THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YR B
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Ps 4
1 Jn 2:1-5; Lk 24;35-48
THE GLORIOUS SCARS OF JESUS
Not many people are comfortable with scars on their bodies. Scars often bring back painful memories. Many people make efforts to hide their scars. Those who can afford it undergo plastic surgery to remove them.
Jesus in his resurrection appearances shows off his scars to his disciples.
In the gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus appears to his disciples in a locked room. He showed them his feet and hands and invited them to touch him. (Lk 24:39).
Jesus chose to keep his scars. He heals the wounds but glorifies the scars. The healing of the wounds indicates what the Lord’s passion is about; all injustices and vices are mended, and man can be made whole. Are you broken and wounded? Jesus can heal you in every way.
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote about Why Christ rose with the scars of his passion in his Summa Theologiae IIIaq.54, a.4. We shall depend on his thoughts in this reflection.
Jesus kept the scars for his glory.
Jesus kept the scars as the trophy of his victory on the cross. It is as if to say, ‘the worse the devil can do, he has done, and I have overcome it.’
Our Lord kept the scars because he would not be known without the cross. In all the resurrection stories about Jesus, there is always a mention of the suffering on the cross. The angels who met the women at the tomb reminded them of what Jesus said to them concerning his crucifixion. Jesus never wants to be known without the cross because the resurrection makes no sense without the horror of the cross.
St Paul wrote to the Galatians, saying, “From now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.” (6:17).
We, too, are called to bear scars for the Lord. St. Augustine says, “Perhaps in that kingdom, we shall see on the bodies of the martyrs the traces of the wounds which they bore for Christ’s name; because it will not be a deformity, but a dignity in them; a certain kind of beauty will shine in them…” (De. Civ. Dei XXII). Will you be one of those? Will you join the saints like St Lawrence or the Martyrs of Uganda to bear scars for the sake of Jesus? Will you have a trophy wound for Jesus?
The Lord kept the scars to confirm the faith of the disciples in the resurrection.
Jesus’s wounds are evidence of his crucifixion. This body which was beaten, broken, and torn, has been healed and is now glorified. Jesus told Thomas, “Put your finger here…do not be unbelieving but believe”. (Jn 20:27). Those who have been tormented, beaten down, and broken by life’s challenges and difficulties, those who think that their life is over, and the situation cannot be fixed, there is good news for you! Jesus can heal you if you come to him. He will heal your wounds and restore your life. The plot of your story will change. If only you believe and allow him in, there will be a resurrection for you, “For there is no condemnation for he who is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:1)
They were for our continual intercession.
Christ becomes the only mediator between man and God by his paschal mystery.
Jesus kept the scars of his passion so that when he intercedes for us, he will show them to the Father, to show how he saved us. He shows his scars to the Father as evidence of satisfying the demands of justice on our behalf. We should find this very comforting, especially when everything seems to be falling apart around us. May the Holy Wounds of Jesus bring us peace. We should never cease to pray, The Divine Mercy: “For the sake of his sorrowful passion…” and the devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus.
To convince those redeemed by his blood how mercifully they have been helped.
Scripture says, “We have been saved not with perishable things like silver and gold but by the precious blood of Jesus.” (1Pt 1:18). By keeping his wounds, Jesus shows us what it took for us to be saved. We must note that his scars remained as deep, striking, profound, and as vivid as the wounds inflicted were. That is why he could tell his disciples to feel his hands and feet and put their hands into his side. Isaiah said it aptly, “By his wounds, we are healed.” (53:5).
He took on the human form to save us through the most horrific human suffering. It calls us to conversion and thankfulness to God. It points us also to how we can bring the good news to others. He told his disciples that, “As the Father has sent me so do I send you.” (Jn 20:21).
The scars will be used to upbraid the faithless.
In the book of the Apocalypse, we read, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” (Rev. 1:7). All those who have shown a lack of faith and disregard for the Lord’s saving action and his Church will be convicted. The Lord will show forth his scars and condemn the faithless ones for seeking salvation elsewhere or in their intelligence.
His wounds and his side were opened because of our sins. “He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:5). May the Lord increase our faith in him. May he grant us the grace to carry our daily crosses and follow him. May the demands of the Christian life never frighten us. May we never lose our faith in the Lord.
We pray for the grace to entrust our brokenness to the Lord for healing, strength, and glory.
We pray that the Lord will grant us the courage of martyrdom so that we, too, can die with him in our own way.
God strengthen you.
Amen
