Companioning with Christ's Last Words - "Father, Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit"

Have you ever read Jesus’ Passion and felt a sense of joyful hope? In all my years of reading scripture, I can say that it’s always left me in a melancholy state of mind and feeling as though someone close to me has died. Perhaps it’s because one of the images I have of Jesus is that of a friend. But this year, as I read the Passion and Jesus’ last words, I feel uplifted. This year, I see the hope in “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit”.

With his last breath, Jesus offers up his very essence of being, his Spirit. Our Spirit is different than intellect or reasoning, or even heart feelings. Spirit goes to the absolute inner core of who we are. It’s where God meets us deep inside, where God breathes life into us (Genesis 2:7). Becky Eldredge calls it our “Inner Chapel”. Author Vinita Hampton Wright describes the Spirit in her book Small Simple Ways as that core of one’s existence, the deep place within where God’s Spirit communicates with one. It’s that place from which prayer originates, and where truth is recognized”. I like to think of it as where the mystery of Christ dwells, my soul.

Jesus had already given his body and blood at the last supper. He would offer it again as he walked the road to Calvary. But by giving his Spirit, he was giving his Abba everything he had left, the deepest part of himself, the part of himself that knew God before creation and before he became human. Jesus, knowing he had completed his work of salvation, offered the deepest part of his humanity and divinity to God the Father. And God the Father, with great joy, received Jesus for eternity. I imagine there was great rejoicing in Heaven at that moment!

Several years ago, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. It was a gallant but difficult battle for her and her last days were filled with pain. At times it seemed she was not the same person we knew physically and emotionally. But her Spirit was still there. She was not afraid of death because she knew she was going back to God. Surrounded by family, she died still holding her beloved rosary. At the moment of her death, we were sad, but also grateful that she was now with God. The mood at her funeral was more a celebration of her life instead of a somber mourning. God had received her Spirit as the child of God that she was.

This Good Friday, when I read Jesus’ passion story, and hear him utter “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit”, I will no longer hear those last words as a call to mourn. His final act of love, surrendering his Spirit to Abba, and his Spirit being received with infinite and glorious joy will leave me hopefully anticipating his resurrection in a way I never have before. These last words of Jesus remind me that all of us who live in the Spirit will be united with God in the Spirit. This is the hope and turns the sorrow of Good Friday into Easter joy.

Going Deeper Together:

To go deeper into nurturing your Spirit, read:

• The Inner Chapel by Becky Eldredge
• Small Simple Ways: An Ignatian Daybook for Healthy Spiritual Living by Vinita Hampton Wright

How do you nurture your Spirit? Daily prayer? Eucharist?

Author Vinita Hampton Wright writes…”an open spirit is not a determination to be obedient to God or become a holier person; the essence of an open spirit is our willingness to let God love us”. What are your thoughts on this?

Are you comfortable being loved by God? Why? Why not? If not, talk with God about this, and ask to be freed from whatever keeps you from accepting God’s infinite love.

I’ve commended a lot of things to God in my day: health, trips, job interviews, and hurricanes. but can I honestly say I’ve placed my Spirit into God’s hands? Have you ever surrendered your very Spirit to God? What was that like?

As you let the sorrow of Good Friday turn into Easter Joy, consider participating in our new Easter Community Retreat, Saturated in Joy: Finding Meaning in Serving God in All Things.

Would you like to share some of your thoughts on Melinda’s questions for reflection? What spoke to you as you read this post? Please share in the comments section, we love to hear from you.

Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

Melinda LeBlanc

Melinda is an Ignatian-trained Spiritual Director who is passionate about helping others deepen their relationship with God through individual direction, group faith sharing, and retreats. She received her certification in Spiritual Direction from the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center in New Orleans in 2012. She also holds a Master’s of Pastoral Studies degree from Loyola University. Most recently, she served as spiritual director and campus minister at Christ the King parish at LSU and was on staff at the St. Joseph Spirituality Center. She also serves in the Women of the Well ministry and is currently on the board of the Louisiana Association of Spiritual Directors. She and her husband Darrel live in Baton Rouge and enjoy birdwatching and fishing.