One of the most remarkable aspects of the Resurrection is that Jesus still bears the marks of his Passion. The wounds from the nails remain visible even after he has been raised to new life.
This reminds us that the experiences we go through in life shape us deeply. We carry within us the joys that have
formed us, but also the pain, wounds and struggles we have endured.
At first, we might wish that new life in Christ would simply erase those painful parts of our past. Yet the Resurrection suggests something even more profound. God does not transform us by ignoring our wounds, but by working through them. For Jesus, the cross was not the end of the story. God brought new life out of suffering and death.
The same can be true for us. The burdens we carry, the wounds we bear, and even the failures we regret can become places where God’s grace is at work. There is no experience too painful, no past too difficult, and no struggle too deep for the transforming power of God.
As we continue through the season of Pentecost, perhaps we can ask
ourselves:
What part of my life do I need to place more fully into God’s hands, trusting that he can bring new life even there?
