Once again, we have heard those absolutely life-changing words from the mouth of our Saviour:
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. If we carry hate and unforgiveness in our hearts, then our sufferings can condemn us to a life filled with desires for revenge and retaliation. Jesus chose to forgive.

In December of last year the news services carried a very hopeful and redeeming story. I would like to briefly remind you of that story today, and I quote:
 
"We three, members of a Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation to Iraq, were kidnapped on
November 26, 2005 and held for 118 days before being freed by British and American forces on March 23, 2006. Our friend and colleague, Tom Fox, an American citizen was kidnapped with us and murdered on March 9, 2006. We are
immensely sad that he is not sitting with us here today."

"We unconditionally forgive our captors for
abducting and holding us. We have no desire to punish them. Punishment can never restore what was taken from us."
 
"What our captors did was wrong. They caused us, our families and our friends great suffering. Yet we bear no malice towards them and have no wish for retribution. Should those who have been charged with holding us hostage be brought to trial and convicted, we ask that they be granted all possible leniency. We categorically lay aside any rights we may have over them."
 
"Through the power of forgiveness, it is our hope that good deeds will come from the lives of our captors, and that we will all learn to reject the use of violence. We believe those who use violence against others are themselves harmed by the use of violence."  

         Peace, Fr. John