The Seventh Word: Luke 23: 46

Ecumenical Good Friday Service

March 25, 2005

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathes his last. Amen.

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The famous John 3:16 quote that we frequently see held up at athletic events. This is what it is all about. Today, the total Christian message. God loved each of us so much that he sent His Son into the world as a baby, to grow, to serve as an example, to heal people others wouldn’t touch, to socialize and eat with people that were not popular, to live, and to die.

This time of year is very emotional for me. The other 51 weeks seem to be filled with lots of other things, but this week for me is all about me. It is about my relationship with God. Last Sunday, we read the Passion here in this parish. One of the powerful aspects of reading that is we all take part, we all cry out “Crucify him”. “Crucify him”.

If we were alive in the time of the crucifixion, what role would we have played? We can’t say.

Last year at this time, everyone was talking about the movie the Passion of Christ. Here in this parish, we held a forum with the Congregation of B’Nai Tikvah. This forced me to go to the movie. Noticed I said, “Go to the movie” not see the movie. I don’t attend any movie that is scary or has violence. And we all heard constantly about the violence of this movie. So in order that I could go to the movie, I sent an e-mail to many of my friends and asked them to join me. Twelve friends came with me. I didn’t need to watch the movie, the music, the sounds of the action, and the two friends I sat between told me what was happening. The friend on my right moaned during the violent scenes and the friend of my left sopped. From time to time, I did open my eyes. Because, in reality, none of us can close our eyes to violence. It is all around us. That night I came to the forum and participated.

But for me, the really interesting results of the movie occurred the following week during my quite time of prayer and mediation. I realized that every time someone struck Christ it was my sins that Christ was being punished for. You see this week is all about me. Christ came into this world so he could die for me. And die, he did.

This Lucian gospel is not as dramatic as some of the others. But, it is pretty much the death I know. At my last moment, I want to be so faithful that I turn to God and go home to peace. Christ returns His spirit to God the Father. I want to do that also.

Though many people will not face the reality of death, it is part of my life everyday. I work as a hospice chaplain. I love my work and am very thankful for the work God has called me into. It gives me the opportunity to share the lives of dozens of people at a very transitional time. Death is very real. It is fundamental, we are born and we die.

As a Christian, I live my life very theologically. The Bible tells us that to every person there is a season and to each there is a different season. None of us know the why to the questions always asked. It is just something we are going to have to ask when we meet God. Until then, we are going to have to live our lives out as the very best Christians we can be.

I live each day. One day at a time, because we don’t know from moment to moment, when we will die. I give thanks each morning and say I’m sorry and thanks each night. Also, I have made lots of plans.

The news has once again been full of the Terri Schiavo case. I have no idea where this family got all this power, because millions of people deal with these issues all the time. There are very difficult, heart wrenching, life altering situations that can be prevented by preparation. I have honestly stood next to a 95 year old in the hospital being asked what to do for their spouse. And to hear the person say, we never talked about dying or what we wanted. I have heard family members say, “the doctor says I must do a feeding tube or I am starving my love one to death.” I have stood with family members and with patients alone that are dying. I don’t see any pain or suffering.

The truth as I know it is that everyone slows down as they begin to die. People eat a lot less or nothing. They may drink or they may not. Their mouth is swabbed for comfort. I have never seen anyone on hospice be forced to suffer. The body is a wonderful creation of God. The brain produces chemicals to comfort. Organs stop functioning and close down. Everything slows, until it stops, and we breathe are last.

Death is part of life. Everything has a beginning and an end. If we live as Christians, it should be part of our reality and we should look forward to that lasting peace with God.

Christ made sure everything was done and everyone was cared for. We are called to do that also.

Please know that if you ever want to talk with me, I am opened to listening and sharing. Many people along my life journey have showed me the way to live and the way to die.

Now that Christ rests, may we all rest in peace. Amen.

The Rev. Barbara A.D. Jensen, Deacon

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Monmouth Junction, New Jersey