Sunday Inbox Inspirations
Second Sunday of Easter
Cycle B
April 11, 2021
A Transformed Body
One of the gospels tells the story about the risen Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene.
Mary does not at first recognize Jesus. She actually thinks that he is a gardener.
It is only when Jesus calls her by name – Mary” – it is only then that she realizes that this man is Jesus, alive. A similar thing happens several other times after Jesus’ resurrection.
The disciples do not at first recognize him. Why?
Because Jesus has what is called a transformed body. His body, his human appearance is different.
We use the word transformed to try to express this. But there is one thing about the transformed body of the risen Christ that is still pretty much as it was.
His wounds. We see this in today’s gospel.
Jesus’ Wounds
The passage tells us that Jesus appears to the disciples and shows them his hands and his side.
Remember: when he was crucified, they hammered nails through his hands to attach him to the cross, and, at the end, they stuck a spear in his side to make sure he was dead. So, Jesus shows his wounds to the disciples, and they believe.
One of them, Thomas, is absent. He says he won’t believe unless he touches the wounds.
And sure enough, a week later, Jesus appears to them again, and Thomas is with them. Jesus invites Thomas to touch the wounds, and the passage doesn’t say whether he actually does this or not.
It simply tells us that he speaks that great declaration of faith: “My Lord and my God!” So, the wounds lead Thomas to believe in the risen Christ.
Our Wounds
The message that comes to me here is that Jesus wants us to show our wounds to him, just as he does to us.
I am not talking here so much of our physical wounds. We do have them – like a wound on our leg that won’t heal because of poor circulation, or a stomach ulcer, or any number of physical problems.
We do have physical wounds, and we are to bring them to Jesus in prayer. We can also seek out the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
But here, today, the passage leads me to think of spiritual wounds. We are invited to bring our spiritual wounds to Jesus, just as Thomas very openly brings his wound – a lack of faith.
Maybe our wound is doubting the presence of God in my life. Maybe it’s being alienated from the Church because we disagree on some things.
Maybe our wound is feeling guilty for something we have done. Maybe it’s having low self-esteem because of something that has been done to us.
Jesus wants us to show our wounds to him with trust. And, if we do that, little by little, he can transform us.
Transformed Wounds
Our skepticism can be transformed into a peaceful acceptance of the mystery of faith. Our alienation from the community can be transformed into a sense of belonging.
Our guilt can be transformed into an experience of forgiveness. And our self-rejection can be transformed into an assurance of being beloved by God.
So, the gospel tells of the transformed body of Jesus with his wounds. And it also tells us of the transformation of the spiritual wound of Thomas.
One of our Catholic theologians makes the observation here that our faith is not about transaction. Instead, it’s about transformation.
So, my coming to Mass and receiving the Eucharist is not a transaction. It’s not my doing this for God so that I get a stay-out-hell-card or something like that.
Instead, Mass, the Eucharist, and all prayer is about transformation. It’s about a process, a process of gradual transformation of my wounds, healing me and making me whole and holy.
Yes, I have wounds, and the scars from those wounds will probably remain, much as they did with Jesus. But in and through the risen Christ, my wounds and I myself are transformed.
I am brought alive or more alive in God. That’s my take on this great passage of Scripture today.
Fr. Michael Schleupner
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