Seven Last Words: Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me
Updated: 13 hours ago
"My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46) is the fourth of Jesus' Seven Last Words, cried out in the darkness that covered the land. It is the opening line of Psalm 22, a psalm that begins in anguish and ends in trust and praise.
In this Word, Jesus takes on the experience of abandonment that so many people feel in grief, depression, doubt, or spiritual dryness. This brief meditation asks for faithfulness in desolation and the grace never to despair of God's mercy. It is a consoling prayer for anyone who feels far from God, and a fitting meditation for Good Friday and the Fridays of Lent.
The Prayer
"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" O Jesus, in all desolation keep me faithful. Let me never despair of Thy mercy. Amen.
Sources: Traditional Seven Words devotion; classic Passion manuals, public domain.
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