Homily Notes Second Sunday of Easter

Second Sunday of Easter: Wounds Leading to Strength

Scars are something that most of us want to hide. We may have physical scars caused by surgeries. We can have emotional scars that are caused by traumatic situations we go through in our lives. Our wounds sometimes prove that we have lived through some very important life experience.

Recently, I visited my sister’s house. I had just watched a documentary during Easter week about World War I. We are commemorating the 100th anniversary of America’s involvement in that war during 2017 and 2018. I knew my sister had documents that were a record of my Grandfather’s military service. I had conversations with my Grandfather, when I was young, as we worked together on his farm, about his military service but he spoke in generalities as many veterans do.

I wondered how long he had been in Europe. I also was curious as to what battles he had fought in. In the papers my sister had were his discharge papers. I could see that he was only in the service for about a year, the last year of the war. The list of engagements was recorded. He fought in the second battle of the Somme which was the last big push of the war. Leading up to the battle, he only had a few weeks of military training. He was a raw 22-year-old immigrant who could barely speak English.

In the war my grandfather lost no limbs. He had no apparent physical wounds. His scars were hidden. I was told that he was gassed with chemical weapons at one point. When he was under the weather relatives would speculate that this was the lingering effects of the gas. He spoke of dodging snipers while he carried food in the trenches. At stressful moments, he would grind his teeth. He would also wring his hands. He was deaf. Was it because of the terrible bombs that exploded around him? I would guess so. I could feel his anxiety, at times, especially as we took him to the hospital for medical treatment. He was a strong man, but his wounds, physical and mental, helped me understand what WWI was like. I could touch him so I could touch that war.

One has to wonder why, when Jesus came back from the dead in his resurrected body why his wounds remained? You would think that his scarred body would have been made whole, that every blemish would have been removed. But we get an idea, today, as to why this did not happen.

Perhaps it was to offer proof that he really was who he said he was. To identify the resurrected Jesus there had to be something tangible. What was proof for some people was not proof for others. We all have seen crime shows on television where someone is missing, a body is found. The police ask if there are any identifying marks. When those marks are seen the identity of the dead person is confirmed.

All the disciples who encountered the risen Lord had to confirm who Jesus was in their own way. For some of the disciples, it was how he spoke to them. Others, saw how Jesus ate, how he broke the bread perhaps. Still others, saw Jesus perform a sign that he had already performed. Thomas wanted to feel the wounds. Thomas desired to see if Jesus had recovered from the trauma of his crucifixion. Had Jesus been broken, but not defeated. As we know, sometimes wounds make us stronger. Certainly, that was the case with Jesus.

We could ask what the proofs we see of the resurrection in the world today. One proof would be that there are many Christians who have endured different ordeals in their life, but have found strength to go on. Experts, who have studied physical healing say that if we sense that God is with us then healing can occur a lot faster.

Often, I have seen this when I have anointed a sick person. Someone will say to me later. “Father, we noticed a change after you came.” Not that there was an instantaneous change, but there was spiritual consolation in the person anointed because they realized that they had found reconciliation with God. When we see Christians, who are strong in the face of suffering, we see the effects of the resurrection.

My Grandfather had one line on his discharge papers stood out to me. A line that asked. “What is this man’s character?” His commanding officer put down in a different shade of ink, “excellent.” I would confirm that fact. My Grandfather was an inspiration to our family. He survived war, the great depression, bad crops, years of hard work. He was placid, joyful, resolute. If, as Christians, we can make it through the ordeals of life with an excellent character our faith, hope, and charity intact then we offer proof of the resurrection.

Please note this is a rough draft, grammar may not be perfect.