Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Carlos Lariosa SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Thursday in the Octave of Easter
He was a constantly smiling lay minister on wheel chair, present every Sunday in 2 or 3 masses to help give out communions. I asked him what made him look happy. He said: “Father, it was not always like this. When I heard that I had cancer, it sounded like the end of the world. I was mad at God and the world that I thought of committing suicide. When my body surrendered to this wheelchair,that was the moment when Jesus’ showing his wounds to his disciples added new meaning to my condition. Now I can also show my wounds.”
Today we see Jesus in the gospel showing his wounds to his incredulous and terrified disciples to assure them that he was alive, not a ghost but one with flesh and bones. We also see Christ trying to make a connection between his wounds and his resurrection – that he needed to suffer and die to fulfill everything written about him, the Messiah, by the prophets.
Jesus’ disciples were his witnesses. They all changed from being cowards to being brave and joyful witnesses of the resurrection, from being silent to preaching openly, and becoming martyrs of the Good News of repentance and forgiveness.
In our experience of being wounded, we also learn from the disciples and have become wiser. Let us invite Jesus to show us his wounds and to help us find deeper meaning to our own wounds so that we may become his effective witnesses sent to mission to be more caring, loving, and joyful.
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