OLL parishioners reflect on the last seven words of Jesus

Apr 18, 2025

KLANG: On April 1, the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) hosted a spiritually enriching Lenten retreat led by assistant parish priest, Fr Gnana Selvam Berentis (Fr Selva), centred on the powerful Last Seven Words of Jesus.

As part of the season of Lent, the retreat offered the faithful a moment of deep reflection, drawing hearts closer to the suffering, love, and ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Fr Selva guided participants through a meditative journey on Jesus’ final words before His death, words that not only convey the depth of His suffering but also reveal His divine mission and the fulfillment of messianic prophecy.

From the Cross, Jesus first offered forgiveness, praying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), showing mercy even to His executioners.

He then spoke a word of salvation to the repentant thief: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43), assuring him of eternal life.

In His word of relationship, Jesus entrusted His mother to the Apostle John, saying, “Woman, behold your son. Behold, your mother” (John 19:26–27), establishing a new spiritual family.

His cry of abandonment, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34), expressed the profound loneliness and burden He bore, echoing Psalm 22.

In a moment of physical agony, Jesus voiced a word of distress: “I thirst” (John 19:28), fulfilling Scripture and reminding us of His true humanity.

Then came the word of triumph: “It is finished” (John 19:30), a victorious declaration that His mission of redemption was accomplished.

Finally, Jesus spoke a word of reunion, surrendering Himself to the Father: “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit” (Luke 23:46), expressing ultimate trust and peace.

In addition to this spiritual reflection, Fr Selva also spoke on The Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:17– 30), where Jesus instituted the Eucharist, giving the bread and wine new significance as His Body and Blood. During this sacred moment, Jesus foretold both His betrayal and Peter’s denial, while establishing a new covenant between God and His people, a cornerstone of the Christian faith.

The retreat concluded with a time of Eucharistic silent adoration, offering participants a quiet moment of communion with Christ. Beyond personal spiritual renewal, the retreat also fostered a sense of community and fellowship, as participants shared reflections and deepened their bonds of faith. --Dato Seri Ann Marianthony