Seven Last Words

In 2014, The Episcopal Church of St. Simon & St. Jude's webzine On the Way, editor Peggy Hill, presented a series of reflections on the seven last sayings of Jesus from the cross. The first six reflections are by writers from sister churches across The Diocese of Upper South Carolina, and the last is the work of then-rector of St Simon & St Jude, the Rev. Mark A Abdelnour. Each reflection is accompanied by a musical selection chosen by then-music director Sandra J. Teel. We are deeply grateful to these pilgrim souls for sharing their thoughts. We were so moved that we wanted to share the reflections again in this series Faith@Home. If you are so moved, please forward the reflections to your friends and associates. You may subscribe to Faith@Home (weekly publication) here. Your comments are welcome at the same link.

The "Seven Last Sayings" of Jesus on the cross have long been central to Christian meditation and are traditionally presented as part of a single narrative, in a certain order. But the reality is that the seven sayings are actually drawn from all four of the canonical gospels. In no single gospel account does Jesus utter them all. Three sayings appear exclusively in Luke, and three are found only in John. The remaining saying appears in both Matthew and Mark. The "Seven Sayings" tradition is one example of a "gospel harmony," the result of an attempt to merge material in the canonical gospels into a single linear account.

Here are the seven sayings in the order they are traditionally remembered. If you read one offering each day beginning on Saturday, you will culminate with the last of the seven on Good Friday.