"Unless I see the mark of the nails in
his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
My Dad rarely spoke to me of his war experience. He said he “never
saw action,” and for that he was very grateful. But he told my youngest
brother, who was born several years after I left home, that he had come after
battles and carried away the corpses. I wonder
how that affected the young Marine in the final months of World War II.
When Jesus appeared to his
disciples he was three days dead. The stench of a human being three days dead
is unspeakable. And yet Jesus ’ scent – his breath
and his sweat – were wonderful. We can suppose that. As he breathed on his
disciples they were filled with the Holy Spirit; they discovered courage, joy
and vitality as they had never known before.
The episode about Saint Thomas Jesus , the
nail marks in his hands. This is the only place in scripture where we hear of
that fascinating detail. No matter how tiny the crucifix, the nails binding him
to the cross always appear.
Nails are symbols of finality and attachment. Listen to
carpenters hammering and you will know the final stroke that drives the nail
home. It will stay there until the wood rots around it.
When Jesus was nailed to the
cross his tormentors had no intention of taking him down. He could hang there till
his body dried to jerky for all they cared. The vultures would feast on his
flesh as the crows picked at his eyes. Strangers passing by might wonder, “What
is that horrible stench? What is that horrible sight? is it possible that might
have been a man?”
Fortunately, we are told, that Sabbath was an especially
holy feast for the Jews and the Romans, fearing uproar among the sanctimonious
crowds, agreed to have the body removed.
We too can see his wounds. They are precious to the eyes of
faith; jewels of infinite value, presented for our contemplation and amazement.
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
that caused the Lord of bliss
to
bear the dreadful cross
for my soul?
for my soul?
I like the details about Thomas. I am "I got to touch it to understand it" kind of person. But to touch the nail marks of Jesus, that would be scary. This tells me how close, how intimate, Thomas was to Jesus. Maybe it challenges me to grow.
ReplyDelete