…there is one particular prayer that Jesus teaches and models. I’m not enough of a world religion scholar to know if it is unique to Christianity, but it is remarkable part of Christian faith and life. It’s the prayer of Stephen as he was stoned and of Jesus on the Cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
It is one way we obey Jesus’ command to love enemies, even murderous ones””whether they target us or those with whom we sympathize.
This struck me afresh recently as I recited an Eastern Orthodox prayer of intercession. In the litany of petitions, this one jumped out at me: “Lord, we pray”¦ for those who hate us and those who love us.”
In the Orthodox tradition, this prayer is to be said every evening.
Read it all.
(CT) Mark Galli–A Meditation on the Orlando Shooting
…there is one particular prayer that Jesus teaches and models. I’m not enough of a world religion scholar to know if it is unique to Christianity, but it is remarkable part of Christian faith and life. It’s the prayer of Stephen as he was stoned and of Jesus on the Cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
It is one way we obey Jesus’ command to love enemies, even murderous ones””whether they target us or those with whom we sympathize.
This struck me afresh recently as I recited an Eastern Orthodox prayer of intercession. In the litany of petitions, this one jumped out at me: “Lord, we pray”¦ for those who hate us and those who love us.”
In the Orthodox tradition, this prayer is to be said every evening.
Read it all.