The Risen Lord is also the Crucified One, not someone else.  
The Risen Lord is also the Crucified One, not someone else. In his glorious body he bears indelible wounds: wounds that have become windows of hope. Let us turn our gaze to him that he may heal the wounds of an afflicted humanity.  – Pope Francis, excerpt from the Urbi et Orbi of Easter Sunday in these recent days (April 12, 2020)
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Happy Easter! 
 
On this Easter Wednesday we realize that just a week ago we were approaching the precipice of the Paschal Triduum, concluding our Lenten Journey to the Passion and Crucifixion of the Lord.  We must resist the various temptations – both from the Evil One and from within ourselves – to paint an imaginary picture of the Risen Christ, a portrait that is void of the Passion and Death.  For these reasons some of the most impactful images of the Risen Christ place Him at a grave and highlight the wounds of the Cross (usually a pierced side, wounded feet and hands).  That wounds of Christ remain in the glorified and risen body of the Lord have fascinated me for some time – the creator of Heaven and Earth could very easily have presented His own resurrected body without these wounds, free from the suffering of this age now that He is manifested in a Heavenly Glory.  But, the Lord our God bears the wounds of the Cross.  The bitterness of the Passion is not forgotten or hidden in the joy of the Resurrection.
 
In fact… it was by his wounds that Christ in his glorified body after the Resurrection was known to be the one who suffered and died – the presence of the marks of the Passion is critical in our Easter Faith!  We think especially of the account of ‘doubting’ Thomas the apostle when he placed his finger in the wounded side and holes from the nails to confirm the identity of the Risen Christ (see John 20: 19-31). 
 
What remains compelling to me is how these wounds, the remnant of the costs of sins, are a part of the image of Divine Mercy – of the abiding image of God’s Love for us.  Thus, it is in a small and related way true for our own life of grace.  We are not able to erase our past – although in some cases we must make dramatic changes – as we choose to live a life more in accordance with the Truth of Christ.  Rather, our lives must be transformed by the power of God’s Love and through our wounds we can be a means of encouragement to others and evidence of the forgiveness and grace of the Lord.  In this way the Sacrament of Baptism, and Confession, reigns supreme – God’s Love can conquer the influence of sin, death, and the Evil One in our life. 
 
To this end, as I daily work at personally and fully accepting the truth that ‘The Risen Lord is also the Crucified One, not someone else’ means that I must accept that the Love of God is incredibly greater than my own sins and I am able to radiate the goodness of the Lord, despite my own weakness.  This, in my opinion, is expressed most profoundly in a wonderful quote of Saint Pope John Paul II, one that is of great insight and consultation:  “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son” ( Sunday Homily at the 17^th World Youth Day, Toronto, July 28, 2002).
 
 


Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Easter Week
 
Please, in these days rejoice with gladness in the Risen Christ!  This is the sign of our true hope in the reality of the Resurrection of the Lord, affirming that Jesus is the victor over sin, death, and the evil one.
 
As I recommended a few times, I will continue to encourage you to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary each day this week.  Also, I suggest that you read and pray with the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection (Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-7; Lk. 24:1-12; and Jn. 20:1-9).  Also, I invite each of you to pray with Scriptures for Easter Sunday Mass and the Scriptures for Today’s Holy Mass.  It would be good, in these most important days of our faith for you to pray a Spiritual Communion as you spiritually unite your time of prayer to the offering of the Holy Mass.
 
And, please pray the Divine Mercy Novena!
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
 
Father Wilke
 
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!