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Acknowledgement

Dear friends,

The reflection and the Seven Last words of Jesus on the Cross is a humble effort to reflect the power of Jesus in his words that can empower each one of us to be true children and worthy followers of Christ. The mode of writing is based on the four aspects as reading, reflection, response and prayer. It contains personal reflection and the reference of Pope Francis, who inspires us with his down to earth yet powerful witnessing messages. May God bless all of us as we read, reflect, respond and pray to live life to the full in God, Our Creator, Jesus our Saviour and Holy Spirit our Animator.

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

Superior and Rector

Minor Seminary, Bastora, Goa.

The Seven Last words of JESUS on the CROSS

Introduction:

Dear friends, during the season of Lent, we Christians around the world focus or spend a quite a lot of time in reflecting the gift of Salvation that God has offered to humankind gratuitously and lavishly. In the last hours of Jesus on earth, while hanging between heaven and earth, Jesus uttered most precious, prominent and powerful words that teach us more about Jesus as the Son of God and Jesus’ unique character features. We all of us are sure of one thing that we all would die one day. But all do not die in the same way. We have no control over our death but the way we would wish to die we have power, because, human life shapes death. Hence one may die righteously or wickedly, nobly or poorly, happily or sadly. It all depends on the way that we live that we die. We see Jesus the son of God, the righteous one, the holy one dies miserably for no fault of his own but for our salvation.

These last seven words of Jesus are from the four so called traditional gospels and are known as “Jesus’ Seven last sayings.” For us followers of Christ, the words become so dear and special because they give us glimpses of Jesus’ suffering to accomplish the redemptive work at a deeper level. The last words of Jesus are recorded in the Gospels between the time of Jesus’ crucifixion and death. The words uttered by Jesus on the cross manifest both his divinity and humanity. One of the traditional ways that we Christians and Catholics meditate on Good Friday is reading, reflecting the last seven words of Jesus and drawing strength and nourishment from it to face the daily sufferings and pains of life. So we shall reflect and act on the last seven words of Jesus to move heavenwards, enjoying the eternal bliss in store for us.

The First Words of Jesus on the Cross:

READ: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34)

REFLECT:

Jesus teaches us about Forgiveness and manifesting mercy and compassion to the one who has done harm to us. Let us realize that forgiveness is a choice and not a feeling; let us realize that forgiveness is unconditional; let us realize that forgiveness sets us free and sets others free; let us realize that forgiveness reflects God’s love; let u realize that forgiveness brings healing.

Pope Francis’ take on forgiveness is very inspiring. He says, “We all have the right to be forgiven if we ask for forgiveness. It is a right that comes from the very nature of God and has been given as an inheritance to men. We have forgotten that someone who asks for forgiveness has the right to be forgiven. ‘You’ve done something wrong; you have to pay for it.’ No! You have the right to be forgiven, and if you owe a debt to society, you can find a way to pay it, but with forgiveness.” So let us forgive one another as Jesus forgave us, without counting our sins and short-comings of life. Let us make a right choice in forgiving  the others and release ourselves from unnecessary feelings of hatred, anger, revenge, violence and loneliness.

RESPOND:

• Let us instead of holding on to anger, choose to let go.

• Let us forgive offenses and set ourselves free of small grudges.

• Let us ask God for help when it becomes difficult to forgive.

• Let us remember God’s forgiveness of the cross and forgive others for the love Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord, Jesus, you gathered courage to forgive those who crucified you, insulted you, mocked you, spat on you, beat you and tormented you, give us the grace to obtain courage to forgive those who have harmed us and hurt us. Amen.

The Second words of Jesus on the Cross:

Read: ‘You will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)

Reflect:

Dear friends, Jesus teaches us about Paradise. Let us realize that paradise is a place of peace and joy; let us realize that paradise is open to all who seek God; Let us realize that paradise is a promise that was made available for each one of us through Jesus; let us realize that paradise can be created here on earth, provided if we love one another, understand each other, pray for the other, support and inspire each other to glorify God by the very life that we live. The person at the side of the cross was promised a paradise, because he understood the nature and power of Jesus. Let us realize the nature of Jesus as God and his power over us.

Pope Francis’ take on paradise is very inspiring. He says, “Paradise is not a fantasy land, or even an enchanted garden. Paradise is the embrace with God, infinite Love, and we enter it thanks to Jesus, who died on the cross for us.” Do we see ourselves in the words of this thief, mindful of our sin and need for God’s mercy? Do we likewise mercifully view others as Jesus saw this mana potential child of God who, upon turning to God, will have the opportunity to be in His family and Kingdom?” So let us make the paradise on earth, by experience God’s infinite love and manifesting the same with others.

Respond:

·   Let us acknowledge our Need for God in life.

·       Let us turn to God with Faith and love.

·       Let us see others through eyes of God’s mercy.

·       Let us make paradise on earth by speaking good about others and doing good to all.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you promised paradise to the thief on the cross next to you. Help us to realize that our paradise is in you, in your words and in your promises. Give us the grace to establish that heavenly paradise on earth by being good to all. Amen.

The Third Words of Jesus on the Cross:

Read: “Woman, behold your son! Son, your Mother” (Jn19:26-27)

Reflect:

Dear friends, Jesus’ teaches us about Care and Relationship in the family, society, church and the world with one another. Let us understand the importance of relationships in life. Jesus, while suffering on the cross, made sure that His mother, Mary, would be taken care of after His death by entrusting her to the beloved disciple, John; let us realize the value of human relationships that Jesus teaches us to love and have concern for others in tough times of life; let us not be mere spectators rather participants in suffering with the people and for the people, those who are dear to us. Let us remember that Jesus entrusted Mother Mary to be the mother of us all, followers of Christ. Let us realize our call to discipleship and sonship or daughterhood in God. Just as John took Mary into his home, so also we are invited to take the motherly love and care of Mother Mary for spiritual growth.

Pope Francis’ take on Mother Mary’s role in the history of salvation is very inspiring. He says, “John, the beloved disciple, is a figure of the Church, the messianic people. He must acknowledge Mary as his Mother. In doing so, he is called to take her into his home, to see in her the model of all discipleship, and to contemplate the maternal vocation that Jesus entrusted to her, with all that it entails: a loving Mother who gives birth to children capable of loving as Jesus commands. That is why Mary’s maternal vocation to care for her children is entrusted to John and to the Church as a whole. The entire community of disciples is included in Mary’s maternal vocation.” So let us partake in the discipleship of Mother Mary and John, the beloved disciples to be committed and dedicated witnesses in our world.

Respond:

·       Let us value human relationship in the family and not take them for granted.

·       Let us not be mere spectators but be participants in the suffering humanity.

·       Let us acknowledge Mother Mary’s role as a mother of the Church in nurturing our faith in God.

·       Let us participate in the roles of discipleship like the beloved disciple, John and care for others in need

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you entrusted your Mother to be our Mother to nurture our faith and stand firm in our faith. Help us to cherish the discipleship through the life of Mary our Mother. Give us the grace to be spiritual builders of communion and union in our families, communities, institutes, society, church and the world at large. Amen.

The fourth words of Jesus on the Cross:

Read: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46)

Reflect:

Dear friends, Jesus teaches about Abandonment and Pain. Let us realize that Jesus experienced true abandonment; let us realize that Jesus’ cry was a cry of distress and not distrust; let us realize that Jesus understands our pain and sorrow; let us realize that it is we who have forsaken God and not God who has forsaken us; let us realize our abandonment is due to our unhealthy desires, dreams, wishes, wants, occupation and issues of life.

Pope Francis’ take on Jesus’ abandonment is very inspiring. He says, “Jesus experienced abandonment in order not to leave us prey to despair, in order to stay at our side forever.” “He did this for me, for you, because whenever you or I or anyone else seems pinned to the wall and we have seen someone pinned to the wall you see someone lost in a blind alley, plunged into the abyss of abandonment, sucked into a whirlwind of ‘whys’ without answer, there can still be some hope. He also noted the how one might feel forsaken “at moments of extreme pain: love that fails, or is rejected or betrayed; children who are rejected and aborted; situations of repudiation, the lot of widows and orphans; broken marriages, forms of social exclusion, injustice and oppression; the solitude of sickness.” So let us realize that God does not abandon us, it is we who abandon God. Let us grip on to God firmly and trust God more fully.

Respond:

·       Let us believe that Jesus knows our pain and struggles.

·       Let us understand that it is good to express our pain and sorrow.

·   Let us take a firm decision that we never forsake God any time in life

·       Let us hope in God and Jesus’ power in times of pain and misery.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, even at the time of grievous pain and sorrow you never abandoned God. Give us that strength to never desert God in life, although our struggles and strife overpower us or let us down. Give us the grace to firmly believe in the power and strength of God than our human weakness and frailty. Amen.

The Fifth Words of Jesus on the Cross:

Read: “I thirst!” (John 19:28)

Reflect:

Dear friends, Jesus Teaches Us about Thirst and Longing. Let us realize that thirst can be physical and spiritual and where am I caught up with. Let us realize that the thirsts our inner longings and desires, aspirations and associations of heart; let us realize that Jesus thirsts for our love and want us back to God the Father; Let us realize that our thirsts can mislead or misguide us, if we do not thirst for God and God’s ways; Let us realize that our thirst for selfishness, manifestation of cold-shoulder attitude, jealousy, anger, hatred, pride and gossip make us go away from the thirst of God we should have in life.

Pope Francis’ take on thirst is very inspiring. He says, “In the context of Jesus’ thirst for water at the Samaritan well sees the connection of Jesus’ thirst for water at the well and thirst of Jesus that culminates on the cross. So he says, In fact, Jesus’ thirst is not only physical. It expresses the deepest thirsts of our lives, and above all, a thirst for our love. He is more than a beggar. He “is thirsty” for our love. And this will emerge at the culminating moment of his passion, on the cross, where, before dying, Jesus will say: “I thirst” (Jn 19:28). That thirst for love brought him to descend, to lower himself, to abase himself, to be one of us.” So let us realize that lack of our love for God reduces our commitment to God’s mission. Let us thirst for God and his love, be quenched by his living water for eternal life.

Respond:

·   Let us acknowledge our thirsts and longings and set right before God for his glory.

·   Let us respond to Jesus’ Thirst for our love

·       Let us make every effort to find fulfillment in God alone.

·       Let us understand that Jesus knows our thirsts and surrender everything unto him.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you thirsted on the cross and they gave you vinegar made up of bitter herbs. You consumed the bitterness and accepted bitter experiences of people to make our lives better. Lord, give us the wisdom to discern from our human thirst to God’s thirst, which quenches our real thirst in life. Make our heart thirst for you always. Amen.

The Sixth words Jesus on the Cross:

Read: “It is finished!” (John 19:30)

Reflect:

Dear friends, Jesus teaches us about completion and fulfillment of human goal in life. Let us realize that it is our call to realize the unique mission God has placed over us by the gift of life God has given us; let us understand that Jesus has completed the mission that was entrusted by God his Father; let us take to heat that Jesus has been faithful in fulfilling the word of God till the  end of his life; Let us realize that Jesus finished the work for us as we were caught up in sin, failing to fulfill God’s work in life; let us ask ourselves have I completed the task that God has entrusted to me as a human person or the various responsibilities that I have placed on me in the family, institution, community, society, Church and the world at large.

Pope Francis’ take on Jesus’ accomplishment is very inspiring. He points out that “Jesus’ cry, “It is finished,” marks the fulfillment of God’s mission for humanity. He emphasizes that Jesus completed His redemptive mission, overcoming sin and death, and offering us eternal life. In his reflections, he that Jesus' work was not just about His personal suffering but about the salvation of the world. He also connects the concept of finishing one’s work with the idea of love and sacrifice. Jesus’ life and death were entirely dedicated to fulfilling God’s will for us. Similarly, Pope Francis encourages us to dedicate ourselves to the work God calls us to, no matter how difficult it may seem, trusting that God will guide us to finish what He has started in our lives.” So let us be faithful in fulfilling God’s mission and do God’s will that  makes us feel happy and become children of God.

Respond:

·       Let us complete the work and task that God has given us.

·       Let us trust in God’s time and plan.

·       Let us celebrate our success in Christ Jesus rather than our own for selfish gains.

·       Let us stay focused and committed, never to distract from disturbing issues of life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, God gave you every power and wisdom to accomplish the task you were given by God our Father. Help us today, to fulfill the task and responsibilities that we have been entrusted in various ways. Give us the dedication and commitment to stand firm to the focus of life, that is, you alone. Amen.

The Seventh Words of Jesus on the Cross:

Read: “Father, ‘into your hands I commit my spirit’” (Lk 23:46)

Reflect:

Dear friends, Jesus teaches about total trust and complete surrender. Let us realize that “I surrender all” is the only phrase that becomes core of life at the final moment of any hour. It may by joy or pain. Let us realize that we need to make a complete surrender to God the Father and not a half-hearted surrender. Let us remind ourselves that our life is a continuous act of  surrender; Let us take to heart that  trusting God in life and death is the only way to salvation and redemption; Let us follow the path of Jesus,  who modelled trusting in God to the end of his life, even at the time of terrible  torments and torture. Let us remember that our breath is God’s, therefore our breath belongs to God and we breathe our spirit in God alone, the creator and author of life.

Pope Francis’ take on committing our spirit to God is very inspiring. He says, “Jesus’ cry, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,’ is the greatest act of trust in the Father. It is the cry of someone who is going through the most difficult, painful, and tragic moment of life, and yet still places their whole life in God’s hands. In that moment of agony, Jesus shows us that there is no fear, no despair, and no darkness that can separate us from the love of the Father. His trust in God’s plan and providence is total.” So let us commit our spirit into God’s hand, because to God we belong and to him we go with all that we are and all that we have.

Respond:

·       Let us make it a point to surrender every day to God.

·       Let us trust in God during the course of life and at the time of death.

·       Let us try to live in peace and make others lives in peace with a self-surrender.

·       Let us embrace God’s will and embark on a new Journey that God offers.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you taught us today that we have our beginning and end in God, that God our Father is Alpha and Omega of life.  Thank you, Lord for manifesting your wisdom on the cross with deep pain in your heart, mind, spirit and body to make our lives meaningful. Help us to commit our spirit to God alone, So that we live our lives purposefully, meaningfully and joyfully. Amen.