Have you seen His wounded hands?

THOSE WOUNDED HANDS

Jn. 20:19-31

It was the last day at school and a group of teenage girls decided to celebrate by going to a Fair.  They were about to pass the booth of a palm reader when one of the girls said, “I dare Susan to have her palm read.”  For a laugh Susan agreed. Moments later she came from the booth all excited and told her friends what had happened.  “What did she tell you,” said one girl.  “She took my palm, studied it closely, and ran her finger along the lines of my hand.  Then she told me, ‘You will meet a tall dark handsome man.  You will be happily married and you will have many long years together.’”  Her friend said, “I hope it’ll come true for you, Susan.”  They continued enjoying themselves.

Palm readers can only guess the future.  Some of them can sound very convincing and make the future sound very attractive. In today’s Gospel Jesus invites Thomas at his own request to examine His wounded hands.  It is impossible for Thomas to see the usual lines in His hands because the nails that had pierced them had destroyed them.  Those hands would be of no use to a palm reader.  Those scars will forever reveal the extent that Jesus was prepared to suffer for those He loved. They tell the story that He died as a criminal.  Those hands show He made Himself helpless so that we could be strong.  Those hands that had once touched the ears and lips of the deaf mute revealed the scars of His love for us.  Those hands that had taken bread and changed it into Himself so that we could eat It and live were now scarred forever.  Padre Pio endured the stigmata for 50 years but at his death the wounds in his hands, feet and side completely disappeared.  There were no signs to tell the world he had endured such excruciating pain. Jesus, however, was willing to keep and display the wounds of His love for us.

Whenever we think lightly of sin let us gaze at those wounded hands of Jesus and realise it was our sins that caused them to be pierced, nailed to a cross.  If ever we feel friendless let us tell ourselves it is the hands of Jesus that clasp ours in friendship.

The Lord does not need to carry an identity card.  The indelible marks of the nails in His hands are the best identification possible.  It is those scars that tell the story of how He redeemed fallen humanity.  The sight of the Risen Lord was not enough for Thomas.  He was only willing to believe that Jesus had risen when he could put his finger in the holes the nails had made in His hands. 

Lord Jesus, today along with Thomas let us take Your wounded hands in ours, kiss them and affirm our belief in Your risen presence, “My Lord and my God.”  Let us receive the blessing You gave us today, “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

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