Forgiveness
Christ the King; Luke 23:33-43
They nailed him to the cross but still he prayed:
“Forgive them for they know not what they do!”
They’d learnt the hard way might must be obeyed:
defiant soldiers forfeit life they knew.
What sort of choice is kill a man or die?
Not only death, dishonour lay in wait.
A soldier’s lot was not to question why.
They knew both he and they were pawns to fate.
He hung with arms outstretched and laboured breath
beneath the sign that read: “King of the Jews”.
“God’s chosen one would not be facing death,
so save yourself if you can truly choose.”
Thus he is mocked by many a scoffing voice;
they know not death is his forgiving choice.
Barbara Messner 19/11/2025
Barb, poet priest 
Thank you for this beauty in writing about the ugliest knowing. In the US Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday is so often absorbed by Thanksgiving Day, and even that named such is a time of grieving for indigenous people.
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