He breathed his last

+  RWS 539 March 24, 2013

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Gospel: Luke 23:1-49

46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your

hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.

Last breath

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

How painful was the last breath of Jesus, crucified on the cross; yet, how touching and moving, how beautiful it was since it was commended into the hands of the Father!  None of us would know how our last breath would be; but we can only try to breathe it as Jesus did his last—to die in the hands of the Giver of life.

While waiting for our last breath, we busy ourselves with a lot of things, among which, is our daily work. It is like occupying our present moments with something useful, something which could keep us alive with our needs being satisfied. Very few, if there are any, would do his work with the last breath in view. Perhaps, it is weird to think that in doing one’s task, whether a paid job or one of personal choice, one is doing it as if it were his last action to perform. We would normally look forward to a continued work, to a health which could allow us to work daily; we would hardly work as if it were our last day of work, not because we retire from our jobs but because we will be permanently disabled to work, or that we would have ended our life. Yet, if we make a serious reflection and consideration on such a perspective, there would be a great possibility that we would do our best in that work/action that we would do as our last. We would want to leave a good impression of ourselves, so we do the best we can. Or, we would want to compensate for the many wrong things we could have done, that we would want to the last thing with our very best so as to somehow offset the many failures we may have done. It is expected then that we would do our work very well when we think of our last breath.

Jesus’ death on the cross shows the worker how to spend his last breath on earth. The sufferings in life and in work that the worker endures are nothing compared to what Jesus suffered. The worker could unite his life and work with that of Jesus’ death by believing in Him, and by offering them to the Lord. Jesus in turn will commend the worker’s life and sufferings to the Father, who will certainly grant those who firmly believe in His Son eternal compensation.

Be practical, be prepared

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Most people start to think of “breathing their last” only way after retirement.  While we are young and strong, busy with our careers, and unbothered by aching joints and shortness of breath, we tend to think we will live forever, like immortals.  Perhaps people are unwilling to “retire and have nothing to do” because then the specter of death will haunt their idle minds and sedentary bodies.  Wise are those who prepare for that moment long before they need to.  Death is feared only by those who do not prepare for it.

When I was a young girl going to the town’s only movie house (with double programs and bedbug-infested seats) I’d remember that rich people (in the movie I’d be watching) usually prepared their last will and testament on their death bed, when their judgment would (I assume) already be clouded by thoughts of reuniting with their dead relatives in heaven.  One haciendero, Don Briccio-something, even failed to sign the document, breathing his last the second he was given the pen, resulting in his children eventually fighting bitterly over their properties.  (Hay naku, Pinoy drama!  But oh so real, and so something we can all learn from).

No matter how work takes up all our time and energy, there must always be space left in our mind to prepare for the end.  Love demands it.  If we truly love our families, we will do all we can to keep our transition from here to eternity as serene as possible for them.  Especially if we are leaving some valuables (bank accounts, real estate properties, treasury bonds, insurance) behind, gather all important documents that will be asked of our spouse and children (marriage and birth certificates, etc.) when they claim ownership of them.  Doing this will be easier if our conscience is also in order.  It’s Holy Week—what better time to do this internal cleansing than now?  Thus we can say, anytime, “Father, into Your Hands, I commend my spirit!”