Ready for Life Ministries

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Ready for Life Ministries Spiritual Exercise #4

Guided Gospel Meditation of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death

Please allocate 90 minutes to two hours of space with no distractions to go through this guided gospel meditation. This meditation is broken down into five phases: an Introductory phase to help you relax and paint the scene of the gospel, a gospel reading phase of Jesus' crucifixion, a reflection phase where you encounter Jesus hanging on the cross, another gospel reading phase of Jesus' death, and another reflection phase where you encounter Jesus dead on the cross. You will use your personal reflections from Spiritual Exercises #1-2 and anything applicable from Spiritual Exercise #3 and take them to Jesus at the cross.

Again, you’re highly encouraged be in a state of grace when going through this exercise and to receive spiritual direction after going through it to ensure that you're being guided by the Holy Spirit. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about these exercises, please email Info@ReadyforLifeMinistries.org.

By listening to the guided meditation, you give consent to be led through the imagery of Jesus' suffering.

Guided Gospel Meditation of Jesus' Crucifixion and Death

Below is the written guided gospel meditation that you can use to guide others through the same experience.

Introduction

Having gained all the insight needed from the first 3 spiritual exercises, you will approach Jesus during his crucifixion and death. Please close your eyes and breathe deeply. [Breathe.] You are here and present. It is just you and God, and He is showing you a possibility through the creative gift of the imagination He gave you. He wants you to use the gift to deepen your relationship with Him. Inhale slowly and deeply [inhale], then exhale slowly [exhale]. Clear your mind of all distractions by noticing the breath of life He has given you. Be filled with gratitude, peace, and joy that He has given you this opportunity to deepen your relationship with Him. [Breathe.]

You are in ancient Israel under Roman rule. With the help of Simon of Cyrene, Jesus has made it to Golgatha, the Place of the Skull. It is late morning on a mostly cloudy, moderately humid day. There are several Roman soldiers, including a centurion, and large crowds that surrounded the area of the crucifixion. Only a few are allowed to be close to Jesus and the two criminals who are to be crucified. Others have to be outside of the guarded area. Depending on your role, your vantage point will vary. You can be among the few who were up close from the very beginning, including Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdelin, John the Evangelist, the centurion, or another roman soldier. You can be along the perimeter of observers as one of the apostles, disciples, Pharisees, Sadducees, or passersby. Please select your role now. [Breathe.]

Currently, as the sun continues to travel to the highest point in the sky, you can feel the humidity after following Jesus to Golgatha. Jesus has been stripped of his clothes and tunic, he’s wearing a crown of thorns, his face is battered and covered with blood, and his left eye is swollen shut. A Roman soldier is heavy-handedly escorting him to his cross, which is in the middle of two other crosses. His cross is made of two round wooden beams. The horizontal beam has a carved semicircle in the middle, notched to tightly fit over the vertical beam. Rope is used as lashings to fasten the two beams together where they intersect. The soldier suddenly shoves Jesus down so that he falls beside his cross. That soldier and another soldier forcefully position Jesus onto his cross. Your eyes are set on Jesus. He’s about to be crucified. Ready yourself… [Breathe.]

 

Pre-Gospel Imagery of the Crucifixion of Jesus

 

A soldier grabs Jesus’ left wrist, extends his arm, aligning his palm over the horizontal wooden beam. Another soldier takes a long nail, aiming it over his palm and strikes it with a hammer. Jesus grunts in agony, “Ugh!” The soldier continues to hammer in the nail and Jesus gnashes his teeth as the wound in his left palm opens wider. Both soldiers move over to Jesus’ right arm, repeating the same process. The soldier with the hammer and nail takes aim and hammers the long nail through Jesus’ right palm. Jesus grunts again, “Ugh!” The soldier continues to hammer in the nail, and Jesus scrunches his bloody face while holding his breath until the hammering stops. He breathes quickly in relief. The soldier takes his tools and meets the soldier at Jesus’ feet. As one holds down Jesus’ ankles over the vertical beam with his left foot over right foot, the other takes a nail, aims it over both feet, and strikes the nail with the hammer through both feet and into the beam in one perfect strike. Jesus grunts again in agony, “Ugh!” and breaths heavily. The soldier hammers the nail in further as Jesus strains in pain.

 

The original two soldiers who positioned Jesus onto the cross are now working together to torture Jesus. The one at Jesus’ head loosens the rope lashings that secured the two beams together. The two are facing each other, they make eye contact, and nod. The one at the feet is anchoring the vertical beam; the one at the head is kneeling with his knees spread apart, almost sitting over the vertical beam just above Jesus’ head. With both hands reaching under the horizontal beam—one under each side—he slowly pulls the loosened horizontal beam toward himself, leaning back, to open all of Jesus’ wounds. Jesus screams in excruciating pain, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!” The soldier lets up and Jesus stops screaming but pants heavily. The soldier at the head pulls the horizontal beam towards him again, slightly leaning back, opening Jesus’ fresh wounds to get Jesus to scream another long, excruciating scream, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!” The soldier relaxes a moment and gives Jesus a chance to recover. Jesus again breathes heavily. The soldier slowly pulls the horizontal beam a third time to get the same effect from Jesus. Jesus screams another long, unbearably painful scream, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Finally, the soldier refastens the lashings, resecuring the two beams together where they intersect.

 

After nailing Jesus to the cross and torturing him, they nail the two criminals to their crosses. You hear hammering and screaming as the criminals are crucified. After they’ve all been nailed, Jesus and the criminals are hoisted up and the three crosses stand erect, hanging each one. It is about noon and darkness has come over the whole land because of the solar eclipse. There is an inscription written and put over the head of Jesus that read in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, “This is Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.”

 

Gospel of the Crucifixion of Jesus

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. 34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”] They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be[.]” . . . This is what the soldiers did. 36 [T]hen they sat down and kept watch over him there.

39 Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, [and] come down from the cross!” 41 Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine 37 they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” 39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” 40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Reflection 1

Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you’re not already by the foot of the cross, you now find the courage to approach Jesus. You’re indifferent of the consequences. You just wish to be with Jesus during the final hours of his Passion, and the Father grants you your wish. If you’re not already in the guarded area, the Roman soldiers now permit you to enter the guarded area, and you get to be with Jesus at the foot of the cross.

As painful as it is to watch Jesus endure all this suffering, please thank him for this priceless gift, the gift of everlasting, eternal life. He may have done this for the world, but he also did this for you. Today, you get to experience this gift as a personal gift to you. For the 3-hour duration of Jesus hanging on the cross, you can share with Jesus all your deepest longings, troubles, and fears. Whatever you’re still lacking, ask Jesus to show you how to courageously overcome your shortcomings once and for all. You can share with him your deepest concerns as they relate to your fears, worries, selfish desires, or ulterior motives and their effects on your salvation so that he can help you overcome them, too. You can share with him how you wish to repay him for showing you the way to salvation. See his reaction, and trust his response. Allow him to show you what kind of diligent steward, faithful servant he has called you to be. Let him show you how he wishes for you to live out your apostolic ministry in the decades to come. It is just you and Jesus as he hangs on the cross. Nothing else matters. Allow Jesus’ tender and loving responses to reach the depths of your heart and soul. Take as long as you need to share with him everything on your mind. When you’re done, thank Jesus for everything he has done for you—for today and for everything. And then open your eyes and remain still until everyone is done with this reflection. We will continue to the next part together.  [I will inform you when there’s about 5 minutes left so that you know to start closing up this reflection.]

Continuation

Please close your eyes again to allow God to guide you through the next part of this journey. Remember to breathe deeply. It is still just you and God, and He wants you to further your journey with Him in yet another possibility through the creative gift of the imagination He gave you. [Breathe.]

After three hours of hanging on the cross, Jesus’ breathing is labored and shallow. His hour has come, and you are privileged to be a part of the final moments of his Passion and death. You are still at the foot of the cross by Jesus.

 

Gospel of the Death of Jesus

34 And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” 25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

28 After this, aware that everything [is] now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” 29 There [is] a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. 49 But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” 30a When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” 46 [Then] 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 30b [a]nd bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. 51 And behold, . . . [t] he earth quaked, rocks were split . . . 54 The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” 47 The centurion . . . said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” 

Now since it [is] preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of [this] week [is] a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 

Reflection 2

Please allow God to guide you through the final part of this journey.

Jesus has just died for you before your very eyes. His blood and water flowed out and onto you. His death is what gives you life. You can be in paradise with him. But first, you need to make sure that nothing is holding you back from living in full communion with him. It has been said, “In order for something greater to grow, something lesser must die.”* What are the lesser things in your life that must die for you to have a more perfect relationship with Jesus? Please take that to him now, and let him show you a plan that will strengthen your relationship with him. Jesus taught us to judge a tree by its fruits. Does his plan for you bear fruit that will last? If so, commit to a firm resolve to amend your life and follow through to the end.

You’re probably aware that heaven is a place where God is in communion with all His angels and saints. It is not a place of isolation. The saints who have gone before us, including the disciples and apostles of Jesus, were role models that showed us a way to follow Jesus to eternal life. They are in heaven praying for us and longing for us to finish the race so that we may come home to them. Before Jesus died, he gave his mother to you. John, the disciple to be among the first fruits of eternal life born from Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection, received Mary and took her into his home. If you love Jesus, you’ll follow all his commandments.

Furthermore, you’ll also love all who are in communion with him, which are all who are in heaven with him. What are the implications behind the command, “Behold, your mother” such that John took her into his home? Have you taken her into your home—both your physical home and your spiritual home? If not, why not? If so, are there ways you can improve your relationship with her? Please take some time to address these questions with Jesus.

 

Please also take the final moments of this journey to address with Jesus anything else that may still be weighing on your heart. Lastly, thank Jesus for this opportunity to grow in love with him, for his personal salvific gift to you, for everything he has done for you, and for everything he has given you. [When your journey today is complete, please open your eyes and remain still until everyone is done. I will inform you when there’s about 5

minutes left so that you know to start closing up this guided mediation.] 

* Rev. Tri Dinh, SJ

Source Gospels

Matthew 27:33-56 (NABRE)

The Crucifixion. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull), 34 they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall.[t] But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. 35 After they had crucified him, they divided his garments[u] by casting lots; 36 then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And they placed over his head the written charge[v] against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. 38 Two revolutionaries[w] were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. 39 [x]Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, [and] come down from the cross!” 41 Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel![y] Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 [z]He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus. 45 [aa]From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”[ab] which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 [ac]Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 [ad]But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.[ae] The earth quaked, rocks were split, 52 tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 [af]The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” 55 There were many women there, looking on from a distance,[ag] who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Mark 15:22-41 (NABRE)

The Crucifixion. 22 They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull). 23 They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 [i]Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning[j] when they crucified him. 26 [k]The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. [28 ][l] 29 [m]Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself by coming down from the cross.” 31 Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him.

The Death of Jesus. 33 At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”[n] which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 [o]Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” 36 One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” 37 Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 [p]The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 [q]When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40 [r]There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. 41 These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

Luke 23:33-49 (NABRE)

The Crucifixion. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. 34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”][e] They divided his garments by casting lots. 35 The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.” 36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine 37 they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 [f]Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” 40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus. 44 [g]It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon 45 because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. 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. 47 The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent[h] beyond doubt.” 48 When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; 49 but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

John 19:17-37 (NABRE)

The Crucifixion of Jesus. So they took Jesus, 17 and carrying the cross himself[g] he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 [h]Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” 20 Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 [i]When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled [that says]:

“They divided my garments among them,
   and for my vesture they cast lots.”

This is what the soldiers did. 25 [j]Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 26 When Jesus saw his mother[k] and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

28 After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled,[l] Jesus said, “I thirst.” 29 There was a vessel filled with common wine.[m] So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. 30 [n]When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

The Blood and Water. 31 Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 [o]but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows[p] that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe. 36 For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled:

“Not a bone of it will be broken.”

37 And again another passage says:

“They will look upon him whom they have pierced.” 

Here you can find a printer-friendly copy of Ready for Life Ministries Spiritual Exercises #4.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about these exercises, please email Info@ReadyforLifeMinistries.org.