Last Words, a third perspective

My God, My God, why have you abandoned me (Mt 27:46)

My soul is sorrowful even to death (Mt 26:38)

In the last fifteen years that I practiced Physical Therapy the average age of my patients was 86 (yes I actually figured that out). Many of my patients were walking that final stretch of road that we call “life.” I have been profoundly blessed to witness those who walk that road in peace and I have been saddened by those who seem to leave this world kicking and screaming. As The Passion was read, the Lord put before me the judgement I have a tendency to place upon those who go out kicking and screaming. I tend to assume that those who lack peace, lack faith. Jesus likes to remind me about that word, “assume” and He does so again. “My soul is sorrowful even to death.” Jesus knows His identity, He is the Beloved Son of the Eternal Father. Jesus, fully God is still fully human. He is the only human in history who knows with certainty what awaits Him at His death. Jesus knows He will be received lovingly into His Father’s arms, the reunion to beat all reunions. And yet, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.” This is a reassurance for each of us who walk this earth. We may fear the suffering that a diagnosis ensures; Jesus carries His own Cross of suffering. We may dread the indignities that too often come with aging, infirmity, and death; Jesus is stripped, spat at, mocked, and forced to carry His own Cross. We may dread and mourn those whom we will leave behind; Jesus suffered the abandonment of all but three and had to say His last words to them with bound hands, “Woman behold your son.” (Jn 19:26) We may fear that God will abandon us; in that moment upon the Cross with the weight of the sin of eternity upon Him, Jesus did suffer separation from the Father, “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?” Each step of His passion, with each spoken Word, Jesus speaks volumes to each of us. Death is still difficult even when our faith assures us that we have something far greater ahead. Even in death there is no go around for our Lord, there is only the go through. In His Passion, Jesus takes on the consequences of all sin: separation from God. Jesus gives us a gift that we can carry through our lives. Jesus assures us that He fulfills one of His last promises, “Behold I am with you always, even to the end of time.” (Mt 28:20) In His passion Jesus shows us that it is human to walk toward death with sorrow, but He also assures us that we need never experience that sorrow alone. Today is Good Friday. Consider spending time with the Lord in His Passion, asking Him to open your heart, mind, and soul to the Truth He wants to reveal to you. It’s a beautiful day to spend with the Lord at church if you can, “could you not keep watch with me for one hour?”