Central to our faith is the experience of forgiveness.  Jesus commands us to forgive others in the same fashion God forgives us (Matthew 6:14-15) but the reality of forgiveness seems much more difficult.  When we are at fault we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.  When others hurt us we lose energy and focus by withholding forgiveness.  The transformation which comes through forgiveness is on full display in Christ’s suffering and passion.  From the Cross he declares: “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  We cannot truly be who God created us to be without forgiveness.