Gospel Reflection April 18th 2021 Third Sunday of Easter
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
‘He showed them His hands and feet’
In World War II a doctor leaned over an horrific wound on the side of a young
soldier. As the soldier came to, the doctor whispered gently to him: ‘I’m sorry son,
you will live, but I have to tell you that you have lost your arm’. The soldier smiled
and said, ‘I didn’t lose it, I gave it’. Some wounds can be scars of shame, but others are
badges of honour, evidence of love and sacrifice and care. ‘Our wounds are often the
openings into the best and most beautiful part of us’ (David Richo). In today’s
Gospel extract, the disciples recognised Jesus in His wounds. When He showed them
His hands and feet, they remembered the love that was given and they believed. It
called forth a similar love in them. It led them to the shedding of their blood too. On
Holy Saturday night we inserted five grains of incense into the Paschal Candle to
represent the five wounds He carried in His body on the Cross. They remind us of
how much we are loved. May we always be aware of His wounds and the wounds of
those closest to us who have made us who we are. By His wounds we are healed. By
their wounds we were made. We connect at the point of our wounds.