I wish to consider with you something that each of us needs. There is not even one reader who can say, "Count me out, this is not meant for me." I want to look with you at the concept of forgiveness. "How basic, how ordinary, how unexciting," some may be thinking already. Hold everything, you might be one of many people who lacks a full understanding of this wonderful concept.

Back in the fourteenth century, a monk announced to the people of his village that he was going to preach the greatest sermon he had ever preached on the love of God. He begged everyone to come. At the appropriate hour the cathedral was filled with the old and the young. They went through the usual liturgy, and when it was time for the sermon, everyone was breathlessly awaiting the discourse of the clergyman.

Instead, ascending to the pulpit, he went to the candelabra, drew a long burning candle and then walked to the altar where a sculptured form of Christ was nailed to the cross. He silently lifted the candle until the glow was right underneath one of the pierced hands, and he held it there, with his back to the congregation. Then he shifted and held the candle below the other pierced hand of the Lord. Then he dropped it and held it along the side where the spear had punctured him. And now he dropped to his knees, in prayer, holding the candle so the candlelight glowed on the pierced feet of Jesus.

After a moment he stood and turned, holding the candle before him so that the people could see the gentle and affectionate tears flowing out of his eyes, and he said to his congregation, "My beloved people, that is my sermon on the love of God for you." And he dismissed them with a benediction.

From the mouth of our Lord came words of forgiveness at the most poignant point in his life. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." We always have a marked respect for final words spoken as life ebbs away. And here is the King of Creation, the Beautiful Savior, fairer than the meadows, woodlands, blooming flowers in the spring, forgiving a creation bastardized by sin as he hung there positioned on a horrendous hill. Even the sound of its name, Golgotha, is ugly. He was forgiving us - not because we deserved it, but because we needed it. God’s love in Christ acting in behalf of people who needed it.