I remember going into a flea market a while back. I do not even remember which one it was. But I do remember coming across an old painting in a booth. Although I am certainly not an expert on either art or antiques, I do know that this particular painting grabbed my attention from out of nowhere for whatever reason. In the painting it was a scene featuring beautiful hills with some sort of mansion or very large house off in the distance. And in the hills you could see various types of animals whether they were cows, goats or something along those lines. The painting was interesting and beautiful as I stated. It was a painting where you could just look at it and imagine being there at that place. But as beautiful as the actual painting was, it was the frame around the painting that grabbed your attention as much as the painting, if not more. I can't really describe the frame for you in detail but I remember noticing that the imperfections of the frame. In other words, there were chips and cuts throughout the frame which made you realize it was old. But as I remember looking at the frame these imperfections did not take away from the beauty of the painting or the frame itself for that matter. Rather, it was these cuts and marks which actually, if anything, gave character to the frame. It was these scrapes, and cuts, and marks that actually made the painting stand out. If the frame had been perfectly polished and no cracks or no marks whatsoever, it would not have stood out like it did. In other words, it was the marks and scars which helped it to be unique, different. In that sense the imperfections in the frame helped remind me that this picture had a history of its' own.
In the month of June, we make a special observation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Certainly, when you look at portrayals of Our Blessed Lord, whether it be in a painting or a statue or even a holy card so often you can see the wounds of Christ portrayed. It reminds us when Our Lord appeared to the Disciples. "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side." (St. John 20:19-20) Our Lord was showing the disciples that it was really Him. After Our Lord had greeted the disciples He immediately showed them His hands and His side. In this sense He was showing them the one thing that would prove it was really Him. But remember that St. Thomas was not there. He was absent for whatever reason. "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." (St. John 20:24-25) This, of course, is why St. Thomas came to be known as "Doubting Thomas." He did not believe the words of those around him. He would only believe it with his own eyes. Continuing on, St. John tells us: "And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then He said to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing." It was at this point that St. Thomas answered, "My Lord and My God." (St. John 20:26-28) It was not seeing the actual Lord Himself that made St. Thomas believe. He stated that He would not believe until he not only saw the wounds for himself but thrust his hand into the side. Seeing the wounds are what gave St. Thomas confirmation to the identity of the Lord. St. Thomas found the proof he needed by seeing these Precious Wounds for himself.
So often when we are hurting we focus on what is hurting us. We focus on the wound. This can be true either in a physical sense or in an emotional sense as well. And so often we want to get rid of the wound because it is ugly or it reminds us of some bad memory. And yet each and everyone of us possess wounds. Each and everyone of us has marks. Each one of us has scars. Whether these marks be physical or emotional every single person possesses them. But these marks do not have to simply be negative reminders of something bad in our lives. No, they can actually be reminders of who we actually are. In other words, scars and marks can indeed be a reminder that something bad happened to us but on the other hand they can be a good reminder that we are survivors. They remind us, yes, where we have been but they also remind us what we endured and what we did to endure.
In the case of Our Blessed Saviour the holes where the nails fastened Our Lord to the Cross show what He endured to save us from our sins. He did all He did on our behalf because He loved us. The mark on His side where the spear was thrust forth also shows that Christ died for our sins. It is this mark that shows where the Precious Blood poured forth to cleanse us from our sins. These marks are not seen as imperfections. Rather, they are seen as proof of the Saviour's love. The wounds themselves are proof of Christ's resolve. Our Blessed Saviour was determined to save us from our sins. Something that we could never dare dream of doing.
Prayer to the Holy Wounds of Christ
I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy LEFT FOOT, from which flowed the Precious Blood that washes away our sins.In It I sink and hide all the sins I have ever committed.
I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy RIGHT FOOT, from which the Fountain of Peace flowed to us. In Its depths I sink and bury all my desires, that they may be purified and remain unspotted by any earthly stain.
I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy LEFT HAND, from which the Well of Grace flowed to us. In It I enclose all my spiritual and bodily ills, that in union with Thy sufferings they may become sweet to me, and by patience become a fragrant odor before God.
I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy RIGHT HAND, from which the Medicine of the Soul was poured forth. In It I hide all my negligences and omissions which I have committed in my virtuous exercises, that they may be atoned for by Thy zealous works.
I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the healing Wound of Thy SWEETEST HEART, from which Living Water and Blood and the riches of all good flowed to us. I place myself in this Wound, and there unite all my imperfect love to Thy Divine Love, that thus it may be perfected.
(Our Lord Jesus Christ dictated this prayer to Saint Mechtilde as she went to kiss the Holy Cross on Good Friday)
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