Cross-Shattered Christ: Meditations on the Seven Last Words

An addition to personal library, do not know when chance will arise to read as seminary still requires another year of reading, no time for personal pursuits at this time.

There are a number of books on the seven sayings of Jesus from the Cross; most of them are relatively short, and this one is not an exception to that generalization. This is, however, one of the more eloquent and thoughtful works on this subject. It is also a relatively recent work, published in 2004, and has a fresher, more modern perspective than some of the older books on the subject, such as those by Fulton Sheen and Arthur Pink. If you are familiar with other works by Hauerwas, this one has less humor by comparison (appropriately to the topic, I would say). Another excellent, longer book on the same subject is "Death on a Friday Afternoon," by Richard John Neuhaus.

Stanley Hauerwas writes with poetic passion that is moving and causes one to reflect deeply on the cross and God. This book is about the seven last sentences of Jesus from the cross. Hauerwas reflects on their meaning in a very deep, yet simple way. This is a short read, but not a shallow read. It is deeply devotional.

Here is a little book by one of our best theologians that makes for ideal reading at Lent. You could read it with great profit for personal meditations or in a church class. After a brief introduction, Hauerwas devotes one chapter each to the seven last words of Christ: (1) "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (2) "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (3) "Woman, behold thy son!" ... "Behold thy mother!" (4) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (5) "I thirst." (6) "It is finished." (7) "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Each chapter is quite short at 6-8 pages, and is accompanied by wood block printings by Rick Beerhorst. Hauerwas takes the title for his book from a poem called "Mercy" in Manhandling the Deity by John F. Deane, part of which reads: Unholy we sang this morning, and prayed as if we were not broken, crooked the Christ-figure hung, splayed on bloodied beams above us; devious God, dweller in shadows, mercy on us; immortal, cross-shattered Christ-- your gentling grace down upon us. The paschal mystery, says Hauerwas, is not an insoluble puzzle but a reality that we can love and embrace, even while it subverts all we think we know. We do not "possess" this truth in a self-serving manner, contrary to the ways we often think and act, but ought to beg God to be transformed by the truth of Good Friday. Repenting of our many presumptions, as we approach the foot of the cross we realize that our lives "can never return to normal."