Good Friday — A Reflection

I was moved to tears reading Archbishop Fulton Sheen's The Cries of Jesus from the Cross. It is a beautiful book reflecting upon Jesus' last words at Calvary. I have summarized what moved me most from Archbishop Fulton Sheen's spiritual writings and reflected in prayer.

The Seven Last Cries of Jesus

"Forgive them Father for they know not what they do"

Lord, please allow anger to pass through me and patience to sustain me.  

Lord Jesus, You could have come down from that Cross; however, for me and all of humanity, You patiently fulfilled the will of God and saved humanity.  

As You hung from the Cross, Your first words to Your Father were not about death but about the good it would accomplish: it is not directed to Your friends, Your apostles, or Your believers but to those who hate You, who hate Your apostles, and who hate Your church.

You cried, "PLEASE FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO…"  

Jesus, help me remember that You were crucified for a bigger world than Calvary and suffered for a greater harvest than Jerusalem. "And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me" (John 17:20). Help me always believe in Your word and remember You died for me. Amen.

"This day thou shalt be with me in paradise."

Lord, please allow envy to pass through me and HOPE to sustain me. It is with great hope that we cry out to You, Jesus, and ask You to save us a seat in heaven. It is with great hope that we are vulnerable and humble as we admit our faults, confess our sins, and ask with humble hearts to be renewed. "Lord, I am not worthy that You shall enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." "Jesus, remember me when You enter into Your kingdom." Amen.

"Women Behold thy Son, Behold thy Mother"

Lord, please allow darkness to pass through me and LOVE to sustain me. It is with a holy love that we recognize that from the Cross, you looked upon two of Your most beloved companions, Your mother and John, and as You spoke to Your mother, you called her WOMAN, making her not only Your mother but a blessed woman to become the mother to all of us. And then You did not call out Your beloved disciple John; instead, You said, "Behold thy son," again placing Mary as the mother of all humanity. Lord Jesus, help me to remember that I can never love Your mother too much. Remind me that by loving Your Mother, I am not ignoring You. Instead, I am honoring You. Mother Mary, Mother Me. Amen.

"My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me!"

Lord, please allow pride to pass through me and faith to sustain me. In defeat and betrayal, it is hard to hold on to faith and know that Your will is always best. Help me recognize Your divine truth even in my darkest moments, and when I cry out to You, please hold me close and offer me Your peace. Thank You, dear Jesus, for being our example of human and divine as You cried out to Your Father in Your darkest moment yet held steadfast in faith as You followed His will. Amen. 

"I Thirst"

Lord, let gluttony pass through me and allow temperance to sustain me. When I want to consume everything, to grab more for myself, remind me to be patient and thirst for You in my quiet temperance. It is in the quiet stillness, in the space between want and need, that You exist. As you hung on the Cross and cried out two simple words, "I THIRST," it was not a cry to quench Your parched lips but a cry for love to quench Your soul. "He (Jesus) asks man for a drink! Not a drink of earthly water – that is not what He meant – but a drink of love. 'I thirst' – for LOVE!" (Sheen). Lord Jesus, help me to love You deeply and be loved by You. Amen.

"It is Finished"

Lord, let laziness pass through me and divine justice awaken me. Lord, help me to remember that throughout Sacred Scripture, You have used the statement "IT IS FINISHED" to mean it is perfected. In creation, the Heavens and Earth are described as FINISHED. "And now, from the Cross, it is heard again. "This does not mean, 'Thank God, it is over.' It means it is perfected; the debt had been paid, and the work that Our Lord had come to do has been completed" (Sheen). This was Your farewell to Your earthly life. Lord Jesus, always remind me of Your perfect plan for my life: justice and not sloth. Amen.

"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

Lord, let covetousness pass through me and allow true charity to set me free. Lord, help me remember that He who came from the Father must return to the Father: Love must return to love. "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." As You spoke these words, You were preparing to enter heaven. Yes, You who had come from heaven had finished your work and completed your mission; now You return to Your Father with great love, He who sent You out on the great work to redeem the world: "Father into Your hands I commend my spirit." Lord, help me to remember that when my earthly pilgrimage is done, I may too say to the Father, "Into Thy hands, I commend my spirit." Amen.

—Amy D'Ambra/MSMH Founder and Co-Owner