4. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? (Mark 15:34)

A unique collection of seasonal prayers and devotions selected by esteemed prayer-book author William G. A Book of Lenten Prayers emphasizes the graces of Baptism and Penance, offers traditional Catholic devotions and prayers that are still relevant and meaningful today, and gives insight into the rich treasury and history of Lenten prayers. Storey, readers will discover a vast collection of Christ-centered Marian prayers spanning nearly 19 centuries.

Author and historian of the liturgy William G. Storey has carefully translated many ancient prayer sources, which heretofore have been unavailable to lay Catholics. A Beginner's Guide to Prayer is an excellent resource for anyone new to Catholicism or those learning to prayer.

Storey, offers consolation to those who are suffering. These Catholic prayers include psalms, hymns, poetry, prayers of saints, and traditional Catholic prayers.

THE SEVEN WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS

Best-selling author William G. Storey compiles some of the best traditional devotions to assist in daily prayer throughout the liturgical year. But what does the darkness mean? What is its significance? There are probably several possibilities and levels of meaning:. A symbol of moral darkness , "when darkness reigns" Luke I will turn your religious feasts into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads.

I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day. A portent of the death of a king. Philo, a first century AD Jewish writer, saw supernatural eclipses as "indications either of the impending death of some king or of the destruction of some city.

I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. The Father's judgment on the sins of the world being borne on Christ's shoulders as he hangs on the cross.

This best fits my understanding of what was taking place at that time. The Lamb of God was bearing in himself the sins of the world! The darkness was palpable, "a darkness that could be felt," reminiscent of the darkness over the land of Egypt in the Ninth Plague:. It is also used of the voice crying in the wilderness: In the Fourth Word from the cross, Jesus is quoting the first verse of Psalm 22, a psalm full of predictions of his crucifixion:. Some of those listening seem to have mistaken the call of "Eloi" with a call for Elijah.

It is noteworthy that this is the only time that Jesus addresses "God" this way in prayer. In all his other recorded prayers he uses the term "Father," probably reflecting the intimate form Abba. But here in his hour of greatest desolation, he addresses God as would any other supplicant.

This doesn't represent loss of faith.

THE FIRST WORD

The fact that he is praying, "My God," shows that he still trusts God. But the intimacy of fellowship seems to have been broken. There is a loss of contact. Doesn't Jesus' forsakenness somehow suggest that he wasn't divine after all? How could Jesus as Son of God be separated from the Father? Isn't this an oxymoron?

Some have tried to lessen the incongruity by suggesting that by calling out the first words of Psalm 22 Jesus is calling attention to the entire psalm, which ends on an upswing of hope and triumph in verses It is true that in ancient times before the Psalms were numbered, a particular psalm would be referred to by its first line. And much of Psalm 22 obviously pre-figures the elements of Jesus' crucifixion. But to suggest that by speaking the first verse of Psalm 22 Jesus was actually signaling the hope and triumph with which the Psalm ends twists the obvious meaning of Jesus' cry.

The phrase "Jesus cried out in a loud voice" makes it clear that this is a very real prayer reflecting the agony of the Cup drunk to its very dregs on the cross. Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? The question, "Why is Jesus cut off from God? We have no theology to explain or describe it. But cut off, Jesus is. We must keep our distance. It is in defeat of his humanity that the Divine plan of His Father will be completed. It is by His death that we are redeemed. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all" I Timothy 2: By his wounds you have been healed.

The fifth word of Jesus is His only human expression of His physical suffering. Jesus is now in shock.

The Seven Last Words: The Fourth Word

The wounds inflicted upon him in the scourging, the crowning with thorns, losing blood on the three-hour walk through the city of Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa to Golgotha, and the nailing upon the cross are now taking their toll. The Gospel of John first refers to thirst when Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life" John 4: This passage implies there is more than just physical thirst.

Jesus also thirsts in a spiritual sense.

Fourth Word of the Last Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross | Living a Life-giving Lent

He thirsts for love. He thirsts for the love of his Father, who has left him unaided during this dreadful hour when He must fulfill his mission all alone. And he thirsts for the love and salvation of his people, the human race. Jesus practiced what he preached:. Greater love has no man than this, That he lay down his life for his friends.

When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished;" and he bowed his head and handed over the spirit. The soldiers offered wine on a sprig of hyssop to the Lord. Hyssop is a small plant that was used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts of the Hebrews Exodus John's Gospel related that it was the Day of Preparation, the day before the actual Sabbath Passover, that Jesus was sentenced to death John continues in He died at the ninth hour three o'clock in the afternoon , about the same time as the Passover lambs were slaughtered in the Temple.

Christ became the Paschal or Passover Lamb, as noted by St. The innocent Lamb was slain for our sins, so that we might be forgiven. It is now a fait accomplit. The sixth word is Jesus' recognition that his suffering is over and his task is completed.

Discipleship, Discovery, and Depth

Jesus is obedient to the Father and gives his love for mankind by redeeming us with His death on the Cross. The above painting is meant to capture the moment. What was the darkest day of mankind became the brightest day for mankind. And the Gospels as a group captured this paradox.


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The Synoptic Gospels narrated the horror of the event - the agony in the garden, the abandonment by his Apostles, the trial before the Sanhedrin, the intense mockery and torture heaped upon Jesus, his suffering all alone, the darkness over the land, and his death, starkly portrayed by both Matthew In contrast, the passion of Jesus in the Gospel of John expresses his Kingship and proves to be His triumphant road to glory. John presents Jesus as directing the action the entire way.

The phrase "It is finished" carries a sense of accomplishment. In John, there is no trial before the Sanhedrin, but rather Jesus is introduced at the Roman trial as "Behold your King! Jesus is not stumbling or falling as in the Synoptic Gospels, but the way of the Cross is presented with majesty and dignity, for "Jesus went out bearing his own Cross" John When Jesus died, He "handed over" the Spirit. Jesus remained in control to the end, and it is He who handed over his Spirit.

One should not miss the double entendre here, for this may also be interpreted as His death brought forth the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of John gradually reveals the Holy Spirit. Jesus mentions living water in John 4: