Do you have a favorite image of the Risen Christ? I tend to be drawn to some portrayals more than others, but they all stir a joy in us and strengthen our faith in God’s complete love.
Recently I spent time praying with one particular image that was displayed at a retreat site I visited. Several details struck me: The image itself was a mosaic, so the many different small pieces fitting together to make one whole image reminded me that all of us have been saved by the Resurrection as one body. No matter where we are or how our hearts feel, Christ defeated sin and rose again for each of us. His white garment of renewal reminded me that we can begin again, especially in the newness of this Easter season. In fact, at Easter Mass, we just renewed our baptismal promises, so it’s a very appropriate time to renew and recommit our life of faith and trust. Though much of the sky was a beautiful blue, there were some clouds as well as some gray sky. My prayer led me to understand that we will still encounter difficult times and challenges, but that Christ – the Resurrected Christ – is always in the center. He is present with His arms opened to us, desiring us to find refuge in Him. And in the vast sky, though there will be gray, there will also be wonderful times of glowing, beaming, promising sunlight.
I am very thankful for all the details I experienced in such a special way, but what has stayed with me the most is that in this image, as in many others, the Resurrected Christ’s wounds are visible. I sat on a stone bench and studied those wounds for quite a while. I saw my own wounds within them. But this time, they didn’t hurt me like they usually do. Instead, seeing Jesus with His wounds, I felt that there is hope after injury. I recognized that the wounds we have don’t disappear, and they are certainly a part of who we are, but most importantly, they don’t have to be the only things about us. In fact, they are not the only things about us. We are loved – because of our wounds and despite our wounds and failings. We are loved – because of our goodness and our desire to have a life in and with Christ. In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we’ll hear “…he showed them his hands and his feet.” (Lk 24:40) Jesus shows us His wounds, so we can offer Him ours. He shows us His wounds, so we know we are not alone in our suffering. He shows us His wounds, so we can come to His open arms for comfort and refuge. As we seek the Risen Christ in our lives, may we find this Easter season to be a time of true joy and renewal in God’s complete love.
Journeying to Grace 