We live by touch. Touch is essential to early infant development. Our sexual relations are a privileged and sacred form of touch. The resurrected Jesus Christ invites Thomas to touch his wounds.
Human touch comes in many different forms. The touch that heals, the touch that grasps and covets, the touch that calms and reassures. There's the touch of love, the touch of hate, the touch of sexual intimacy that forgives and unites; the touch of rape, incest and pedophilia.
Jesus is described as the one who touches. He touches the untouchables, the sick, the lame, the lepers, the destitute, the demonic, the deaf and the forlorn. The touch of Jesus heals and forgives.
We hear much these days of the wound that afflicts the Body of Christ – the wound of pedophilia. The Church has no monopoly on this wound; the data show otherwise. But, regardless, the wound still festers and pains.
All of us have our wounds. The Church, the Body of Christ has its wounds. Maybe that is why the resurrected and glorious Christ is the wounded Christ. One would have thought that if God could raise Jesus from the dead, He would certainly have bandaged up those awful wounds. But, no, the wounds remain.
For us, they are glorious wounds. They remind us that we are in constant need of healing. The Church is in constant need of healing. That fact should help us to love the wounded Church, our wounded humanity, and our wounded Earth.
Jesus Christ invited Thomas to touch the divine wounds. We too are called to that same act of love. For only by touching the wounds of the Body of Christ will we come to believe.