"Father, forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do..."

In the first Century, Christians would gather quietly to celebrate Eucharist in small groups to avoid being detected by the government at the risk of being persecuted or killed.  As we gather in small groups on technologically enhanced service modes, we may have considered ourselves similar to the early Christians, but above persecution and threat.  Hiding out in our homes during this pandemic for safety and to preserve our health while connecting with others in the same boat and who share our values and place spirituality and religion as valuable in daily life.

Last night was Good Friday, a solemn night of Holy Week when we reflect on the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Our small local church was holding services on the Zoom app.  We started promptly at 7pm and our reader was midverse in the first lesson when we were bombarded with "bots".  Avatars broke in and spewed racist, vile and non-family friendly garbled speech just to interrupt the service as is their method of entertainment or the personification of their possession.  Some of our children and families were trageted.  We were stunned, shocked and at a loss for words.

If you have ever read of demonic possession in the Bible and wondered what it would sound like, we had a taste of that when our service was interrupted.  We saw images we didn't intend to see and heard speech spewing forth hate, vile and repulsive words used for shock value - similar to what people might have heard uttered by those possessed in Jesus' time.  It was shocking, it was evil and I just wanted to make it stop and go away.   Later, I thought, we might have all unmuted and started chanting "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."  Jesus spoke these words as the Roman soldiers nailed his body to the cross.  Was this our test to extend faith, forgiveness and the touch of God to those who hacked us? 

Was their intent motivated by Satanic involvement to disrupt our service?
Was this an opportunity to remind us that evil exists in the world and manifests itself in a variety of ways in those who have no spiritual presence in their lives?
Did this happen for a reason?

I think yes on all counts. My answer to these questions came later in the hastily rescheduled service when we recited the following prayer:

Let us pray for all who have not received the Gospel of Christ;
For those who have never heard the word of salvation
For those who have lost their faith
For those hardened by sin or indifference
For the contemptuous and the scornful
For those who are enemies of the cross of Christ and persecutors of his disciples
For those who in the name of Christ have persecuted others
That God will open their hearts to the truth, and lead them to faith and obedience.

Did this happen for a reason?  I think it was to give us the opportunity to continue to pray that God's presence enfolds these persons and helps them throw off the mask of hatred, racism, perversion and welcome faith and love in a world that is still filled with the personification of evil in many forms.  As we travel through the rest of the Easter weekend, I plan to hold them in grace and peace and if they should infiltrate again will unmute and preach forgiveness, for they know not what they do.

May the peace, grace and hope of Christ's resurrection at Easter 

buoy your spirit in these challenging days.