Embracing Christ's Love: Reflections on His Last Words

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Spiritual Growth Through Sacrifice

Reflecting on the seven last words of Jesus from the cross is a tradition that dates back to the 17th century, inspired by Jesuit missionaries in Peru. This spiritual exercise invites believers to meditate deeply on Christ's final utterances during His Passion, encouraging them to accompany Him in His suffering. By stepping out of their comfort zones, taking risks, and making sacrifices, individuals can experience spiritual growth, holiness, and charity. This practice calls for courage and a willingness to embrace the challenges that lead to a deeper relationship with God. [06:22]

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you can take a risk or make a sacrifice to grow spiritually this week?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of Forgiveness

Embracing kindness and compassion, as instructed by St. Paul, allows individuals to experience the transformative power of grace. Forgiving others as God forgave us through Christ is a profound act of love that can heal and restore relationships. This call to forgiveness is a testament to the power of grace in our lives, encouraging us to let go of grudges and extend love to those who have wronged us. By doing so, we open ourselves to the healing and restoration that only grace can provide. [15:52]

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Day 3: Finding God's Presence in Loneliness

In times of loneliness and rejection, turning to God for guidance and comfort helps individuals find His presence in their lives. This empowers them to extend that same comfort to others in need, fostering a community of love and support. By seeking God's presence, even when His voice seems distant, believers can find solace and strength. This practice encourages individuals to be a source of comfort and support to those around them, creating a ripple effect of love and compassion. [15:52]

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life is experiencing loneliness or rejection? How can you be a source of God's comfort and presence to them today?

Day 4: Engaging in Selfless Acts of Love

Uniting our thirst for God with Christ's thirst for true relationship challenges us to engage in selfless acts of love. This involves serving the poor, oppressed, and unwelcomed, and living out our faith in tangible ways. By aligning our actions with the sacrificial love demonstrated by Jesus, we are called to make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized and in need. This call to action is a powerful reminder of the impact that selfless love can have on the world around us. [35:11]

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific act of service you can perform this week to show love to someone who is marginalized or in need?

Day 5: Trusting in God's Providence

During Holy Week, placing ourselves fully into God's hands and trusting in His providence inspires us to imitate Jesus in all aspects of our lives. By doing so, we find strength and guidance in His example, even in moments of suffering. This trust in God's plan encourages believers to surrender their fears and uncertainties, knowing that He is in control. By following Jesus' example, individuals can navigate life's challenges with faith and confidence in God's providence. [35:11]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

In this prayer service, we gather to reflect on the profound significance of the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. This tradition, which dates back to the 17th century, invites us to meditate deeply on the final utterances of Christ during His Passion. Inspired by Jesuit missionaries in Peru, this spiritual exercise encourages us to accompany Jesus during the last three hours of His suffering on Good Friday. As we enter into this sacred time, we are called to embrace the courage to step out of our comfort zones, take risks, and make sacrifices that lead to spiritual growth, holiness, and charity.

We are reminded of the importance of kindness and compassion, as St. Paul instructs us to forgive one another just as God forgave us through Christ. This call to forgiveness is a powerful testament to the transformative power of grace in our lives. We are encouraged to celebrate God's presence, even when we struggle to hear His voice or remember His love. In moments of loneliness and rejection, we are urged to turn to God for guidance and comfort, seeking His presence in our lives and extending that same comfort to others in need.

As we stand at the foot of the cross, we are invited to unite our thirst for God with Christ's thirst for true relationship with the poor, oppressed, and unwelcomed. This call to selfless acts of love challenges us to live out our faith in tangible ways, aligning our actions with the sacrificial love demonstrated by Jesus. In this Holy Week, we are encouraged to place ourselves fully into God's hands, trusting in His providence and seeking to imitate Jesus in all aspects of our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. taking. [06:22]
2. Embracing kindness and compassion, as instructed by St. Paul, allows us to experience the transformative power of grace, forgiving others as God forgave us through Christ. This forgiveness is a profound act of love that can heal and restore relationships.

3. In times of loneliness and rejection, turning to God for guidance and comfort helps us find His presence in our lives and empowers us to extend that same comfort to others in need, fostering a community of love and support.

4. Uniting our thirst for God with Christ's thirst for true relationship challenges us to engage in selfless acts of love, serving the poor, oppressed, and unwelcomed, and living out our faith in tangible ways.

5. During Holy Week, placing ourselves fully into God's hands and trusting in His providence inspires us to imitate Jesus in all aspects of our lives, finding strength and guidance in His example even in moments of suffering. [06:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:22] - Historical Context of the Seven Last Words
[15:52] - Embracing Kindness and Forgiveness
[20:00] - Celebrating God's Presence
[25:00] - Seeking Guidance in Loneliness
[30:00] - Uniting Our Thirst with Christ
[35:11] - Trusting in God's Providence
[40:00] - Imitating Jesus in Our Lives
[45:00] - The Power of Sacrificial Love
[50:00] - Closing Prayers and Reflections
[55:00] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Sermon Clips

"Particular attention to the seven last words, that is, the final words Jesus spoke from the cross, dates especially to the 17th century. The actual spiritual devotion of the seven last words originated with Jesuit missionaries who worked in Peru in the 17th century. Inspired by St. Ignatius' wish that people meditate on the Passion, these Jesuits created an extended contemplation on the words of Jesus from the cross. Originally, the devotion was to the last three hours on Good Friday from noon to 3 o'clock in the afternoon." [00:06:35]

"Let us pray. Give us the courage to abandon what is familiar and comfortable so that we can take risks and make sacrifices that will lead to growth, holiness, and charity. Help us to remember the words and the example of your Son, Jesus, whose grace empowers us to live more fully your gospel. Teach us to love and live for others. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord." [00:07:48]

"Let us pray. Gracious God, through your spirit, help us put into practice the words of St. Paul. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord." [00:11:39]

"Let us pray. Lord, we give thanks for hearing us, even when we do not want to hear you, with gratitude for remembering us, even when we forget you. Please empower us to celebrate your presence in our lives. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen." [00:15:52]

"Let us pray. God of love and compassion, you are always by our side. When we feel alone and rejected, may we always turn to you and seek your guidance. Give us eyes to see and comfort to those in need of your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord." [00:23:55]

"Let us pray. Christ on the cross, unite us to you in your thirst for all. Lead us to thirst for you, for true relationship with those around us, with the poor and the oppressed, the unwelcomed. Help us in our thirst to follow you and give our lives in selfless acts for these deepest needs, uniting my acts and yours on the cross. We ask this through Christ our Lord." [00:27:20]

"Let us pray. Lord, as we stand with you at the foot of your cross, help us to come to know the full meaning of endings and beginnings. May we see by your death and resurrection in our lives and find true meaning. We ask this through Christ our Lord." [00:30:48]

"Heavenly Father, in this Holy Week, may we, like Jesus, place ourselves more fully into your hands. May Jesus, who instructs us, even in death, inspire us to imitate him at all moments of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." [00:35:15]

"Trusting in God's providence, we now stand and present our needs to the God who hears our prayers. God of all hope, we place our trust in you. We ask you to bless us with the faith that has made our needs known to you. We ask you to grant this through Christ our Lord." [00:36:02]

"God of all, your Son suffered and died so that we may have the grace of Jesus' companionship during our moments of suffering, sadness, loneliness, and fear. Inspire us by his love, guide us by his example, and grace us with the gift of memory to recall the loving presence and friendship of Jesus when we experience our own moments of the cross. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." [00:37:37]

"Let us pray. Christ, you are our brother and teacher. Help us to learn from the example of our mother and your beloved disciple how to love one another as a family. In your name we pray." [00:19:10]

"Let us go in peace." [00:38:09]

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