The True Meaning of Forgiveness

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

On "Forgiveness Sunday" we find ourselves at the threshold of the Great Fast.  Saint Paul’s words from the day’s Epistle should ring in our ears and burn in our hearts, “It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” 

The Holy Church has been preparing us for this day for lo these past four weeks, bringing us gently into the realization that it is time to awaken ourselves from our spiritual slumber, that it is “high time” to arouse ourselves to spiritual efforts, the struggles with the flesh and the spirit, to conform ourselves to the will of God in our lives.

To take us to that point, let us review a Gospel reading NOT of this day, but of the days to come.  We all know where we are headed – to the Cross, to the tomb with Christ, to show our love by walking with Him as He approaches trial before the unlawful judges of the Sanhedrin, as He subjects Himself to beatings and scourgings at the hands of the Romans, and as He submits His body to death on the Cross and burial in the tomb.

On Holy Thursday, we will hear the following words from the lips of our Lord.  “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  This phrase is recorded only in the Gospel of Saint Luke (23:34).  None of the others record this marvelous prayer from our Lord and Savior.

Now I ask you, why is it that Jesus finds it necessary to ask the Father to forgive those who crucify Him?  In previous accounts, we find Jesus making a point of showing the Scribes and Pharisees that He indeed, as the Son of Man, as the Son of God, has the authority to forgive sins.  We find this in at least two places.  One is in the Gospel of St. Matthew Chapter 9, where we find others bringing the paralytic to the Lord for healing.  A second is in the Gospel of St. Luke Chapter 7, where the woman comes and anoints the feet of the Lord with her costly ointment.  In both instances those who surround the Lord are at first horror filled to hear a Man saying, “Your sins are forgiven,” for they understand the forgiveness of sins to come from God alone.  But the Lord shows His authority in both these instances, teaching the unbelievers that He indeed has this authority.

Now, back to the Cross.  If Jesus clearly has the authority to forgive sins, why does He ask the Father to forgive those who crucify Him?  Why does He not simply say, “Father, I forgive them”?

You see, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord indeed HAS already forgiven them.  By His words, He shows us that HIS forgiveness is already complete.  By offering this prayer, He transfers His will to the Father, for they share all things.

And there is yet one even more marvelous thing within this prayer.  For when the Lord offers this prayer, He has forgiven them even as they are committing the sin.  Not after – during!  His crucifixion is not complete, He has not yet died on the Cross.  Those responsible for His crucifixion still had the ability, the authority, the power to bring Him down, to recognize His divinity.  As they stand, watch, and wait for the Life of the World to die, He prays for them, and forgives them.

How much more should I be forgiving of any who have only spoken badly of me, or taken from me, or dealt dishonestly with me.  I am not in any kind of mortal danger from what others have done to me.  Jesus was laboring to breathe.  The Lord was gasping for each breath.  His ligaments were stretched to the breaking point.  Read Psalm 22, and from it learn what the extent of the Lord’s suffering on the Cross.  

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? …. I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 "He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!" 9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts. 10 I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God. 11 Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. 13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”

God Himself suffered in this way for me.  And who am I to say that I am offended to such an extent that I will not forgive.  What does our Lord teach me about holding back my forgiveness until one who seeks my harm asks for it?  Those who surround the Lord do not know Him.  They do not ask His forgiveness, because they desire His death.  Yet, He freely has already forgiven them, and transfers His forgiveness to the Father.

Those of us who call ourselves His followers do not seek His death.  We come seeking His life, and we desire to have that life in abundance.  We cannot have it, we cannot share it, unless and until we follow our Lord in His example of forgiveness.  

This is why Orthodox Christians gather around the world on this day to seek one anothers' forgiveness.  Only by entering the Fast with our hearts free from holding onto judgment of others can we truly begin to judge ourselves, to cleanse ourselves, to approach the Lord with open hearts, to be truly and fully repentant.

Only then might we hope to hear our Lord offer His forgiveness to us, coming to know concretely that He has already forgiven us as well.