As some of you know, Shirley and I belong to Lutheran Church of Hope in Broomfield, CO. For their Good Friday live-stream service, they asked me and six other people to do a reflection on Jesus’ last words/statements before he died. We were to reflect on if these words were spoken to us today, how would they affect our lives. I reflected on the very last words of Jesus, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,”
Below is what I presented. I was the last one during the service to present the reflection: if you would like to view the entire Good Friday service, go to this link: LCHope Video Archives — Lutheran Church of Hope.
“Jesus’ last words ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit’
Jesus commended his spirit to God right before his death---only one week after his glorious entrance into Jerusalem, on Palm Sunday. He went from the extreme high of one event, to the very low point of another.
In relating to how these words of Jesus if spoken to me today would impact my life; I’d like to share some of my recent highs/lows and their effect on me.
In mid-2019 I had re-connected with my estranged daughter who lived in Ohio, we were estranged because that was her life choice---but six months after we reconnected, we lost her to a brain tumor at age 49 in January of 2020. (I lost my late wife, Judy, many years ago from a brain tumor at age 50.)
My teenage grandson came and lived with us for seven months, so that we could help him deal with some his life challenges. During that time, we did have some positive moments---but he abruptly left us in February of 2020 without any prior indication that he was leaving. He returned to Ohio and is trying to move forward in his life.
A month later, in March of 2020 we were hit with the COVID-19 Pandemic, and all of the major changes that it gave everyone. Life for all of us, was altered in more ways than we could ever image. However, thankfully thus far, we are free of the virus and have been vaccinated.
Last summer I was greatly impacted by the ongoing racial injustices in our country that made me think of the times in my life when my skin color was a hindrance. However, it also made me remember all of the color barriers that I broke, when I was in the work force.
Then, we had the very stressful 2020 Presidential Election with all of its highs and lows, which seemed to go for ever.
Thus, over that period, my lows won out over my highs which caused me some mild depression. As fallible human beings on this side of God’s kingdom, we all have the ups and downs of life. However, during that time, I realized that even in our low points, commending our spirits to the Lord God, is what we are supposed to be about---just as Jesus did. For when we commend our spirits and lives to the Lord, we are trusting that God will be with us in all of our highs and lows."
This prayer is contributed to Augustine of Hippo
‘O God, full of compassion,
I commit and commend myself to you, in whom I am, and live, and know.
Be the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way.
Let my soul take refuge from the turmoil of worldly thought
beneath the shadow of your wings.
Let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God. Amen”’
Below is what I presented. I was the last one during the service to present the reflection: if you would like to view the entire Good Friday service, go to this link: LCHope Video Archives — Lutheran Church of Hope.
“Jesus’ last words ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit’
Jesus commended his spirit to God right before his death---only one week after his glorious entrance into Jerusalem, on Palm Sunday. He went from the extreme high of one event, to the very low point of another.
In relating to how these words of Jesus if spoken to me today would impact my life; I’d like to share some of my recent highs/lows and their effect on me.
In mid-2019 I had re-connected with my estranged daughter who lived in Ohio, we were estranged because that was her life choice---but six months after we reconnected, we lost her to a brain tumor at age 49 in January of 2020. (I lost my late wife, Judy, many years ago from a brain tumor at age 50.)
My teenage grandson came and lived with us for seven months, so that we could help him deal with some his life challenges. During that time, we did have some positive moments---but he abruptly left us in February of 2020 without any prior indication that he was leaving. He returned to Ohio and is trying to move forward in his life.
A month later, in March of 2020 we were hit with the COVID-19 Pandemic, and all of the major changes that it gave everyone. Life for all of us, was altered in more ways than we could ever image. However, thankfully thus far, we are free of the virus and have been vaccinated.
Last summer I was greatly impacted by the ongoing racial injustices in our country that made me think of the times in my life when my skin color was a hindrance. However, it also made me remember all of the color barriers that I broke, when I was in the work force.
Then, we had the very stressful 2020 Presidential Election with all of its highs and lows, which seemed to go for ever.
Thus, over that period, my lows won out over my highs which caused me some mild depression. As fallible human beings on this side of God’s kingdom, we all have the ups and downs of life. However, during that time, I realized that even in our low points, commending our spirits to the Lord God, is what we are supposed to be about---just as Jesus did. For when we commend our spirits and lives to the Lord, we are trusting that God will be with us in all of our highs and lows."
This prayer is contributed to Augustine of Hippo
‘O God, full of compassion,
I commit and commend myself to you, in whom I am, and live, and know.
Be the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way.
Let my soul take refuge from the turmoil of worldly thought
beneath the shadow of your wings.
Let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God. Amen”’
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