Jesus knows that woundedness is multidimensional. This is something we often forget when we deal with our pain and that of others. It’s not just the wound that hurts but all that goes with it; the physical, emotional and psychological pain. When a relationship ends, there is the pain of being separated but also the unanswered questions, the feelings of rejection,
the pain of isolation, the deep sense of loss.
Thomas experiences this multidimensional woundedness and Jesus confronts him with it, meets him at his point of pain. Jesus not only heals his struggle to believe and helps him to deal with his feelings of isolation and despair, he also brings Thomas back into community. The gospel reading is dealing with more than Thomas’ struggle to believe, it is dealing with disillusionment, despair,
isolation, perhaps even abandonment. Jesus knew the hurts that the disciples bore. He too was wounded and in that intimate encounter of allowing his friends to touch his wounds, faith was reborn, most especially for Thomas, when his doubt shifted to belief.
Woundedness in any form can very often be debilitating. The multidimensional layers of pain can be hidden by a façade that all is ok, the depths of woundedness missed or ignored. The word “sorry” is bandied about way too often, it’s shallowness when used when people are in pain or when pain has been caused, can be more harmful. More often than not, saying “sorry” is not enough, does not
bring us back into community or help us to heal. We need to learn to recognize our common woundedness, be united in our common suffering and look to Jesus for a rebirth of our faith.
Perhaps today, you would like to invite God to meet you at your point of pain, to touch your woundedness and restore you through his wounds, through his love.
