Jesus’ prayer was, ‘Father, forgive them,

they know not what they do.’

A prayer born in death, writhing with pain.

A prayer risking faith, facing the sorrow.

A prayer living in hope, seeing the future.

 

My prayer was, ‘God, how can I forgive them?

They do know what they did.’

A prayer saying, ‘ It still hurts.’

A prayer wanting vengeance.

A prayer seeking direction.

 

My prayer became, ‘God, help me forgive them;

they know what they did.’

A prayer saying, ‘They were wrong.

A prayer wanting reconciliation.

A prayer seeing courage.

 

My prayer became, ‘God, forgive them;

they know what they did.’

A prayer that wrestled with injustice.

A prayer that acknowledges weakness.

A prayer that found hope in God’s love.

 

My prayer remains, ‘God, forgive them;

they know what they did.’

Because forgiveness recreates life from death.

Because forgiveness cleanses the healing wound.

Because forgiveness builds the bridge of freedom.

 

Jared P. Pingleton, Christian psychologist, author, and speaker

________________________

 

 

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, 

    and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, 

    it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.