Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/255



I. Christ  chose  to  retain  the  marks  of  His  wounds  in His  glorified  body  for  various  reasons,  i.  He  wished  to strengthen  His  disciples  and  His  followers  in  the  belief of His  resurrection,  by  showing  them  that  it  was  the same body  which  was  nailed  to  the  cross  that  had  risen again. 2. He  wished  to  increase  our  confidence,  by showing  us  the  marks  of  His  triumph  over  the  world, encouraging us  to  "have  confidence,"  as  He  says,  "I have  overcome  the  world." (John xvi.  33.)  3. He carried these wounds  as  a  perpetual  memorial  of  His  love  towards us,  and  in  order  to  incite  us  to  return  love  for love, by  suffering  for  Him. Hence, St.  Paul,  who  fully appreciated His  motive,  says  of  himself,  "  I  bear  the marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus  in  my  body." (Gal. vi.  17.)

II. He retains  these  wounds  to  convince  us  that  He will  take  special  care  of  us  whilst  He  is  in  heaven. " Can a  woman  forget  her  infant?  Yet  will  not  I  forget  thee; behold,  I  have  graven  thee  in  My  hands." (Is. xlix.  15.) He continually  presents  these  wounds  to  His  Father  to plead  in  our  behalf. Hence we  may  address  the  Father in the  words  of  David,  "  Behold,  O  God,  our  protector! and  look  upon  the  face  of  Thy  Christ." (Ps. lxxxiii.  10.)

III. His wounds  are  to  the  Church  what  the  fountains that watered  it  were  to  Paradise. They are  the  sources of every  grace  to  the  faithful. Hence Isaias  says,  "  Ye shall  draw  waters  with  joy  out  of  the  Saviour's  fountains." (Is. xii.  3.)  These  divine  wounds  afford  a  refuge for the  afflicted  and  distressed  soul  in  all  the  accidents  and crosses which  attend  us  in  this  vale  of  tears. Whenever