Believe In The Blood and Wounds

"Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.' Thomas then said, 'You are my Lord and my God.' Jesus replied, 'You believe because you see me, don't you? Happy are those who believe although they do not see.'" - John 21:27-29

The apostle Thomas had not been there when Jesus appeared to the rest of the apostles after His resurrection. When he heard of Jesus appearing, he said, like many of us, that he will not believe until he sees and feels the wounds of the cross with his own eyes and hands. That's why when Jesus appeared again, and Thomas was there, He asked him to touch the wounds for himself.

There are so many of us who need to see and feel in order to believe. It isn't enough that Jesus, being holy and without blame, had to suffer a painful death on the cross for us, but we also need to see and feel. Jesus, in His infinite mercy never rebuked Thomas for His lack of faith, but answers his questions and asks Thomas to come forward. If you doubt, you need to take the example of Thomas and go before Jesus to witness the marks of the Passion for yourself. For when Thomas said he needed proof, Jesus called him forward, as you need to do to respond to the call of Jesus. No one who doubts will believe by staying away, but will see the Lord by getting up and moving towards Him to experience the fruits of the resurrection. You are not punished for your lack of faith; today Thomas is a Saint. You are punished for staying away when you know you should get closer to the many wounds Jesus endured for you. Whether you choose to believe it or not, Jesus did die for you.

And for you who believe without needing to see or feel His holy wounds, work so that all around you may also believe. Pray so that His most Holy blood was not shed in vain, but that the wonderful act of the crucifixion may bring all to Him in love and unity with God. If we don't do our part for this, we are letting the devil blot out and erase the memory of the Passion of the Christ. He did not endure death for nothing.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord Jesus, open our eyes so that we may forever have before us the blood You shed and the wounds You experienced for us. Set before my eyes the sores on Your back that were ripped open with pieces of bone tied to whips, the wounds around your head from Your crown of thorns that pierced Your pure skin, letting blood run into Your eyes not letting You see as You walked, the wounds and bruises on Your shoulders from carrying my cross, the horrible holes created in Your flesh from rusty nails piercing Your hands and feet, and the cut from a sword on Your side that we helped give You on the cross. My God, You endured so much for us, please don't ever let me forget the pain You bore willingly out of love. In Your Name, we pray.