IMPOSSIBLE FORGIVENESS

The following prayer was found crumpled among the remains of the Ravensbruck concentration camp where Nazis killed nearly 50,000 women: “O Lord, remember not only the men and women of goodwill, but also those of ill will. But do not remember the suffering they have inflicted upon us.

Remember the [good things that have come] thanks to this suffering—our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of this. And when they come to judgement, let all [these fruits] be their forgiveness.”

I can’t imagine the fear and pain inflicted on the woman who wrote this prayer. I can’t imagine what kind of incredible love and forgiveness was needed for her to write these words. She did the unthinkable: she asked God to forgive the people who hated, imprisoned, tortured and probably killed her.

This prayer echoes Jesus’ prayer. After being falsely accused, hated, beaten and humiliated, Jesus was “crucified . . . along with [two] criminals” (LUKE 23:33). Hanging from a rough-hewn cross—His body torn to bloody pieces as He gasped for breath—I would expect Jesus to judge the people who put Him there. Yet Jesus’ prayer went against every human instinct: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (V.34).

The forgiveness Jesus offers seems impossible, but He offers it to us. As we start to really appreciate the forgiveness He gives us (and what it cost Him), we will find the forgiveness we need to show becomes a little less impossible itself.

To pray about . . .

God, sometimes forgiveness seems like a strange, impossible thing to have to show to the people who hurt us the most. In our pain, help us to focus on Jesus’ forgiveness. In that place, teach us to love like You do.