Thomas, See my wounds

St John  wants to tell us the truth of life that the Word was made flesh. He presents the gospel as a journey, a journey of revealing, and of recognising.

If Christ is seen first in a manger in other gospels, we find him here, along with his family and friends, in a neighbour’s house.

Now the journey begins with the cleansing of the temple which really means of a time when worship will not be on this mountain and that mountain, but in spirit and in truth.

Some join him on the way but also with their doubts. Some also bring others to him.

In the words of Thomas, “let us go to die with him (Jn 11: 16),” the way receives a new dimension on the path of the disciples. The way is life-giving, the way is of life-giving. Though he said, “let us go,” later he asks Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5).

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (v. 6)

            It is the connecting thread to whole of the journey! Wonderfully Thomas brings this journey into its climax. Thomas was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (Jn 20: 25)

One week later, Thomas was with them when Jesus came, and he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe” (vv. 27, 28). Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” 

The Word was made flesh, and took the pain of  humanity “empty of love, empty of goodness, empty of life” What are those wounds he is inviting us to place our hands on other than the wounds of the wounded ourselves and humanity?

Coming in contact with him we manifest before him our own wounds and humiliations. All must walk this way. Family at Cana with their empty jars, shame and tears, temples and worships yet to be perfected, unstable Simon, Andrew, Philip, Nathanael and Nicodemus who had their own reservations about the Messiah, Samaritan woman who suffered rejection and had no one to belong to, paralytic waiting for the angel to stir the waters, man born blind who suffered the condemnation of the society, all must walk this way, though not knowing what it means, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” All must hear this too, “Thomas come here…”

But the mystery is the presence of Word made flesh, the Logos, in and among us! The presence of the Risen Lord is not external to us, but within and among us making his body. There are wounds, and also the same invitation, “come here, put your hand here, and believe.” Wounds may be of the church, of humanity, of creation and a touch is called for. Our response to these wounds may be a moment of our own experience of being healed, loved and valued. So it involves both personal encounter and recognition of Christ.

My God and my Lord