friday of the second week in lent

​Date:  March 18
Lectionary Link:  https://www.lectionarypage.net/WeekdaysOfLent/FridaySecondWeek.html
Contributor: Cassidy Wegwerth
 
When I first opened up my readings for the Friday in the Second Week of Lent, a phrase immediately jumped out at me – “Jesus Christ prayed for his enemies on the cross, so we may have grace to forgive those who wrongfully or scornfully use us.” 
 
This phrase has sometimes become a challenge for me over the last few years and especially over the last few days/weeks.  Our country has been divided over the past few years in ways I have never known before and in ways that do not always make sense to me.  And now, over the last few days/weeks the war on Ukraine has made this phrase even more difficult to put into action for me.
 
The day I first went through these readings was a few days into Russia’s attack on Ukraine.  I have been glued to the news about Ukraine’s resilience and bravery in the face of all of the atrocities and injustices happening in the country they love so deeply.  I’ve seen mothers like me, children like mine, and teenagers like my students, facing situations I am so incredibly thankful to have never known.  As I am taking in all the information coming out about the horrors that await the Ukrainian people, I cannot imagine offering forgiveness to the people who are calling for and committing these terrible acts and the leader/s who are putting the world in a dangerous situation.  
 
So, it seems this prayer has found me at the time I needed it the most.
 
“My heart opened to the world’s beauty and brutality. I looked closely at humanity and all of its brokenness and decided to forgive it and myself. Since brokenness is the way of folks, the only way to live peacefully is to forgive everyone constantly, including yourself.” – Glennon Doyle