2nd of Easter – Thomas and Safe Environments (4)

Rather than ‘retaining’ the sins of the disciples, especially Thomas, Jesus granted them eschatological peace, breathed the Holy Spirit upon them, sent them as the Father had sent Jesus, and gave them the mission of rebuilding and restoring all.

So, Thomas shows up.  Jesus granted peace and, in effect, welcomed Thomas’ inquiry.  For what Thomas had said, “I will not believe unless…” was a statement of fact.  Neither will we believe unless we probe the mystery of Jesus’ wounds.  So, how would Jesus restore Thomas?  Or…

What did Thomas see when Jesus showed him his hands and his sides? 

Conjecture:  He saw his own wounds in Jesus.  Jesus revealed the mystery of Thomas’ woundedness by which he made others pay the price for not facing himself.  

He saw, finally, the wounds he had inflicted on the Body of Christ in Jesus’ body.  The other disciples saw for themselves, too, the wounds they had imposed on the Body of Christ by not facing the depths of their hurts.

Hurt people hurt people.

And we can only begin to face our wounds and those we inflict on others in the welcoming presence of the Risen Christ.

Seems to me, anyway.  Happy Easter!