My Daughter, Look at My Wounds

I pulled out my rosary on Pentecost morning. When I pray the rosary, I typically use a book called “Secrets of the Rosary” given to me by my younger brother. As I was pulling out the book, I flipped to a page with words that jumped right out at me: “My daughter, Look at my wounds.” They were words that Jesus spoke to a female saint.

I was a bit baffled by the words and why they struck me. It was Pentecost Sunday, why do You want me to look at Your wounds, Lord? It seemed like an odd meditation for this feast day.

Then I recalled the Gospel passage on Pentecost where Jesus showed the apostles the scars of His wounds in His hands and side. Looking at His wounds must have wisdom, because on this great feast day, the apostles did just that.

As I prayed on this, God showed me that Jesus’ wounds have great wisdom. His wounds led to His death, rising, and eventually the Spirit coming to us. Without His wounds, none of us would have the gifts of the Spirit which bear fruit in our lives, drawing us closer to God and closer to our neighbor. His wounds also reveal His great love and mercy for us, and why He gives us the Holy Spirit, because He loves and cares for us and desires our fullness of life, understanding of His words and spiritual treasures, and growth in holiness so that we may live with Him forever in eternity. Not only that, He wants to send us forth to proclaim those marvels, like the apostles, to the world around us.

What about our wounds? Are they not the same? Think about your own scars, the ones that led to resurrection and more abundant fruits of the Spirit. Those wounds allowed the Spirit to enter into your life in a new way. Those wounds most likely led to a greater fullness of life in the Spirit, a growth in holiness, and an experience of His love and mercy that you would otherwise not had.

I can say that my wounds have brought forth fruits of the Spirit in my own life. The more I ponder those fruits, the more I realize that these are the true gifts in life -- beyond any worldly blessing I could desire -- because they bring me closer to union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They led me to peace.

So let us be like the apostles in that Upper Room, looking upon Jesus’ wounds, remembering His Passion and rising, believing He is with us through the Spirit, and being reminded of the great gifts His wounds have brought and will continue to bring into our lives.