Christ has died...
... and He is Risen!
Let us listen
to the last words of Jesus
on the Cross
with a heart that knows
that the crucified
has risen from the dead.

"Father, forgive them;
they do not know
what they are doing."

Lord Jesus
you looked down from the cross
at those who had beaten you, laughed at you,
cursed you,
and you saw the terrible eyes of your enemies
watching, waiting for you to die.

Yet
Beyond the hatred, beyond the violence,
of those desperate men
you saw your Father's love
for them.

And you responded in love and said:
"Father, forgive them;
they do not know what they are doing."

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other as well…. Love your enemies and do good to them… then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Luke 6: 27-36

Lord Jesus
when my enemies
are watching, waiting for me to fall
let me not be blinded by pain and anger
so much that I can no longer
love them.

Give me resurrection eyes
that I might see
even my enemies
as our merciful Father sees them.