During the Easter season, we reflect on the glory of the Resurrection and, although I wear an empty cross around my neck to represent Easter joy, I also have several crucifixes in my home to remind me of the suffering Christ endured to provide this joy. With these opposing messages, the Cross reminds us of our need for faith and the importance of witnessing it.
On the third Sunday of Easter, we hear of the events which happened on the road to Emmaus following the Resurrection. Jesus appeared to his disciples but initially those who heard his greeting of “Peace be with you,” were not joyful but “startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost” (Lk 24: 37). These men knew the horror Christ had faced on the cross, and their minds simply could not imagine the possibility of anything positive coming from it.
Jesus, the risen Lord, stood right before them and, not only did they not know him, but they were also afraid. Jesus had to “prove” that he was really with them by asking them to look at his hands and feet; he invited them to touch him; he ate the food they offered, reminding them that if he were a ghost he would not have a physical body.
Like the disciples, I often allow my own assumptions and fears to cloud my ability to see with eyes of faith. Hearing of these encounters between the risen Lord and those who first witnessed his resurrected body encourages me with the realization that I am not alone in experiencing doubt, fear, and spiritual blindness at times. Furthermore, these stories remind me that Christ meets us in our wounds.
As Father Nick Meisl states, “We believe that our resurrected bodies will be free from suffering and decay. So why the wounds on Christ? From Jesus’ encounter with Thomas, we discover his wounds have been glorified. They are a constant reminder of his love for us and now give life, not death. Likewise, through the mercy of God, our own wounds can become glorified and can become a channel of grace for others.”
Thomas would not believe until he had actually seen and touched the wounds of Christ. In my own life, I know that closeness with other people comes from both their vulnerability and my own – touching each other’s wounds, so to speak. When we have the courage to admit worries, humbly apologize for our mistakes, or share stories of loss, suffering or adversity, we are identifiable “channel[s] of grace for others.” We connect with others in sorrow and grow together in joy; God has desired this type of connection with us all along.
God Incarnate entered the world as a helpless infant, grew up in a humble family situation, and suffered a horrific death, all so that we could approach him, know him, and connect with his wounds and our own, without fear or shame, and then enter eternal life with him. When Christ ultimately appeared, wounds and all, in his resurrected body, his disciples’ connection with him opened their hearts to his glory as well.
Bishop Robert Barron encourages us to realize that even Thomas, who was absent when Jesus first appeared to his apostles in the upper room and initially doubted that he had risen, later exemplified great Christian witness. After touching Christ’s physical wounds, Thomas saw them for their glory and how they represented the defeat of sin and death, and began to openly share his witness.
We, too, are called to witness the Gospel message. Looking at empty crosses and the crucifixes, I pray that I will never lose sight of both images. God desires to not only meet me in my joy, but also in my fears and failings. To erase my sins, he suffered. To grant my eternal life, he died. For the resurrection of my body, he rose.
As we celebrate the 50 glorious days of the Easter season, let us never forget the wounds that got us here. Let us, therefore, touch the wounds in each other. Let us appreciate each other’s stories and carry each other’s crosses. Like those who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, may our hearts burn with the discovery of connection with the one who saved us, inspiring us to fearlessly share our Easter joy in body and in spirit.