On Calvary, two ways of thinking collide. The leaders of the people mocked him: “Let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One” (Lk 23:35). The soldiers echoed this: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself” (v. 37). Even one of the criminals crucified beside him taunted: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself” (v. 39).
Save yourself. Take care of yourself. Think of yourself. This is the mantra of a world obsessed with self-preservation, personal success, and power. It is the voice of those who crucified Christ and a mindset still prevalent today.
Against this self-centred mentality stands Jesus, who offers himself instead of saving himself. Jesus speaks only three times in this Gospel passage, but never in his own defence. Instead, he prays to the Father and offers mercy to the repentant thief. His words, “Father, forgive them” (v. 34), embody the very heart of his mission.
At such a time of excruciating pain, when our natural instinct would be to cry out in agony or anger, Jesus chose to forgive his killers. His love remained unbroken, his forgiveness unwavering. This is the God we believe in. Let us gaze upon the crucified Christ. From his wounds, forgiveness flows. From his suffering, love triumphs.
On the cross, Jesus fulfilled his most challenging commandment. We often dwell on past wounds, feeding resentment. Jesus invites us to break this cycle: to react to the nails in our lives with love and to respond to hatred with forgiveness. Do we follow Christ’s example, or do we seek retaliation? This is the question we must ask ourselves.
If we want to know whether we truly belong to Christ, we must examine how we treat those who have wronged us. Jesus did not just ask for his persecutors’ forgiveness; he also explained why: “For they know not what they do” (v. 34). Despite their premeditated cruelty, he saw their ignorance. He continues to act as our advocate, seeking mercy for us rather than condemnation.
Sin is often born of ignorance. When we turn to violence, we forget God’s love and the dignity of others. We see this tragic ignorance in the horrors of mothers, grieving for their children, in displaced refugees, in abandoned elderly, in young people robbed of a future or addicted to drugs, in soldiers sent to kill their own brothers and sisters. Christ is crucified again and again in our world today.
Yet, amid this darkness, one man responded to Christ’s mercy: the repentant thief. Seeing Jesus’ forgiveness, he dared to hope and asked: “Jesus, remember me” (Lk 23:42). Jesus replied with unimaginable grace: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (v. 43). In his final moments the thief found new life. This is the power of God’s forgiveness.
As we journey through Holy Week, let us embrace the certainty that no sin is beyond God’s mercy. He never tires of forgiving; we are the ones who tire of asking. With Jesus, there is always hope. With him, it is never too late. In Christ, we can always begin anew.
Let us take courage and walk toward Easter with hearts open to his forgiveness. For even now, Jesus intercedes for us before the Father (cf. Heb 7:25), ever repeating: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” May we do the same, in silence, in our hearts, and in our lives.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
