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Mar 30, 2026 31 min

The Seven Last Words

from Cross Word Books Hosted by Michele McAloon

Send us Fan Mail Find out more about this podcast at https://www.bookclues.com/ Wisdom from the Cross How Jesus' Seven Last Words Teach Us How to Live (and Die) Well Holy Week can feel familiar until you slow down and listen to what Jesus actually says while he’s dying. Those final phrases from the cross, known as the Seven Last Words of Christ, are not random last breaths. They’re a compressed guide to forgiveness, trust, love, and what a good life looks like when everything is stripped away. We sit down with writer and editor Casey Chalk, author of a short but densely packed book from Sophia Institute Press, to translate two thousand years of Christian reflection into modern language without flattening the mystery. We talk about why the Seven Last Words appear across all four Gospels, how thinkers like Aquinas, Bonaventure, and Augustine read them, and why these sayings can be a surprising entry point for Catholics, Protestants, and curious listeners who aren’t sure what they believe. Along the way, we wrestle with the line that troubles nearly everyone: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Casey connects it to Psalm 22 and to the lived experience of the silence of God. If this conversation helps you see Good Friday, Easter, and your own hard seasons with clearer eyes, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find it. Buy the book https://sophiainstitute.com/ any questions for Casey Chalk. https://www.caseychalk.com/

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Send us Fan Mail Find out more about this podcast at https://www.bookclues.com/ Wisdom from the CrossHow Jesus' Seven Last Words Teach Us How to Live (and Die) Well Holy Week can feel familiar until you slow down and listen to what Jesus actually says while he’s dying. Those final phrases from the cross, known as the Seven Last Words of Christ, are not random last breaths. They’re a compressed guide to forgiveness, trust, love, and what a good life looks like when everything is strip...

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The Seven Last Words

0:00 31:59

Chapters

  1. 0:00 Holy Week Greeting
  2. 1:52 Meet Casey Chalk And His Book
  3. 3:18 Defining The Seven Last Words
  4. 8:50 First Word Father Forgive Them
  5. 13:14 Why Forgiveness Heals Body And Mind
  6. 15:47 Why God Feels Silent
  7. 19:11 If God Is Good Why Suffer
  8. 22:06 Suffering That Grows Empathy
  9. 24:01 Using Novels To Explain Faith
  10. 26:02 Woman Behold Your Son
  11. 29:35 Why Christianity Still Matters

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Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of Cross Word Books?

This episode is 31 minutes long.

When was this Cross Word Books episode published?

This episode was published on March 30, 2026.

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

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