Luke 23:44-46 "It was now about noon, and darkness came over the land..."

"It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last" (Luke 23:44-46).

Question:

I would like to be able to either paraphrase or explain it metaphysically next Easter during the Good Friday service. My heart knows what it is saying but I'm having trouble putting it into words.

Comment:

This is a difficult passage to put into words because it transcends the human limitations within which our languages work best. It is a moment both painful and triumphant, both supreme darkness and piercing light. Jesus pushes past the last of his human resistance and surrenders completely to the Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence of God that is infinite love, always and only. And since Jesus models for us the Hero's Journey we, too, must follow to find and claim our Christ identity, this is a moment we have known, and will continue to know, in our own lives as well. Immobilized by the pain of utter resistance to our spiritual forward movement, we suffer until we are ready to release. Then we surrender to the absolute certainty that we are immersed in the Love that is God. And we break through to a new dimension of possibility that welcomes us and heals us—and from which our journey will continue.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed