Good Friday

Today as we remember the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us on Good Friday, let’s embark on a guided meditation reflecting on the seven last words of Jesus. Find a comfortable position where you can relax and be still. Close your eyes gently if that feels right for you. Take a few slow, deep breaths, allowing your body to soften with each exhale.

(Begin with a few moments of silence, allowing participants to settle)

Now, let's gently bring to mind the image of Jesus on the cross, a moment of profound suffering and ultimate love. We will reflect on each of his final utterances, allowing their meaning to resonate within us.

First Word: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

Imagine the scene... the pain, the mockery, the injustice. And yet, Jesus' first words are not of condemnation, but of forgiveness.

* Take a deep breath in... and as you exhale, release any judgment you may be holding towards yourself or others.

* Consider the power of compassion, even in the face of ignorance or wrongdoing.

* Reflect on areas in your own life where you might extend forgiveness, both to those who have hurt you and to yourself.

* (Pause for a minute of silence)

Second Word: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

These words are spoken to a fellow condemned man, a thief who recognized Jesus' innocence and asked for remembrance.

* Breathe in... and as you breathe out, feel a sense of hope and the possibility of redemption, even in our darkest moments.

* Consider the radical acceptance and grace offered here.

* Reflect on the idea of being present in this moment, as the thief was, and finding connection and peace.

* (Pause for a minute of silence)

Third Word: "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" (John 19:26-27)

Even in his agony, Jesus thinks of his mother and his beloved disciple, ensuring their care for one another.

* Inhale deeply... and exhale, feeling the warmth of love and connection to those you hold dear.

* Consider the importance of human relationships and the responsibility we have to care for one another.

* Reflect on the bonds of family and friendship in your own life and the love that sustains them.

* (Pause for a minute of silence)

Fourth Word: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)

This is a cry of deep anguish, a moment of feeling utterly alone and abandoned.

* Breathe in... and as you exhale, acknowledge any feelings of loneliness, doubt, or despair that may reside within you.

* Consider the courage it takes to express such raw emotion and the mystery of feeling separated from the divine.

* Reflect on times when you have felt alone and the possibility of finding solace and strength even in those moments.

* (Pause for a minute of silence)

Fifth Word: "I thirst." (John 19:28)

A simple, human cry expressing physical need.

* Inhale... and exhale, becoming aware of your own physical body and its needs.

* Consider the vulnerability of Jesus in this moment and the universality of human needs.

* Reflect on what truly nourishes you, both physically and spiritually.

* (Pause for a minute of silence)

Sixth Word: "It is finished." (John 19:30)

These words can be interpreted as a declaration of completion, that his mission, his sacrifice, is fulfilled.

* Breathe in... and as you breathe out, contemplate the sense of completion and purpose in your own life.

* Consider the tasks you have accomplished and the journey you are on.

* Reflect on what it means to bring something to its end and the peace that can follow.

* (Pause for a minute of silence)

Seventh Word: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" (Luke 23:46)

A final act of trust and surrender.

* Inhale deeply... and as you exhale, release any need to control and surrender to a higher power or a sense of peace within.

* Consider the ultimate act of faith and the letting go of earthly concerns.

* Reflect on your own sense of trust and the possibility of finding peace in surrender.

* (Pause for a few minutes of silence)

Now, take a few deeper breaths, feeling the gentle rise and fall of your chest. Allow the reflections on these seven last words to settle within you. Carry the essence of forgiveness, hope, love, empathy, awareness of need, completion, and trust with you as you gently bring your awareness back to the present moment.

When you are ready, you may slowly open your eyes, carrying a sense of peace and reflection with you.