Since I was a child, I always thought that the most profound, impactful statement that Christ is reputed to have said to those who condemned, tortured, and murdered him was, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” In that moment, in that statement, and in that heart, is contained what, to me, is Christ’s message. It is this:
First, while Christ was in unimaginable agony, with his life slipping from his veins, he forgave those who were taking it from him. He calls upon us to do the same.
During Christmas, many of our carols celebrate Christ’s birth. This conveys to hearts and minds the vulnerability of that moment. These songs portray a first Christmas where both Joseph and Mary were meek and mild and displayed Godlike composure.
In many religious traditions, especially my own, we are taught that we cannot learn to be genuinely forgiving, and we cannot learn what we must, unless we are humble, contrite, and childlike. It is our connection to innocence that allows our hearts to be open and our minds to be receptive to learn to love even those we deem as our most vile enemies.
Second, Christ taught us that even those who do horrible things, even those who carry out murders, often do so in ignorance. His ministry invited us to recognize this and to understand that where there is ignorance, there is not an absence of humanity, but simply a lack of light, understanding, and love. We are all called upon to be the bearers of that light; for before ignorance can be dispelled, it will have to first be met with forgiveness. We will have to concede, even through our pain, that most who inflict harm are ignorant. Christ calls upon us, not through the butt of a gun, the strength of a fist, or even the induction of others into our dogma, but to show the ignorant our humanity through our love, and to thereby connect with their humanity. That is Christ’s message, pure and simple.
In Christ’s day, many expected Christ to be a King of physical force to deliver them from bondage. Today, many still believe that it is Christ’s destiny to be a physical force who, with a sword, will deliver them from their own folly and save our world from its fallen state. He will not. Christ has already given us all we need to transform our world and deliver ourselves from the pain of ignorance. He calls upon us not to vanquish our foes, but to embrace them. With childlike innocence, we must forgive and be free to show our light and love by how we live, not by how we die.
Loren M. Lambert © December 25, 2017
First, while Christ was in unimaginable agony, with his life slipping from his veins, he forgave those who were taking it from him. He calls upon us to do the same.
During Christmas, many of our carols celebrate Christ’s birth. This conveys to hearts and minds the vulnerability of that moment. These songs portray a first Christmas where both Joseph and Mary were meek and mild and displayed Godlike composure.
In many religious traditions, especially my own, we are taught that we cannot learn to be genuinely forgiving, and we cannot learn what we must, unless we are humble, contrite, and childlike. It is our connection to innocence that allows our hearts to be open and our minds to be receptive to learn to love even those we deem as our most vile enemies.
Second, Christ taught us that even those who do horrible things, even those who carry out murders, often do so in ignorance. His ministry invited us to recognize this and to understand that where there is ignorance, there is not an absence of humanity, but simply a lack of light, understanding, and love. We are all called upon to be the bearers of that light; for before ignorance can be dispelled, it will have to first be met with forgiveness. We will have to concede, even through our pain, that most who inflict harm are ignorant. Christ calls upon us, not through the butt of a gun, the strength of a fist, or even the induction of others into our dogma, but to show the ignorant our humanity through our love, and to thereby connect with their humanity. That is Christ’s message, pure and simple.
In Christ’s day, many expected Christ to be a King of physical force to deliver them from bondage. Today, many still believe that it is Christ’s destiny to be a physical force who, with a sword, will deliver them from their own folly and save our world from its fallen state. He will not. Christ has already given us all we need to transform our world and deliver ourselves from the pain of ignorance. He calls upon us not to vanquish our foes, but to embrace them. With childlike innocence, we must forgive and be free to show our light and love by how we live, not by how we die.
Loren M. Lambert © December 25, 2017
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