His last words

By REV. JOHN P. ROSSON- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

The early Roman martyrs were torn to pieces by wild beasts. St. Sebastian was slain by arrows. St Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Judas Iscariot and the Tyburn martyrs were hung, drawn and quartered. St. Lawrence was burned on a rack. St. Margaret Clitherow was crushed to death. St. Thomas More was beheaded.

None of these executions compares to death by crucifixion. Christians proclaim a degraded, condemned, crucified person as the Son of God, savior of the world.

We know only about 100 days from the 12,045 days of Jesus' life. Yet we know almost everything He did every day of His last seven days. We even know the seven last words of Christ from the cross on His last day: "Into your hands, I commend my spirit."

The cross is the symbol of faith in Christ Jesus.

Physicists and scientists who studied the medical effects of crucifixion concluded that the sayings of Jesus on the Cross had to be short because crucifixion causes asphyxia. This makes inhaling air to speak difficult and painful.

From the cross, Jesus said:

• "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they do;"

• "Today you shall be with me in paradise;"

• "Woman, behold your son; son, there is your mother;"

• "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

• "I thirst;"

• "It is finished;"

• "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

A three-hour devotion to the seven sayings of Jesus dates from Peru. In 1687, earthquakes shook Peru. A Jesuit priest, Rev. Alonso Messia Bedoya, introduced a Good Friday devotion based on the seven utterances. The new devotion migrated from colonial Peru to Spain.

In 1786, Franz Joseph Haydn wrote music based on these utterances. Haydn's music on Christ's last words is a transforming experience.

Reflecting on the last words of Christ in the shadow of the cross will prepare us for the mystery of holy week.

(Father Rosson is pastor of St. Mary's/"Our Lady of the Lake" parish in Cooperstown.)[[In-content Ad]]