Sunday Reflection, April 15: Touch the Wounds

Scripture Readings
Acts 5: 12-16
Psalm 118
Revelation 1: 9-11, 12-13, 17-19
John 20: 19-31

The parish in which I celebrate the Eucharist on Sundays is named after the central character in this Sunday’s Gospel – Saint Thomas the Apostle. As an apostle, Thomas is known as one of the “greats” of the Church – one of those whose testimony to the risen Christ was essential for your faith and mine. Church tradition associates Thomas with a mission to India, and Christians in India to this day have a special devotion to Thomas. But poor old Thomas also has something of a “black mark” beside his name. He is remembered as the one who doubted the resurrection – “doubting Thomas.” He is associated with the words attributed to him in this Sunday’s Gospel: “Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Thomas seems to be stuck in the doubt and fear that characterized the other disciples before the mysterious appearance of the risen Christ. Even when the others tell him about this experience, his fear and doubt remain. Though he is prepared to believe in the resurrection, the risen Christ must meet his criteria. He wants a Jesus who is tangible – who can be touched. It is surprising that Jesus offers to fulfill the requirements that Thomas makes. He says to this doubting disciple, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Through this encounter, Thomas moves to real faith and makes a profound affirmation about the identity of Jesus: “My Lord and my God.”

In many ways, Thomas is a negative example for us. Jesus contrasts Thomas’ path to faith with that of those who have not been graced with such a direct experience but have believed in him: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” We are among those who are blessed by Jesus because of a faith that is based on the testimony of the apostles, not on an extraordinary experience of the risen Lord.

I believe, though, that in another way Thomas has something important to teach us about faith and about our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes you and I, too, need to “touch the wounds.” It is often through getting into closer touch with our own wounds and the wounds of others that we experience the presence and power of the risen Lord.

It is very tempting to try to deny or to cover over the wounds in our lives. All of us have had painful experiences that have left their marks on our souls, on our hearts and minds. These experiences may have been more or less traumatic, but they have been real. In our desire to look like “we have it all together” we can attempt to pretend that those wounds do not exist. But inevitably something happens that puts us back in touch with effects of those wounds in our lives. I was talking not long ago with someone who served on the front lines in war immediately out of high school. He escaped physical injury, but the psychological trauma associated with that experience at such a young age was very real. Years later, the effects of that experience are still deeply felt in his life. It has been difficult for him to face the reality of those wounds in his life, and he has had to seek the help of others in order to do so.

Sometimes we are invited to touch the wounds carried by others whom God puts in our lives. It may happen just by providing a compassionate, listening ear when a relative or friend needs to vent. Or it may involve a more sustained “touching” as we accompany someone through a difficult experience in their lives, such as a divorce or the loss of a loved one in death. We may be inclined initially to draw back in fear because the wounds experienced by others seem too much for us. Yet if we can remain appropriately attentive to them, we are blessed with an experience that is significant for us and for them.

Touching the wounds – our own wounds and those of others. That is not always an easy or attractive experience to have. But it can be a very important way in which we experience the presence and power of the risen Christ in our midst. In reality, our world is a very wounded world. It has its own nailmarks in its side. Sometimes the reality of those wounds seems to overwhelm everything else and not to leave much hope for healing. But as Christians we believe that the One who is risen with his wounds – Jesus the Christ – is also very real. Because he experienced the wounds of the crucifixion, he is able to be powerfully compassionate towards this wounded world of ours. His wounds have become a source of healing for us. Wherever people come into touch with their own wounds or those of others, he is present to them in a special way, offering healing and hope. He is present, inviting us to believe that the marks of death do not have the final word. Rather, the final word belongs to the One described in this Sunday’s second reading (from the Book of Revelation) as “the First and the Last.” When we “touch the wounds” in ourselves or others, we also come into touch with the wounded side of Christ, whose presence and compassion for us enables us to move beyond our wounds to embrace the new life he offers us.

“Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” The risen Christ encourages us not to be afraid of our own wounds or those of others. Rather, we are invited to connect these wounds with his wounds. In making that connection we experience the presence of the One who offers us his gift of peace and a share in his risen life.

Robin Ryan, CP