“On the cross, as he’s being mocked and murdered, Jesus looks at his tormentors’ eyes and declares, 'Father forgive them.' Those words. That grace. I can only imagine it broke the hearts of those who listened. How could he forgive them after all that they had done to him? Yet he shows that only forgiveness has the power to break the cycle of violence. It holds a mirror to the person who has done wrong and forces them to look at their wrong and confront it. It frees the offended party from being stuck in anger, waiting of others to change or seek reconciliation.
“Extending forgiveness liberates us. It is perhaps one of the most radical acts we can do. It’s what is so desperately needed in our world. How would your life change if you worked to forgive that abusive parent? How would your life change if you extended grace and love to that person who did you wrong? What message would that send to them? What would that do to your heart and life? This is a hard path, but it’s the only one. It’s the path that leads us to the life and the world that God desires for us.”
