The Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross

Here's a recap of the homily shared by Father Michael during Good Friday's mass at Kristus Aman. Good Friday's Gospel reading is about about Passion, which also boils down to emotion. This is evident throughout the whole Gospel. Father Michael also shares his thoughts on the seven last words of Jesus while he was nailed on the cross.

The Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross

1) "Forgive them, Father! they don't know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34)
One day, he has many followers, the next day he was crucified because of the same people who followed him. Clearly they are blinded by their actions. Jesus' pleas to the Father to forgive these people as they have been blinded. We too in our daily lives be blinded by the material things and wants, and could lead us to actions that nails him to the cross over and over again. Yet he asked for our sins to be forgiven. Let us examine ourselves to be able to forgive those who have done us wrong, as what Jesus has done for us.

2) "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me" (Luke 23:43)
Jesus spoken this words to the convict who was nailed to the cross with him. In the very last moment, the convict realised who Jesus was, and asked for forgiveness so he could be saved. God allows u-turns. As long as you turn back to Him, he will always welcome you back as He is merciful. The story of the lost sheep, the prodigal son, all reminds us that we turn back to him, he will always welcome us back.

There was a story about a woman who was crying at the foot of the cross in a chuch. When asked why she was crying, she answered her son committed suicide, and she was afraid that he will end up in Hell. When asked how he commited suicide, she said he jumped from a bridge into a river. The priest then smiled and told her "There is hope." She was puzzled. He explained that there is a possibility that during the fall into the river, the son would have asked for God's forgiveness, or to express regret he took his own life. That split second action would have saved him from Hell. God is ever merciful and does not look at the sins (as Christ has offered himself up for our sins),but the sinner.


3) "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34 ; Matt 27:46)
Nothing is more empty that being forsaken. Jesus also feels the moment when he was abandoned by the Lord. let's pray for those who are abondoned by their families, society and friends, so that they may be touched by the Lord one day.

4) To Mary, "This is your Son". To the disciple "She is your mother." (John 19:26-27)
How much pain for a mother to see her son die on the cross for the world! Mary is a model of faithfulness, from the day she received Jesus from the Holy Spirit, carried it in her womb, faced all sorts of barriers and to finally see the death of her own son. Yet, she is doing this based on the Lord's will. We are not asked to have faith, as faith is given to us. We are instead asked to be faithful like Mary, who is the perfect example.

5) "I am thirsty" (John 19:28)
Like Jesus, we should also thirst for the Lord's goodness, like the woman at the well. We gain eternal life if we contine to thirst for it. It is the thurst that drives us closer to the Lord.

6) "It is accomplished" (John 19:29)
This signifies the end of Jesus' journey and how he has fulfilled his Father's will to the end. Without this final act, we will not have been granted Salvation.
Let us pray that as we meet the Lord one day, we are able to testify to him that we have lived according to his will, and say to him "It is accomplished"

7) "Father! Into your hands I commend my spirit!" (Luke 23:46)
How many times we struggle with life, with its happenings. Should we trust our own intuition, or God? Think about Jesus and his journey to the end. He have never did things on his own will, but only according to the Father's. When we are troubled, and we are in the crossroads, let us be in Jesus shoes. What will Jesus do? He has given it up to the Lord. Let us try to do the same as well, for God works in wonderful ways.