“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.  This is one of Jesus’ last words on the cross. But, you might tell me, it’s Easter; why talk about Jesus on the cross now? Because Easter can’t happen if we don’t forgive those who hurt us, or even commit atrocities like Jesus had to endure.

Easter is resurrection, life.  Easter is the love that has the last word on hatred and death. If Jesus had not loved to the point of being able to forgive all the people who wanted him dead (this goes far beyond the Pharisees and scribes of the 1st century, the Romans and his disciples who abandoned him; it includes us too – how often do we turn away from Jesus, from the love that defines him?) could the resurrection have taken place?

We might be inclined to say that the Pharisees and scribes knew very well what they were doing. Yes, on the surface they knew: they condemned a person because they felt justified in doing so.  But if they had really known what they were doing, if they had love in their hearts, the love Jesus spoke of, they could never have committed this act of violence.

Are we able and willing to forgive those who attack our neighbors or ourselves? When people in positions of power commit grave injustices, can we forgive them in the way Jesus did and say: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”? 
I know I have trouble.

During his lifetime, Pope Francis constantly invited us to go out and meet the stranger, the one fleeing persecution and poverty. Look at how our leaders and many others treat migrants. It’s not like the Good Samaritan. The Pope has also always invited us, in the manner of Jesus, to forgive our leaders “… for they know not what they do”. In this time of Easter, this time of resurrection, forgive in the way of Jesus to live this new life to the full.

Norbert Piché,
National Director
for JRS Canada