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Dear Parents,
Among the accounts of Christ's miracles, one which often draws a lot of interest and inspire awe from children is the story of His appearance in the midst of his Apostles after His Resurrection - His miraculous entrance into the room where the Apostles were gathered, in spite of the doors being locked. The idea of a glorified body which could walk through walls and doors and defy the laws of physical nature is truly fascinating.
Each year, as I hear this Gospel account proclaimed at Mass, I am often reminded of a dream which I had when I was eight or nine years old. In this dream (a nightmare), I was pushing against the door of my bedroom with all my might to prevent some terrifying force from entering. The door had come off one its hinges and would not shut properly; it could not be locked. The horror consisted in the realization that I was powerless in resisting this force. And, I knew I was powerless because something was wrong with me: I was deeply conscious of some "flaw" deep within me which rendered me incapable of resisting this evil. For years, I had regarded this force as the ultimate evil which sought to take over and destroy my life.
Last week, however, as the students in one of the fourth grade classes and I reflected on and marveled at the story of the Risen Christ's appearance among His Apostles in the locked room, a new idea occurred to me. Seeing the expressions of wonder and awe in the faces of the students, a question presented itself to me: Could it be that the "terrifying" force seeking to break into my life is not so much the ultimate evil but actually God Himself?
Scripture gives many descriptions of encounters of human beings with God which are, frankly, "terrifying." Encounters with God are "terrifying" because God is Goodness itself while we are, indeed, "flawed" or, more accurately, wounded. Hence, one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is the "Fear of the Lord" which is sometimes described as the gift of "wonder and awe."
While the Evil One would have us believe that our flaws and wounds are reasons for keeping God out of our lives, Jesus, on the other hand, invites us, as He invited "doubting" Thomas, to touch His wounds. Christ offers His wounds to us to be touched because it is through His wounds that we are healed.
Indeed, God's grace can often feel "terrifying" and painful. It can be terrifying to have to ask forgiveness for our mistakes. It can be terrifying to give up the habit of blaming others for the difficulties of life. It is painful to take ownership for ways we have damaged relationships or fail to be our best. Just as hydrogen peroxide stings and sterilizes a wound, so God's grace stings and sanctifies the wounds of sin.
So, among the many things that we may be enjoying during this Easter Season, for example, eating all the treats we gave up for Lent, I pray that we will also experience the "terrifying" appearance of our Risen Lord breaking into the areas of our lives that need healing, and that we will allow Him to touch us with His merciful love.
With prayers,
Sister Mary Jacinta, O.P.
Principal
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