Petitions for a Pardon

The state of Minnesota has an official pardon board that can hear petitions from inmates and people who have already served their time to receive a pardon. Pardon means official forgiveness from the state, and it can completely change a person’s civil status and rights for the better. They have ten minutes to make their case to a three-person board, and two must be in favor of a pardon for it to happen. The board is overwhelmed with petitions. As one person awaiting their hearing said, “Do I have to carry this burden for the rest of my life? I want to be forgiven. I just want to be forgiven” (Dan Barry, New York Times, updated October 17, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/us/minnesota-board-of-pardons.html). Jesus brings forgiveness to all, and in this story, he speaks it to one yearning for forgiveness.