Jesus Surrenders His Life to the Father
[Lord Jesus] help me consider that I have never disposed myself fruitfully to say those same holy words … [May he give me] the gift of speaking those words to him in the most fruitful way at every moment – especially at the terrible point of death – and with the disposition of the heart of Jesus. (OOCC, X, p. 419; STA, 474)
Having accomplished the plan of salvation the Father had given to him, Jesus finally surrenders his life to the Father. The seventh words from the cross declare the surrendering heart of Jesus. The life of Jesus, from the beginning to the end, was a total surrender to the Father. At the moment of his death, Jesus made a final and joyful gift of himself to the Father with the deep satisfaction of accomplishing his will. Thus, the death of Jesus was his final surrender of himself to his loving Father. With deep inner joy, Jesus gave up his spirit into the hands of the Father. Therefore, a true Christian should not mourn over Jesus’ death, but rather he should live the death of Jesus every day of his life by meditating on the words of Jesus. Contemplating the seventh words of Jesus from the cross, St. Vincent Pallotti felt that he never had the right disposition to say the last words Jesus spoke from the cross. He prayed that Jesus would give him the grace to speak those words, especially at the time of his death, as meaningfully and fruitfully as Jesus had spoken, and with the very disposition which Jesus had in his heart as he said those words before he died.
What is my perception of death? Do I see it as a final and joyful surrender of my life to the Father? What is the impact of Jesus’ death on my life? Do I live Jesus’ death every day of my life meditating the words of Jesus from the cross?
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. (Lk. 23: 46)