Grace and Peace from God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to Thomas -“Put your finger here, place your hand in my side.” ( John 20:27)
These words have never touched my heart as much as they do this year as I feel the woundedness of Jesus over his Church, His people and His creation.
Christ died and was resurrected for our salvation, to overcome sin and bring healing. And from where we stand the wounds of Christ are visible. They are visible every time we identify (put our finger) on another act of corruption, selfishness, greed. They are visible every time we see the gaping hole in our lives left by division, inefficiency, indecisiveness, ideological incompatibility.
Thomas had not been there on Christ’s first visit to the Disciples, Christ’s resurrection was second hand news to him. But now in God’s presence, through the revelation of the woundedness that comes with life, Thomas is convinced that Jesus is the Son of God.
It is a great mystery – but the body of Christ carries the wounds, but not the scourging of the whip upon his back, only the price of the sins that he bore. The wounds are reminders of forgiveness. of the precious nature of life – resurrection into reality.
As we seek to be wounded healers with Christ, as we seek to be a people who seek truth and peace and hope and joy and faith, not because we have attained it (see the teaching of St Paul) – but because we believe that Christ offers it in a world of darkness. We do not speak of light in the world because we are the light but because we know the light. (see the teaching of John the Baptist).
Let us not lose heart, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps 73:26
My dear friends, we have many challenges ahead, but our God is leading us, we have much baggage that we carry, but the wounded healer is Christ and though we are scarred we are saved.
Trust in the Lord Jesus, the resurrected one who has claimed you as His own and you belong to him.
Be assured of my Prayers.
Rector.
