Day 35

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit!” Luke 23:44-46 (From the Gospel of the Sixth Hour on Good Friday Morning)

As a parish priest, I have been present for the falling asleep, the death, of many of those whose souls have been entrusted to my care. The range of words, of actions and of emotions has varied from person to person.

Fr. Stavros makes what, is to me, a profound observation about the death of Christ. As we read in scripture, Jesus commends His sprit to God, He bows His head and He gives up the spirit. This is in stark contrast to dramatic death we see depicted in movies and television. There, we see usually see a last breath taken and then a dramatic falling of the head to indicate death.

So why is Christ’s death different from the dramatic death we see? Because he had faith and trust in God the Father and in His own divinity. There was no fear at the end on the Cross. There was no uncertainty. There was simply trust.

We first see this trust in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed that this cup, crucifixion and death, be taken from Him, yet He trusts in God as He say “Thy will be done.” We see this trust again as He is betrayed and commands His disciples not to defend Him. We see this trust as He stands in front of the High Priest and Pontius Pilate. And at the end of all, He bows His head in trust and gave His life for our salvation.

I want to share a story with you. As I mentioned at the beginning of this reflection, I have been present when a number of those entrusted to my care have fallen asleep. There was one such moment in particular, that has always stayed with me. This person had lived a long and full life. They has fallen gravely ill suddenly and it became obvious that it was only time that was with them. As the death approached, the family gathered in the hospital. Prayers were said. There was nothing dramatic that happened at the end. In fact, the death was very much like that of Jesus, as their head lowered and they gave up the spirit. There were certainly tears at the moment, and sadness, but over riding it all was a faith that this person had gone to God. We sang the Panachida together, gathered around. It was such a profound expression of faith, but the person who had fallen asleep, and by those who gathered around.

When we don’t have faith, when we don’t have trust in what lies beyond this life, then there is nothing but fear. But with faith there is peace, peace in the knowledge that God waits for us. As we pray at the Divine Liturgy in the Litany of Supplication before the Lord’s Prayer “For a Christian ending of our life without pain or shame, peaceful, and for a good account at the judgment of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.”

Have trust in God today and every day!

In Christ