and how they correspond to the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. This evening, we hear Christ’s first words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Jesus’ first words, which are really a prayer, is a prayer not for Himself, but for others. The character of Christ is seen so clearly. To the end, His focus was always on the needs of others first. And in this case, He focuses on their greatest need – the forgiveness of sin.

But for whom is this prayer said? We know about the two criminals who were crucified on either side of Him, and the soldiers who cast lots for His clothing. At first, it may appear that the two criminals and the Roman soldiers had very little in common, but the truth is that they were more alike than they realized.

The chief priests and scribes gathered at the cross to mock and jeer at Jesus. Most likely Simon of Cyrene, who was made to carry His cross, was still there. The faithful women were there. Mary, his mother, and John the Apostle were there. This prayer is not only for all of them, but for Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas and the Apostles who were not there but were in hiding. And this prayer is for you and me and for all people of all time.

In these words, we see the true character of God, the mercy of God, and the desire of God for all people to be saved. Did the chief priests repent that day? Did the Roman soldiers repent? One of them did make a profound observation that truly He was the Son of God. Did His mother Mary or any of His faithful followers recognize Jesus as their Substitute Sacrifice or as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?

The point is that Jesus desired forgiveness for people who had so far demonstrated neither contrition nor faith. That is grace. That is undeserved love. Contrition and repentance are not works we perform in order to earn God’s forgiveness. The concept of “earning grace” is a contradiction in itself – it is an oxymoron. You cannot earn that which is given freely.

In the Lord’s prayer, we ask our Father in heaven to hear Christ’s prayer from the cross on our behalf. And because of our faith which the Holy Spirit has created in us at our Baptism, our lives are a perpetual example that our Father in heaven does answer prayer – we are forgiven even when we do not know what we are doing. Amen.

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