Images in the Readings
Usually, depictions of the crucified Christ include the marks on his hands and side. Our archaeological knowledge that for crucifixions nails were driven through the wrist ought not negate the symbolism of the palm, which is central to a person’s hand. Neither need we get fascinated by the accounts of the stigmata, for we all carry the mark of the crucified and risen Christ on our palm each time we receive the body of Christ at communion. Easy talk about healing from one’s wounds can be replaced with the Johannine image of the wounds: like Christ, we may scar, rather than heal. In John 19:34, blood and water flow from the wound on Jesus’ side, and church tradition has seen in this detail not an erroneous description of human anatomy, but rather the proclamation that baptism and eucharist flow from the death of Christ.
Each year on the second Sunday of Easter we meet doubting Thomas. He is all of us, and we doubters are glad to share with all other doubters the peace of the risen Christ. It is not easy to believe that we too have felt the wounds of Christ. Faith is trust in what is unseen.
From the earliest decades, Christians were renowned for their generosity in contributing money for those in need. Some Christians advocate that every single gathering of Christians, certainly every celebration of holy communion, include a collection for the poor. Current congregational systems of automatic withdrawals from bank accounts require us nonetheless to find a way to connect our own reception of grace and our consequent sharing with the needy.
In Christ,
Rev. Kenneth Saurman
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