As we enter into Holy Week, we remember the moment Jesus entrusted his life into the hands of the Father on the Cross. What might the Father be inviting you to place into his hands? Today, Dr. Sri explains the significance of this prayer, and encourages us to also place our lives in the loving hands of the Father.
Snippet from the Show
“Connection is more important than perfection.”
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“The Father’s hands are trustworthy.”
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Before dying on the Cross, Jesus entrusted everything into the Father’s hands. He didn’t hold anything back because he trusted fully in the Father.
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
– Luke 23:46
Jesus Prays in a Loud Voice
In Scripture, praying in a loud voice signifies praising God. The same type of prayer is used when Mary visits Elizabeth and when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. More significantly, Jesus’ prayer is a reference to Psalm 31.
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
-Luke 1:41
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said,“Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Laz′arus, come out.”
– John 11: 41-42
In thee, O Lord, do I seek refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in thy righteousness deliver me!
Incline thy ear to me,
rescue me speedily!
Be thou a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress;
for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me
take me out of the net which is hidden for me,
for thou art my refuge.
Into thy hand I commit my spirit;
thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
Pslam 31:1-5
Jesus’ expression on the Cross is an expression of confidence and trust in the Father in the face of death. This prayer inspires us to also entrust everything into the hands of the Father. In the midst of trials, fears, worries and uncertainties, may we learn to lean on the strength of the Father. Jesus’ final prayer on the cross teaches us that God should be our refuge and fortress. Instead of asserting our own willfulness to solve our problems, we should turn to God and ask him boldly to help us. Don’t be afraid to bring your questions and difficulties to the Father and give up control. Learn to surrender everything into the loving hands of the Father. It’s very tempting to place our trust in our own abilities and to rely solely on our own efforts. However, our identity is found in the Father. If you’re struggling with something in your life right now, fall on your knees and cry out loudly in your heart to the Father. The hands of the Father that raised Christ from the dead, will surely take good care of us too.
Resources
- Visit Dr. Sri’s website at www.edwardsri.com and to book online events with Dr. Sri email events.edwardsri@gmail.com
- No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion
- Find more of Dr. Sri’s episodes at ascensionpress.com/allthingscatholic
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Dr. Edward Sri is a theologian, well-known Catholic speaker, and author of several best-selling books. His work with Ascension includes study programs such as A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion and Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother. Several of Dr. Sri’s programs were filmed on-site in the Holy Land, and feature immersive video explorations of the sacred sites where Jesus, Mary, and the Apostles lived and died.
Dr. Sri is the host of the acclaimed Ascension podcast All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri. Together with Curtis Martin, Dr. Sri is a founding leader of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), of which he serves as senior vice president of Apostolic Outreach.
Dr. Sri lives with his wife Beth and their children in Colorado.
