| March
2009 - Vol. 28
The
Word of Commital
“Father, into
your hands
I commit my spirit”
–
Luke 23: 46
commentary
and painting
by
John Dunne
The penultimate word of Jesus marks a return to what we would expect
from Christ; the mention of his Father as the one who can save him out
of death.
We have here a dramatic presentation of these last minutes of the agony
of Jesus and the conflict between the elements surrounding the event. For
it is spring in Palestine, so the sky is clear. Jesus was crucified at
the third hour, that is at 9 am.
Then at the sixth hour, noon, suddenly darkness covers the land, and
descends on Golgotha. |
The
Word of Commital, oil painting by John Dunne
|
In this painting, two figures are present beneath the cross, Mary of Magdela,
who represents the reformed sinner, and the figure of death. Jesus has
his head turned away from this figure and looks down at Mary; for death
has no power over him. Death will have a short stay with him, but we know
in faith that he would burst asunder the holding place of the death chamber
and walk free.
And what of the words themselves? One commentator opens up for us what
they could mean.1
"For Luke, Jesus’ last words are not a cry of abandonment but
a giving of himself back into the hands that had made him. At an
ordinary funeral, this is called “the commendation.” The official stands
near the body and commends the person who has died to God. There was no
one to do that for Jesus, which is why he did it for himself. This may
have scandalized those who could hear it, but by doing so he took himself
out of their hands. By commending himself to the God whose enemy they said
he was, he redefined what was happening to him.
"He gave away what they thought they were taking from him, and the whole
scene lost its balance.
"Thus Jesus introduced us to the shocking power of sacrifice. Which
can turn something that looks for all the world like loss, into something
that feels for all the world like gain?”
The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep; he gives up his
life for none can take it away from him."
As we look at this work we could do nothing better that repeats the prayer
of Charles de Foucauld:
Father, I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures -
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
For you are my Father.
1
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor, Butman Professor of Religion and
Philosophy, Piedmont College, Demorest, Georgia
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