Pope Francis Daily

THE LAST WORDS OF DYING JESUS”

INTRODUCTION: The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus are the most significant events in human history and arecommemorated as Paschal Triduum. On Good Friday, Christians recall the passion and death of Jesus at Mount Calvary. There was never a human in the history so innocent and righteous like the dying Jesus who expressed the most profound outpouring from cross to the world in the final hours of his earthly time while nailed and hanged between two thieves at Calvary. Jesus received both positive and negative audience and their responses. Those who humiliated Jesus such as religious leaders, political leaders, soldiers and a criminal, scoffed, mocked, taunted and never repented for their inhumane treatments and unbelief. But a penitent thief, who was crucified with him on that day, positively responded and was promised Paradise. Today, the traditional Good Friday devotions recall seven “utterances or sayings” of Jesus in which the essence of the Gospel is compressed. The content of his seven words are deeply revealing God’s inner character and gaining its greatest splendour on the cross. Therefore, in our spiritual life’s journey, Let us spend some time today, reading these seven last words of Jesus in the silence of your heart and contemplating on his utmost prioritiesof life. And thus, praying at the foot of the cross to become Jesus’ beloved and loving sons and daughters of Hoy Mother, the Church.

THE PRAYER OF JESUS: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.

Is it possible for a person doing certain action good or bad without knowing what is done? Is it possible for a person to be addicted without being aware of it? What is the root cause of all crimes if not knowledge of doing it? In any action there is result or reaction. Similarly, in any crime there is always a punishment whether it is done with knowledge or out of ignorance. Is disposition not as important as execution? Then why Jesus said that his persecutors knew not what they did. We find many incidents in the Bible where people suffered death or sickness. In the book of Leviticus 10:1-2, we read of the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, offered the unholy fire before the Lord, and at once fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them immediately to death because they disrespected God. In the book of Numbers 12, we also read of Miriam and Aaron spoke against God’s servant Moses. Miriam was struck with leprosy and suffered because she was jealous to God’s servant Moses. If Moses had not prayed for her healing, she would have died. In the book of first Samuel 5, we also read that the Ark of the Covenant was being stolen from Israel by the Philistines. The ark was holy as contained the two tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments inscribed upon them. The Philistines kept the Ark in the house of Dagon, placing besideDagon. Hence, God struck people of Ashdod with tumors and caused great panic for seven months. Thus, loss and sufferings became so severe among the Philistines that they were forced to return the Ark to Israel. In the Acts of the Apostles 5:1-11, we also read of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit and were insincere in their vocation, thus, both were dropped dead at once because of their insincerity. During Jesus’ earthly life, people knew that Jesus was innocent and no guilt or evil was evident on His life record. When Jesus was handed over, even Pilate declared, “I find no fault in this man as Herod. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death“ yet Jesus was spat on face, smitten on cheeks, crowned with thorns, beaten and scourged, nailed on cross, jeered and mocked, crucified and died on cross. Why then executioners of Jesus were not struck or consumed to death for disrespecting and mistreating the Son of God?

The first word Jesus spoke from the cross was a prayer for His persecutors. Though Jesus was condemned as a blasphemer, called as a deceiver and regarded as a accursed yet he had no words of condemnation, no complain to God but only a ‘PRAYER’. As it was prophesied in Isaiah 53:7,“He opened not His mouth” in complaint or reviling but He did open His mouth in a prayer of mercy and love for His persecutors after they had done their worst against Him. His only prayer was: “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.”Luke 23:34. The Jerusalem city was in turmoil when Jesus received triumphal entry by crowd: shouting hosanna and welcoming him as the Son of David and Prophet. Jesus and his followers were minority without any legal or official power. The impact of Jesus’ words and deeds had an opposite effect on the authorities and the people. While the people were amazed and astonished, the authorities clearly understood Jesus as a threat to their positions of power and influence, and thus responded with plots to kill him. Religious leaders corrupted the mind of people and employed false witnesses to testify against Jesus, and thereafter, appealed to Pilate through same crowd to sentence him crucifixion by shouting: ‘crucify him, crucify him!’ This act of injustice, indecencies and inhumane attitudes were too obvious in those religious leaders who considered themselves protectors of laws, preservers of traditions and moral values of their religion. Such spiritual blindness was not even expected by crowds. God, the Father did not strike Jesus’ persecutors to sickness orsending serpents or consume in fire or punish them to death. Nothing happened to them because of Jesus’ first word on cross, ‘Father, forgive them.” Jesus prayed for them and God heard it. In the book of Proverbs 25:32 we read, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” In the context, it means to be good to your enemy. Hence, Jesus also preached and practiced the same, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute youso that you may be children of God who is perfect and will reward you for this act.” Jesus asked for the best possible thing for His persecutors: forgiveness. Today, we marvel at the mercy of Godshown to the enemies of Jesus. God’s mercy overrules punishments. Similarly, even today, Jesus pleads for us to be forgiven for we cannot realize the full meaning of the things we do as no sinner can ever realize the consequence of sin at the time of doing sinful acts.Therefore, ceasing sinful acts are more important than punishments.

THE PROMISE OF JESUS: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43.

The second word of Jesus was an answer and a promise to the prayer of a thief. Jesus was crucified with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left outside Jerusalem. And both criminals heard the prayer Jesus prayed for his executioners on the cross. Thereafter, the impenitent thief, who kept deriding Jesus, prayed by saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” In other words he said, ‘if you are what you claim to be, prove yourself by coming down from the cross and also take us down.’ The second thief immediately rebuked him and then he also prayed, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He was even more bold than the disciples as he rebuked and shouted at him before crowd saying, “This man has done nothing wrong.” He demonstrated his strong courageous faith in Jesus while His disciples ran away and some followed afar off. This thief became penitent when he looked at Jesus and felt his own guilt. Jesus attracted him as he was lifted up from the earth. Jesus did not look much like the Son of God but this penitent thief could see divinity in Him. He experienced that Jesus was more than a man. He confessed his need and helplessness to him. He neither asked Jesus to be taken down from the cross as the other thief had asked nor demanded him to give a place of honor in His kingdom but just requested Jesus tobe remembered in his kingdom. The penitent thief seemed to thinkthat Jesus would come into His kingdom at some far away century, and thus wanted to be remembered later.

To believe that we fall asleep at our death and our soul sleeps in a grave until some far-off resurrection, is not the faith of the New Testament. Jesus responded immediately to penitent thief with a message of assurance and redeemed his soul by promising, “TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.” Luke 23:43. The word, “Today” stands for death day of both of them and the word, “You will be with me in paradise” stands for an abiding fellowship with him. The penitent thief received more than he expected. His prayer was heard with the immediate attention of Jesus because his prayer was to be saved from sin and hell whereas prayer of impenitent thief was to be saved from death and was not answered. On the same day the penitent thief died and his sufferings ended. Jesus took him by the hand and walked into paradise with him as the first trophy of grace, a soul redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. What an abundant answer to a simple prayer of faith. We learn that Jesus gives an immediate attention to the prayer of those who believe in him and in his wordsbut gives an immediate promise to dying for their prayer of confession and true repentance. We too are given assurance that after death we are immediately taken to heaven like all our saints. Therefore, for Christians, death means immediate glory. In this promise of Jesus we also have the assurance of an abiding fellowship with him as he said, “you will be with me in paradise” reminding what he said earlier to hid disciples, “where I am there you shall be.” Therefore, death is not the end of life but beginning. To be absent from the body is understood as to be present with the Lord. It is the restoration of a fellowship with Jesus and communion with God which was lost by sin in the Garden of Eden. As St. Paul explains, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and it is the gift of God not the result of works so that no one may boast of their works.”Eph.2:8-9. Sin is the cause of death but grace of God restores life and faith provides paradise of perfect and permanent fellowship with God through time and through eternity. Therefore, rebuke sinful ways, recognize Lord’s way in our daily lives, pray with simple faith, and receive grace through Sacrament, thus, living accordingly to be remembered in his kingdom.

THE CONCERN OF JESUS: “Woman, behold your son! … Behold your mother!” John 19: 25, 26.

The third word of Jesus spoken from the cross was a message to His loving mother and to John his beloved disciple. He made a brief statement to His mother and an equally brief statement to John. The scripture says, “There stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother.” She undoubtedly must reviewed in her mind her past experiences with Jesus as any mother naturally would think of these things as she watched her son dying. When she was unmarried, the angel appeared to her and revealed her that she was highly favoured to become the mother of the Son of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. This was not the light matter for Mary to become mother in this unheard way. When her time came to give birth, she faced discomfort in Bethlehem and she had to lay her newly-born babe in a manger as there was no room in the inn. It brought more grief when she learned of Herod’s purpose to destroy her infant’s life. It was not even easy for her and newly-born babe Jesus to flee to Egypt soon after delivery and remain in a foreign land far from their home town and relatives for a period. As Mary stood at the cross all of these and other experiences must have been reviewed in her mind. Moreover, she must have remembered of Simeon’s prophecy in the temple: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Her heart was really pierced as it is always hard for mother to see her son die. Jesus was only thirty-three years of age and far worse, dying the death of a criminal. It was the love and grief of a mother for her Son brought her to Calvary and gave her courage to stand by the cross in reverence and devotion in an unbroken silence to see her Son die. Jesus looked at His mother trying to comfort her by addressing tenderly, “WOMAN, BEHOLD YOUR SON!” It was John that she had to behold, and she had to take him as her son. Jesus was dying and could not be with her. Hence, he was giving her a son to take His place. This was a gift from Jesus to His mother. Moreover, he was giving John to her as a son to take care as she did to him during her life. In other words, he assigned her to be a mother to John and take Him as her son.

John was the youngest disciple of Jesus whom Jesus loved more. When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane it was such a time that great fear and shock came to all disciples. As a result all of them run away. John also fled just like the other disciples but did not stay away too long. He must have been followed Jesus to the council trial and to other places to know the updates. He must have stayed around until He was sentenced to be crucified. Perhaps, on the way of cross to Calvary, he must have found Mary and accompanied her with other women to the top of Calvary. The scripture says that Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her. John had courage to come near and stand by the cross while Jesus was dying. It must have brought comfort to Jesus to see his beloved disciple near cross. Jesus then turned His eyes to John and said to John, “BEHOLD THY MOTHER.” Jesus was assigning John to the responsibility of being a son to Mary and to take her as his mother. This was not a burden but a great gift Jesus made to John. There are sons and daughters who still consider their aged parents burden. We are impressed that Jesus remembered His own and had concern for his loved ones even during his struggle. We learn from this experience at Calvary that if we love Christ we will be faithful to look after His interests. As Mother Mary and John left Calvary they went to carry out the request of Christ in their daily lives. Mary went to be a mother to John and take him as a son. John took Mary with all the tenderness and love he had for Jesus and could have had for his own mother. John might learn things about Jesus from Mary’s mouth that he would never have known. This further prepared John for writing the fourth gospel with the emphasis on the divine nature of Jesus. God was gracious to John. John lived to old age and was the only one of the twelve apostles who died a natural death. As it is said, “Honor your father and mother; this is the first commandment with a promise so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”Eph.6:2-3. John and Mary never faced a harder situation than that day at Calvary. Let us care for Holy Mother, the Church as she does. There is no better testimony of a Christian experience than interest we have in His cause.

THE CRY OF JESUS: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34.

The fourth word is the tragedy of the crucifixion reaches its climax. After spoken first three words, Jesus was silent on the cross. Perhaps there was a heavy dark cloud that brought darkness over the whole land from 12 noon until 3 o’clock afternoon. It was midnight darkness at midday. The sun seemed to refuse to shine upon such a deed of shame. Now it was dark and the only noise likely was the groans of dying men on the crosses as they suffered the agonies of crucifixion. This was a long and lonely three hours of suffering in the darkness. At the end of three hours of darkness Jesus broke the silence by crying out loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We read in the Old Testament that God did not forsake His people in Egypt. He heard their cry in bondage and delivered them. At the Red Sea they were being chasedby Pharaoh’s army but God did not forsake them. God opened the sea and delivered them. Nebuchadnezzar sent three Hebrew men to a fiery furnace because they would not bow to the image. God did not forsake the three Hebrews but delivered them through the furnace. Darius sent Daniel to a den of lions. God did not forsake Daniel but delivered him from the lions. But now the Son of God was dying on a cross. God lets him die alone and allowed Him to cry out, “Why have you forsaken me?” Sin separates people from God and causes penalties to pay. He was not like Adam and Evewho had communion with God until they sinned and then an abiding fellowship was broken forever. During the days of Noah the flood covered the whole earth for people were sunk in sin. Fire and brimstone rained on Sodom and Gomorrah as penalty of people’s sins. Plagues were sent upon Egypt and armies were destroyed at the Red Sea as consequence of their wrong actions. Jesus committed no sin yet he experienced separation. Jesus even kept His faith. He called God His own: “My God, my God…” He did what had been the habit of His life; He turned to God in prayer. He neither forsook God nor his ways, yet experienced as God’s abandoned.

In any action either right or wrong, there is a consequence and end result either positive or negative. Similarly, the consequence of Jesus’ public ministry and mission entrusted by God, the Father brought positive effects to those who believed in Jesus whereas all negative effects-cup of sufferings, were laid to Jesus. He suffered a night and a day going through Gethsemane, the trials, torture, mockery and crucifixion. It must have seemed like an endless night suffering all alone. Three hours of pain and sufferings on the cross in darkness made him to feel a separation from God. Jesus was not a sinner and had not committed any sin. Yet, it was for your sins and for mine that Jesus suffered to pay penalties to world to get us back.For instance, when Moses lifted the bronze serpent at wilderness, all who were beaten by serpent found guilty of their sins looked at bronze serpent with faith and were saved from death penalty. Bronze serpent had no poison in itself. Similarly, Jesus took the place of sinners willingly that all may looked at him with faith and be saved from death penalty. For our understanding think of Barabbas, the released criminal, whose place Jesus took. When Jesus took the sinner’s place God’s justice was satisfied. We are also reminded of the memorable night of the Passover in Egypt -the lamb’s blood must be put where the angel of death could see it. God had said to Moses, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Ex. 12:13). The blood of the innocent lamb saved the house of every Jewish slave’s family. Likewise, suffering and death of Jesus on cross took away the sins of the world and washed away it‘s penalty: death. He suffered the everlasting punishment for the guilt of all sinners as it was prophesied by Prophet Isaiah, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.”God did not spare His own Son, Jesus, but delivered Him up for us all (Rom. 8:32). In other words, God too delivered Jesus after three days of his death. When Jesus cried out from the cross, it was a cry for a return to the presence of God after three hours of darkness and the restoration of divine fellowship with God. It was not only the supreme moment of suffering it was also the supreme moment of achievement. Some day the door of mercy will be closed and then will come the Day of Judgment and justice. Jesus says, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day that word I have spoken will serve as judge” Jh.12:48. Therefore, “Have faith in God and in him” Mark 11:22.

THE CRY OF JESUS: “I thirst” John 19:28.

Jesus was human and His body had gone through such torture and the shedding of His blood brought on this intense thirst. His agony began in the evening after the Passover meal with the disciples. He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and was taken before Caiaphas, the high priest. He was held until morning without rest. He was taken early in the morning for trial before Pilate. He then was taken to Herod; likely He was marched across town under guard and followed by the mob. Standing before Herod He was mocked and marched back to Pilate. He was scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon, mocked and sentenced to be crucified. The heavy cross was placed upon His bleeding back and the journey to Calvary was begun. He fell under the load and another man was called to carry the cross. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. He hung there for three hours in the midday heat and then for three hours in darkness and loneliness. Through all this He never murmured or complained. He suffered it all in silence. Now after nearly six hours on the cross, His blood flowed through His wounds, sun shone through and dispelled the darkness. His body was racked in pain, His mouth parched, His tongue swollen, His throat burning, His body cries out for water and He says, “I thirst.” The draining away of blood brings on intense thirst. Doctors assure us that the worst we can imagine would be a feeble approach to His sufferings from thirst. Matthew’s gospel says that one of them ran and took a sponge. He dipped it in a vessel of vinegar or sour wine, put it on a reed and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. He called for water and the only response was an offer of sour wine.

Jesus was divine and He suffered not only in body but also in Spirit. The One who offered others the water of life cried out in death, “I thirst.” A short time before, He said to the people standing in Jerusalem, “If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.” The One who offered to quench the thirst of others with the water of life was now thirsty. To the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well He said, “Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give, shall never thirst; forthe water that I shall give shall be in them a well of water springing up into everlasting life”John4:13, 14. The One who offered these words to others was the One who cried out now, “I thirst.” This is a contrast between inward wealth and outward poverty. We remember that while Jesus rested at Jacob’s Well the Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus engaged her in conversation. Jesus was hungry and had sent the disciples to buy food. He was thirsty and he asked the woman who came to the well to give Him a drink of water. In the conversation He led this sinful woman to an experience of salvation. The woman went her way to witness for Christ and brought others to hear Him. This woman who found salvation brought such a blessing to the heart of Jesus that He lost His desire for water and His appetite for food. When the disciples returned with a supply of food, Jesus did not care to eat and drink. He told them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” Later he said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.”  This is a great thought helping to understand why he was thirsty. Jesus’ thirst is quenched only by our response to do his Father’s will and to complete his Father’s work by living Jesus. Jesus thirsts for our life and our love. He longs for our fellowship with him and for constant union in living our earthly life. Christ thirsts today and often people let Him thirst in vain because they make no response to His call as they face spiritual dryness. He thirsted in order that our portion may not be with that soul who was tormented in the flames of hell and who craved and begged for a drop of water for his burning tongue Luke 16:19-31.

THE DECLARATION OF JESUS: “It is finished” John 19:30.

Jesus realized at twelve years of age that He must be in His “Father’s house” or in other translation he must be about his“Father’s business” for which he was born. He now declared that His Father’s business for him on earth was all finished; or in other words, entering into Father’s house. Centuries ago, the prophets of God had described step by step the life of the Son of God on earth and beforehand they gave a detailed account of His humiliation, suffering and death on cross. He had come to earth to accomplish a task and now the full price of our redemption was paid. One by one these prophecies had been wonderfully fulfilled to the very letter. It had been prophesied that He would be “born of a woman,” that His mother should be a “virgin” and should be the seed of Abraham and a lineal descendant of David. Prophecy foretold that He should be born in Bethlehem of Judea and that He should be named Jesus before He was born. Prophecy referred to the flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth. Prophecy made mention of one going before Christ to make ready His way. Prophets had made known that when the Messiah appeared the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, the lame man shall leap as a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. It had been stated that He would teach in parables. Prophecy had heralded His “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. The prophets had told that He would be “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” The prophets had told the whole story of His trials and crucifixion mentioning that He was numbered with the transgressors, the piercing of His hands and feet, the mockery of the crowd and the casting of lots for His garments. All these things were predicted centuries beforehand and now they were all fulfilled to the very saying of Jesus, “IT IS FINISHED.” He did not utter a wail of despair but a shout of triumph.

When He uttered this declaration, He had been upon the cross nearly six hours. He faced the cross as a part of His mission to earth.He silently bore every consequences and punishments caused by his mission and ministry. He did not regret to live in poverty and to die as cursed. He had given up heaven’s glory to take on earth’s shame. When He came to earth He set out to fulfill His assignment. He faced a life of toil. He did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life. Everything He did was met with opposition. Obstaclesbecame more and more persistent and cruel until Calvary reached its climax. He had been acquainted with grief, pain and sorrow. He suffered at the hands of unjust men, moreover, at the hands of Satan. He discussed the crucifixion with Moses and Elijah at the Mount of Transfiguration and He told His disciples that He was to give His life. While in Gethsemane He prayed to the Father concerning this cup of suffering. The period of darkness was past. The awful cup had been drained as His precious blood had already been shed. As there was a demonstration of sins at its worst; there was also a demonstration of Jesus’ love in greatest splendour ever witnessed. He had done everything needed to bless you and me for time and for eternity. Love won in the decisive battle against hate. To love unconditionally is the call of Jesus. For the love of the Father is not in those who love the world and its desire such as desire of the flesh, desire of the eyes, the pride in riches, etc. Hence, every human has to return to God’s house after completion of God’s business that is to love. At the close of this terrible conflict Christ cried out from the cross with a proclamation of eternal victory, “It is finished.”

THE PRAYER OF JESUS: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” Luke 23:46.

Just as the seventh day was the day of rest and satisfaction, so the seventh utterance of Jesus brings Him to the place of rest. The final word of the dying Jesus was a prayer just as His first word was a prayer. He hung upon the cross for six hours. Three hours He suffered at the hands of satan and men. Three hours He suffered separation from God. Now it is all over. We come now to the last word Jesus spoke before He died. This last word of Jesus was an echo of Psalm 31:5 that had to be understood in a similar sense as an expression of trust in God at the point of death (in extremis). He must have heard this Psalm from His childhood in the home, might listened to it in the synagogue, might have found in the synagogue rolls, must used the scriptures in the wilderness to fight against enemy and overcome or used it in controversy with His enemies who sought to trap Him. And now in the supreme need of His dying hour, He made it His own prayer. He uttered these words with a loud voice, “FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT.” This last word of Jesus revealed His view of death. He died as He lived: committing Himself to God. Voluntarily He had delivered Himself into the hands of his executioners and then voluntarily He was delivering His spirit into the hands of his “ABBA, Father.” He had taught us the art of living and by His last word He taught us the art of dying.

There is nothing in death that makes a bad man good or a good man bad. People die as they live. But there is power in the blood of Christ to make us what we ought to be. When Jesus breathed in last after his last word, two miracles were taken place. Firstly, the free confession of Centurion, the Roman officer who stood facing Jesus, guarded the execution, who saw the attitudes of Jesus towards his executioners, his acceptance of shameful death on cross, who heard his confidence and trust on God, who saw that in this way He breathed His last, made him to profess, “Truly, this man was the Son of God!” Secondly, in the temple there was a veil separating the holy place from the Holy of Holies was torn in two. Throughout the centuries the animal sacrifices had been offered and the blood of animals presented by the people. The practice of the priests was to enter the holy place with the blood of the sacrificial animal for the forgiveness of the sins of the people. Once in a year the priest entered the holy of holies with blood for cleansing of the sins of people. When Jesus uttered his last word and died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn, indicating that every obstacle had been removed. The earlier types of sacrificial offerings were now finished and the atonement for sin was accomplished. When God looked upon the shed blood of His Son, Jesus, on the cross at Calvary, He accepted it as the complete and great price for human’s redemption. The blood of bulls, goats and lambs would no longer suffice. The raising of Jesus from the dead was evidence that God had accepted His sacrifice. The way to God is now open to all who will come for atonement by “one offering” that has been accomplished. If we would desire our last words to be words of prayer we should be familiar with prayer now. Pray therefore, at the beginning of a new day with its cares and responsibilities and at the close of day when we are about to enter the state of sleep. The one who is faithful in prayer in this life will not find it hard at the hour of death to commit his or her spirit into His hands. Jesus will come again to this earthwith his glory to judge as He was judged, to hand over as He was handed over and to shout ‘depart from me, I do not know you’ as people shouted ‘away with him, crucify, crucify!’

CONCLUSION: Jesus transformed mount Calvary a place of skull into a place of pilgrimage as a holy spot by dying on the cross. Today in every country under the sun, millions of people would observe the anniversary of Jesus’ death in fasting and praying. We come to a better understanding of the past, present and the future of our lives by reflecting on the seven words of Jesus spoken from the cross. Seven times on the cross His lips moved in speech. Seven is the number of completeness or perfection. This article may not be perfect but it is sent forth with the prayer that it may inspire the reader with a better understanding of Christ’s death and to a deeper devotion to the Saviour who gave Himself for us at Calvary. Finally, I wind up with a short story: The manufacturer of fine mobile phone uses the best materials for making the parts of a mobile. Each part is accurately made and properly assembled. Then, the workmanskillfully arranges and adjusts the parts in the mobile so that it will work correctly and fulfill the purpose properly that is to communicate and keep people connected, regardless of the distance that separates them. After testing and examining his workmanship very carefully, he places the mobile on display and says, “The mobile is finished.” He means that his work is completed and the product of his skilled labor is now ready to be put into use as a dependable and valuable piece. Therefore, Let us know the purpose of life and live accordingly.

LIVE JESUS!

FR. HENRY PETER MSFS

ST. PETER’S CHURCH,

RAIDHI, ODISHA, INDIA.