March 31, 2023

“Jesus in Your Dying Woes”

Liturgies, litanies, and poverty - Thoomas Pollock (1836-96) and his brother J.S. Pollock had experience in all three.  They worked together in ministry at St. Alban’s mission in Birmingham from 1865-96, which was located in a poverty-ridden neighborhood, as were most English cities of that time.  The seven last words of Christ on the cross are layered one upon another and engage the sinner in a personal way with Jesus’ dying words from the cross:

1 “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34)
2 “Today you will be with me…” (Luke 23:43)
3 “Woman behold your son” (John 19:26-27)
4 “My God, My God …” (Matthew 27:46)
5 “I thirst” (John 19:28)
6 “It is finished” (John 19:30)
7 “Father into Your hands …” (Luke 23:46)

And so we sing, repeatedly, reminding ourselves to continually plead – daily – hear us holy Jesus!

[First Word]

Jesus, in Your dying woes, even while Your lifeblood flows,
Craving pardon for Your foes; hear us, holy Jesus.

[Third Word]

Jesus, loving to the end her whose heart Your sorrows rend,
And Your dearest human friend: hear us, holy Jesus.

[Seventh Word]

Jesus, all Your labor vast, all Your woe and conflict past,
Yielding up Your soul at last: hear us, holy Jesus.

LSB 447