LONELY FORGIVENESS

Joseph Krakoff, a rabbi, was asked if he could forgive someone who was remorseless. He said yes. In his hospice work, he intervened on behalf of loved ones in conflict as a kind of forgiveness surrogate, asking the dying to recite an end-of-life prayer:
“You are forgiven.
I forgive you.
Please forgive me.”

Elizabeth Maxwell, a pastor, explained that Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” not to exonerate wrongdoing but to use mercy to stop violence, hurt and pain. She said, “You can be very right and very alone.”

Forgiveness can be very lonely and difficult work.
“You are forgiven.
I forgive you.
Please forgive me.”

Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!” Jesus