The wounds of Christ will heal our unbelief.
Last week we celebrated the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This momentous event changed the cause of history for Christians; sent men and women to the four corners of the earth to preach the Good news. During the Octave of Easter the Gospels present us with different apparitions of Christ to his apostles demonstrating that he had truly risen. He ate with them, preached to them and encouraged them to bear witness to his resurrection and he commissioned them to go out and preach the resurrection to all the nations.
In the Acts of the Apostles the baton is passed to the apostles as they carried out the divine mandate of their resurrected leader. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” Mk. 16:15. Because of the resurrection, these men who were coward, timid and easily intimidated when they saw Christ being persecuted became bold, strong, courageous, spirit-filled, fearless, brave and audacious in their preaching and in their zeal to convert the world, leading them to Jesus. According to Peter, “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard”, (Acts 4:20). They were able to withstand the powers that be and spoke truth to power. “They encouraged people to give their lives to Jesus and be converted for God was willing to forgive their sins. Because of this, we are told, “many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles” (first reading). Those who gave their lives to Jesus received healing and miraculous things happened in their lives. The Apostles on the other hand, were not afraid to suffer persecution themselves. So with them we join our voices and say, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting”, Ps. 118:2.
In the Gospel of today, Jesus appeared to the apostles and gave them his peace and the power to forgive sins. He invited Thomas to touch his wounds and be healed of his unbelief. Through the wounds of Jesus Thomas acknowledged the divinity of Christ. And Jesus blessed all those who did not see him in the flesh and yet believe in the power of the resurrection. Today is the divine mercy Sunday. On this Sunday God gave the power of forgiveness and reconciliation to the apostles and through them to us. The mercy of God flows to us through this sacrament. In this sacrament we touch the wounds of Jesus and become healed and declare his divinity. The mercy of God is most experienced in the sacrament of reconciliation. God is always merciful to his people and his mercy is everlasting on those who fear God.
The resurrection of Christ is invariably tied to the mission of Christ, the mission of discipleship and healing. Christ invited Thomas to touch his wound of unbelief and be healed. We cannot truly be healed if we do not touch the wounds of Jesus. What wounds do you want Jesus to heal for you? Is it anger, frustration, lack of forgiveness or weakness; is it alcoholism, drug addiction, sickness or death in the family? Whatever our wounds may be Jesus invites us to touch his wounds and be healed. We are wounded healers who must take their wounds to Jesus, touch his wounds and be healed. May the mercy of Christ flow from his wounds to heal us!
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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