“Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of my Son, and in thus way you will be victorious” (St. Faustina, Diary:449).
“He was wounded for our sins, he was crushed for our wickedness; the punishment that made us whole fell on him and by his WOUNDS we are healed” v.5.
Has it ever occur to you that there is something called the WOUNDS OF JESUS? Have you ever focused on them loving and meditatively? Feel its awesome power and the healing comfort? I doubt it. Thomas did.
Jesus healed Thomas of his doubts by inviting him to touch of his wounds: “put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hands and put it into my side….” (Jn. 20:27). Don’t you know his blood is for forgiveness and his wounds are for healing, deliverance, restoration and salvation?
The wounds were the evidence to his disciples of resurrection: … He showed them his hands and his side … And they were full of joy (Jn. 20:20). You can imagine the astonishing effect his wounds on them and would afford you when you focus on it and join your own personal wounds to it. The wounds are the indelible marks of Jesus’ sacrificial sufferings, and from there flows his blood.
We are just too engrossed with his blood that we more often than none forget or neglect outrightly the source of the blood – the wounded body crucified on Calvary. We make no thought of it, but it is the healing power of God for us. Have you forgotten the saying that “the river that forgets his source dries up?”
Yes, it is a wonderful thing to plead his blood but that blood necessarily comes from his wounds and not from the breeze. It was the broken and battered body that wrought us our salvation and at the same time produced the blood for the forgiveness of sins. St. Peter in his first letter chapter 2:24 as well as Isaiah 53:5 emphasized on the awesomeness and importance of the WOUNDS.
To focus on his wounds is invariable to focus on his suffering, death and resurrection. Why not today focus on the wounds of Jesus by lifting up whatever challenges, pains or sorrow you might have to him.
My most sweet and adorable Jesus, you were brushed and insulted for my sake. You carried away the shame and punishment due me on your broken body. By the merits of your wounds grant me the grace to continuously believe and always make recourse to your wounds by uniting myself to your passion. Let your wounds heal my own wounds. Amen.
Why not pray with the song today: “All you who seek a comfort sure….” and with St. Pio’s “Stay with me, Lord.” Study today meditatively the 14th chapter of the book of the prophet Jeremiah.
SHEPHERD ME O LORD, BEYOND MY STRENGTH.
By Fr. Charles Emore