In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Heavenly Father, creator of heaven and earth. You are the source of life and fountain of holiness. You are very much worthy for our praises.

We thank You for letting us experience the opportunity to love and be loved. We thank You also for being with us day and night. We thank You for saving us, for sacrificing us and for dying us on the Cross.

Merciful Father, we humbly ask for your forgiveness. We're sorry for our faults. Forgive us for all our wrongdoings that against to Your will.

Loving God, we ask for Your guidance and protection especially for our daily travel. We pray for all the victims of Typhoon Agaton that they may immediately recover for what they have suffered for the few days. In you alone we give you thanks and praise. All these we ask through JesusChrist Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Today is the second day of Paschal Triduum where it is known as Good Friday. We have attended again the Holy Mass. After the mass, we have joined the procession throughout the whole town. Then, we have venerated the cross by kneeling down and make a short prayer.

Before the mass, the siete palabras or the seven last words of Jesus while on the cross were performed by the lay ministers and a woman. They gave reflections of those seven last words based on their real life experiences.

The Seven Last Words

Let's not literally understand these seven last words of Jesus but let's reflect ourselves to the spiritual meaning of it.

1. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing

Have you been experienced asking forgiveness from your brethren but they refused to give it? What should we do? We can't give forgiveness if our hearts are full of anger, hatred and vengeance. We'll pray for them. We need humility to forgive them.

Why we should forgive?

• Because we are forgiven by God

• Because it is our loss if we don't forgive

• Because God commanded us to forgive others

2. Truly I say to you today you are with Me in paradise

Why this thief Jesus brings him to paradise? This thief never ask forgiveness. He never repent for his sins. But why? Because Jesus knows this man very much. He knew that this man is a victim of the greedy people. He wants this man could feel the

3. Son behold thy mother, woman behold your son.

Who can refuse to a mother who is asking a favor from us? I think none. In this third last words, Jesus entrusts His mother to John as became also his mother. Through Mother Mary, we know Jesus more. Through her, she continues to inspire us to love Jesus more, to know Jesus more and to serve Jesus more.

We all know that Saint John is not a son of Mary or Mary is not Saint John's biological mother. But Jesus gave his mother to John to become his mother too. Thus, mother Mary is the mother of all Christians for Jesus is the eldest son.

4. My God, my God why have You forsaken me?

Does really God forsake us in times of trials, problems, and darkness? Have you felt and experienced the absence of God in this time of Pandemic? How many prayers were recited like Oratio Imperata and why until now the virus is still there?

These words of Jesus implies being faithful of God. It is not true that God forsaken us in times of our problems and sorrows. He is still there who waits our call and attention. God will never and never forsake us.

5. I thirst

What we thirst in this world? Are we thirst of fancy car? Jewelries? Or any material things? We still be thirsty even we acquire those things because they could not give us satisfaction and contentment.

It is Jesus who could give us true happiness and contentment in life. God is more than any thing in this world. God is more than enough.

6. It is finished

It is finished. Does it mean that He does not care anymore? No. He just fulfilled his mission on earth. He finished the task or mission given to Him by His Father. He victoriously won and overcome the trials and challenges He encountered. Maybe He finished the suffering on the cross but He continues to love us everyday.

7. Father, in thy Hands, I commend My Spirit

Do you believe in life after death? Where do our souls go after death?

We should commend our souls or spirits into thy Hands of God. For Him only we should offer our lives. Let be our lives an instrument of saving act. Let God be reign in our hearts and minds so that He will recognize us when we are about to face Him.

_____________________

Final Thoughts

Why it is called as Good Friday? How does it become good in fact Jesus has died on the cross? From the beginning, when our first parents disobeyed the law of God, they were expelled in the garden or paradise and were punished and cursed. The heaven for them was closed. And it was opened again through JesusChrist on the day of His death. So, the day when Jesus died is GOOD because Jesus brought us to be united again with His Father. He brought

Among those seven last words of Jesus, which one do you strike most?