Father, Forgive Them

 32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 [h]Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”    - Luke 23:32-34

 

Father, Forgive Them

By Michael Orr

 

Father, forgive them...

But what about the shameless crowd whose views I find disgusting?

Don't you think your simple plea might need some readjusting?

Forgive, He said, for broken lives retain a wounded soul

And they all need my Father's love to make them truly whole

 

Father, forgive them...

But what about the howling mob whose evil deeds betray you?

Or all the fake pretenders who are trying now to play you?

Forgive, He said, for sin is sin and all have fallen short,

They need to know of saving grace, not cynical retort

 

Father, forgive them...

But what about the leaders who did nothing but berate?

Whose jealous thoughts and wicked lies led everyone to hate?

Forgive, he said, for though they failed, they're blindly sinning too

And though their sin is evident, they don't know what they do

 

Father, forgive them...

But what about the person who has wronged me to the core?'

Or those whom I've forgiven once, and now they hurt me more?

Forgive, He said, for if you don't your heart cannot be right,

For all who cling to bitterness rejects The Father's light

 

Father, forgive me...

For I have judged my fellow man, my angry thoughts reserving

When grace has washed my filthy soul, when I was undeserving

Forgiven, Jesus said to me, for that is why I died,

To free the soul from guilt of sin, so with them I'd abide.

 

Forgive them now with softened heart so you will truly see

That they and you are just the same, for all I died to free