First Word

  "Forgive them, Father, they don't know what they are doing."

                                                     by Ayres Adrienne Canlas 
Truly, Jesus has a sacred heart for Him to say such words. I cannot help but ask, did Jesus ask God to forgive them because they truly do not know what they are doing? As I reflect, I cannot begin to comprehend the heart of Jesus when He called out to His Father, asking forgiveness on behalf of the people who crucified Him, who humiliated Him. Still, it is relevant to this day and age. Though, I must admit that it is even more difficult to reflect because my mind is full of rage. I keep on thinking about how we live in such great peril, children being trafficked and abused; school being bombed, innocent children and innocent people being killed. How many mothers and fathers have lost their children? How many children have lost their parents? We live in a world where waging war can still be legal and humans are being treated as collateral damage. We live in a time where one would expect that as humans, violence and destruction should not be the solution when the economy is collapsing. Surely, waging war is not the way to achieve peace. There must be something more. Is that being naive? Or is that having hope that humanity is way better than this? I have so many questions, why sacrifice the blood of the innocent? Why think of God as a transactional being? When He is the face of mercy and justice. I understand that we must begin within ourselves, within the community that we live in. When I ponder the way I live my life, the way I treat my family and friends, the way I interact with the people I encounter on a daily basis. And I realised how I was forgiven by God, how He always showed mercy when there were times that I can also be unkind and unforgiving. There were times when I also chose the wrong words and actions. Still, I was forgiven. Truly, forgiveness is a gift as much as a merciful act. God’s mercy is always greater than human sin, always beyond our full human understanding. I may have rage within me for the right reasons. Though, I refuse to let the rage consume me. I am full of hope and love. I have faith. I shall not despair as I fix my gaze on Jesus. I shall remember John 16:33 “But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Hence goodness shall prevail. Always. I shall strive to be courageous and kind. We must continue to protect our humanity amidst differences. We must continue to care for one another, even though it can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. We must act and strive for justice. Forgiveness is essential and so does accountability and justice. As having mercy and being forgiven is transformative it causes us to take action.

Prayer:

Father of Mercy, As Your Son hung upon the cross, He cried out: “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

In those words, He revealed a heart that loves beyond cruelty, a mercy that surpasses human understanding.

Lord, I confess the rage I feel at the injustices of our world— the children trafficked and abused, the innocent lives lost to war, the families torn apart by violence.

My heart aches, and I struggle to forgive.

Yet You remind me that forgiveness is not weakness, but strength born of love. Mercy does not erase justice, but transforms it into action that protects, heals, and restores.

Teach me, Lord, to begin within myself: to be kind in my words, to be patient with my family, to be compassionate toward strangers. Remind me that I, too, have been forgiven, and that Your mercy is greater than my sin.

Give me courage to hope when despair seems easier. Give me faith to believe that goodness shall prevail, for Christ has overcome the world.

Help me to protect humanity amidst division, to care for others even when it is inconvenient, to strive for justice without losing mercy.

May forgiveness and accountability walk hand in hand, so that mercy becomes not only a gift received, but a call to act with courage and love.

Ayres Adrienne Canlas  is an HR professional. She is also a member of the Ministry of Lectors and Commentators at the Manila Cathedral.