“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

---

–Sis. Annie Dancel

Original Text (Tagalog Version)

“Ama, patawarin mo sila dahil di nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa.”

Sa pagkakasala ng tao ipinako si Hesus sa krus, itinaas ang krus, namalaging mababa ang loob at natili siyang nagmamahal. Tumingala Siya sa Ama at Siya na ang humingi ng tawad, Siya na ang nagkusang sabihin, “Ama, patawarin Mo sila dahil ‘di nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa (Lk 23:34).” Awa pa rin at nag-alala pa rin Siya para pahirin ang dumi ng kasalanan natin. Dito nabunyag ang mahiwagang pagpapahayag kung sino si Hesus bilang Diyos. Dito rin sa katauhan ni Hesus ang nagbukas sa isip natin at sa puso kung paano magpatawad kahit na warak na warak na ang loob natin.

Mga kapatid, alam natin sa buhay ni Hesus siya ay nakaranas din ng sugat ng pagtataksil ng pagkakanulo o ng pagpapahirap ng kalooban. May mga storya sa bibliya di po ba, si Hudas Iscariote ipinagkanulo ang Panginoong Hesus sa tatlongpong pilak (Matthew 26:15), si San Pedro naman, tatlong beses niyang sinabing, “’Di ko kilala ang taong yan (Lk 22:59-62)”. At ang mga kasama na nakapako sa krus nilibak si Hesus (Matt 27:44, Mk 15:32), gayon din ang mga awtoridad ng mga Hudyo (Matthew 27:42). Ngayon dahil sa batas ng pag-ibig na isinabuhay ni Hesus, kaya naman habang nakabayubay Siya sa krus nabangit Niya o nasabi Niya, “Ama, patawarin Mo sila, ‘di nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa.” Ipinagdasal ni Hesus ang mga taong nagkanulo sa Kanya, ang naglibak sa Kanya dahil pinakita Niya ang totoong Pag-ibig—ang Pag-ibig na nagsakripisyo para sa taong minamahal Niya.

Mga kapatid, ito ang tinuturo sa atin ni Hesus ang magpatawad at magmahal sa kapwa. God has forgiven us in the first place and so that forgiveness, that goodness towards us must extend to others. We must also forgive because we are also forgiven. God does not refuse anyone who ask for forgiveness, walang pinipili ang Diyos sino man ito, ano mang kulay niya, lahat pinapatawad ng Diyos. ‘Di ba sa Bibliya sinabi ni San Pablo, “…makailan beses ko bang kailangan patawarin ang aking kapatid na nagkasala sa akin?” Ang sabi ni Hesus, “Sinasabi ko sa iyo, hindi pitong beses, ngunit pitumpu’t pitong beses (Matt 18:22).” Ang ibig sabihin ni Hesus forever, walang hanggan. Unlimited ang pagpapatawad natin sa mga taong nagkasala sa atin sapagkat alam natin kapag pinatawad natin ang mga ito makaka-move on tayo sa buhay. Unless you would not forgive that person you can not move on in your life. Ngayon po ba, may mga sitwasyon tayo sa buhay na kailangan natin patawarin ang ating kapitbahay, mga kaibigan, mga minamahal sa buhay? Suriin po natin ang ating buhay.

Mga kapatid, may sitwasyon sa aking buhay na nagyari na patungkol ito sa aking kasama sa bahay. Dahil sa ako ay isang taong palasimba, nagdedebosyon sa Inang Maria, at nag-se-serve sa simbahan, marami siyang nasasabi o napupuna sa akin na kesyo banal daw ako pero ‘di niya gusto ang ugali ko. Inisip kong mabuti kung kumpruntahin ko ba siya o ipagdasal nalang siya? Bakit kaya nila ako hinuhusgahan sa pagiging masigasig kung magpakabanal? Di po ba tayo ay nilikha ng Diyos na kawangis Niya? Kaya dapat tayo rin ay pagsumikapan nating maging banal tulad Niya. Laging sinasambit ng Pari sa Banal na Misa “Sumaiyo ang Panginoon” at sasagot naman tayo, “at sumaiyo rin”. Ito ang nagpapatunay na magmula noong tayo ay mabinyagan, nasa ating kalooban na ang Panginoong Hesus. Ang lahat ng mga kayamanan ng Diyos na karunungan at kaalaman ay nakatago kay Hesus na sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang Banal na Espiritu ay naninirahan sa kaibuturan ng puso ng bawat taong nabinyagan. Kaya naman ako ay nagsusumikap na tuklasin ang pagpapalang ibinigay na sakin ng Panginoong Diyos. Minsan din ay may mga sitwasyon na kinukwestiyon ako ng aking asawa pag meron din siyang ‘di nagustuhan sa aking pananalita or reasoning, napagsasabihan din niya ako na “naturingan din daw naman akong palasimba at nagseserve sa simbahan.” Nasasaktan ako kung ganito ang mga naririnig ko lalong lalo na sa mga mahal ko sa buhay. Pero, sumagi sa isip ko ang ginawa ng ating Panginoong Hesus ng Siya ay nakabayubay sa krus ang kanyang dasal, “Ama, patawarin sila di nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa.” Kaya ganoon din dapat ang aking gagawin, ipagdasal ang mga taong nakasakit sa akin at humingi ng kapatawaran sa mga taong nasaktan ko.

Pagmamahal at pagpapatawad, yan ang sangkap para maka-move on ako sa buhay. Alalahanin natin na may dalawang bagay po dahil ang pagpapatawad ay naka focus sa tao. Dahil sa nakatuon ako sa pagpapatawad sa tao dahil sa mga bagay bagay na nagawa nila sa akin. Kailangan ko tumugon sa mga mabuting bagay o ng pagmamahal. Ang pangalawang bagay ay naka-focus naman ako sa pag-move on doon sa sitwasyon ko sa mga nagyayari sa buhay ko. Unless I will not heal that situation in my life I can not move on. Kaya po ang pagpapatwad at ang pag-move on ay magkaugnay. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihing pinatawad ko na sila pero hanggang sa ngayon ay nasa puso ko pa rin ang pangyayari na nasaktan ako. Mga kapatid sikapin din ninyong magpatawad katulad ng Diyos, kasi pinatawad Niya lahat ng tao habang Siya ay nakabayubay sa krus. Pag-ibig ang nanaig kay Jesus upang mapatawad tayo. “Love one another as I loved you (John 13:34).” This is God’s New Commandment. Ibigin at mahalin natin ang ating kaaway katulad ng pagmamamahal ng Diyos.

---

Prayer:

Ama naming mapagmahal, madali para sa akin na magsalita tungkol sa Inyong kapatawaran, kahit na humiling para dito at magpasalamat sa Inyo para dito.

Mahal na Panginoon, bagaman naniniwala ako sa isang antas na pinatawad Nyo ako, ang kamangha-manghang katotohanan na ito ay kailangang tumagos sa aking puso sa mga bagong paraan. Tulungan Nyo akong malaman sa sariwang paniniwala na ako ay buo at sa wakas ay pinatawad Nyo na, hindi dahil sa anumang nagawa ko, ngunit dahil sa ginawa Nyo para sa akin.

Maaari ba akong mabuhay ngayon bilang isang pinatawad na tao, binubuksan ang aking puso sa Inyo, na piniling huwag magkasala sapagkat ang kapangyarihan ng kasalanan ay winasak ng Inyong kaligtasan.

Lahat ng papuri sa Inyo, Panginoong Jesus, para sa Inyong walang kapantay na kapatawaran! Amen.

Translated Version

Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, lifted up to the cross, and yet remained meek, humble and loving that He may be a bridge towards the Father in Heaven that man may be reunited with Him by the forgiveness of sins. He lifted up His eyes to the Father in heaven, and He asked for forgiveness on behalf of man, and sincerely prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Lk 23:34).” Mercy and love poured out so that the dirt of our sins be wiped away. This revealed the mysterious manifestation of Jesus as God. Also, in this manifestation, Jesus opens our mind and heart that we may also know how to forgive even when we are broken.

Brethren, we know that in the life of Jesus He experienced the wounds of betrayal and infliction. In the Bible, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins (Matthew 26:15), and Saint Peter declared three times to people saying, “I do not know Him (Luke 22:59-62)”. The other person who was also nailed to the cross mocked Jesus (Matthew 27:44, Mark 15:32), so also the Roman soldiers and the Jewish authorities standing around Him also ridiculed Him (Matthew 27:42). Due to the Love that burns in Jesus’ most Sacred Heart, while He was hanging on the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. He prayed for those who had forsaken Him, and to those who wounded Him not for any other reason but just because He showed His Love for them—the Love that sacrifices for the people He loves.

Brothers and sisters, it is taught to us by Jesus to forgive and love our neighbor. God has forgiven us in the first place and so that forgiveness, that goodness towards us must extend to others. We must also forgive because we are also forgiven. God does not refuse anyone who ask for forgiveness, God doesn’t choose of whom He has to forgive, but He gives it to all, whatever color they maybe, God gives His forgiveness. In the Holy Scripture, St. Peter asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him?” Jesus said, “I say to you , not seven times , but seventy- seven times (From Matthew 18:22).” Jesus meant to say that we forgive without end . We have to forgive other people who sinned against us unlimitedly because once we forgive, we can move on in our life. At this moment in our life, is there anyone who needs our forgiveness; is it our neighbor, is it our friend, our love ones? Let us examine our life.

Brethren, there is a situation in my life that happened within my household. I was sought to be a churchgoer, devoted to Mother Mary, and serving in the church but I was weighed down whether I was a holy person because my personality was disapproved. I was pondering carefully if I would confront that person or pray for that person. Why I was being judged of being attentive to the things of holiness? I am sure we are created by God in His image and likeness – so we must also strive to be holy like Him. The Priest always says in the Holy Mass, “The Lord be with you” and we answer, “and with your spirit”. This proves that when we were baptized, Jesus then dwells within us. All the riches of God’s Wisdom and Knowledge are hidden with Christ Jesus who in through the Holy Spirit is living in the depths of the heart of every person baptized. This is why I strive to discover these blessings given to me by our Lord God. There were also situations that my husband did not like the way I speak or the way I reason out, then my church activities would be thrown back to me as a scold. It hurt me upon hearing it especially from the people I love. By God’s grace, it crosses my mind how our Lord Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross with His prayer, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” This is also what I should be praying for those who hurt me and asked for forgiveness to those people whom I caused pain.

Love, and forgiveness are the way that I follow in the path of life, so that I may move on. Let us keep in mind that there are two things why to forgive. First, due to the remission for the people who had done me wrong—I need to respond to the good things and be loving . The second is my mind set on moving on from the situation that occurred to me. Unless I will not heal that situation in my life I cannot move on. Therefore, forgiveness and moving on goes together. It is not rightful to say that I have forgiven but deep in my heart still carries the resentments and hurts. My dear brothers and sisters, try also to forgive as God has forgiven us, because He forgave all people while He was hanging on the cross. Love prevails Jesus to forgive us—”Love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34)”… this is God’s New Commandment. Love our enemy as God loves us.

---

PRAYER: Loving Father, it is easy for me to talk about forgiveness, even to ask for it and be grateful for it. Dear Lord, though I believe in such a way that You have forgiven me, this mystery has to penetrate into my heart in such a new way. Help me to perceive deep within anew that I am whole and I am forgiven, not because of anything I have done, but because of what You have done to me. I live today as a forgiven person, opening my heart to You, who commanded not to sin because the power of sin is destroyed by Your salvation .

All praise to you , Lord Jesus, for Your everlasting forgiveness! Amen.