A sermon on John 20:19-31

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

Many years ago, I received a very strange phone call. It was from a young woman living in Denver. 

She said, "Father Mike, I'm so glad I found you." 

I thought, "I don't know any one from Denver." 

She continued, "You're probably wondering who I am. My name is Barb. I will never forget how you helped me when I was 12 years old." 

I asked, "What did I do for you?" 

"I'm originally from Batavia. I was flying down a hill on my bike. My front tire hit a rock. I lost control of the bike, slamming into a tree. You saw me wreck." 

I had no memory of this, so I had to ask again, "what did I do for you?" 

She continued explaining in great detail. 

"You came over to me. You made sure I could walk. You went back to your blue Toyota Corolla and pulled out a large blanket. (I used a blanket to protect old console radios from getting scratched in transport.) You wrapped the blanket around me to keep me warm. You placed a towel on my head to stop the bleeding from my wounded head." 

Having no memory of any of this, I asked, "Then what did I do?"

"You carried me to your car and drove me to the Clermont Hospital. I was so afraid. You stayed with me in the ER to make sure I was cared for. You called my dad from a hospital phone (no cell phones yet) and explained what happened. You didn't leave until my dad arrived. I will always remember how you made a young scared girl feel safe. I have always remembered the kindness you showed me that day. I am getting married at Holy Trinity church in Batavia. Would you honor me by performing my wedding ceremony?" 

Barb and I met in Batavia soon afterward. She showed me the scar from the wound on her head. That scar removed any doubt that she is telling the truth. Barb and her husband went back to live in Denver after the wedding. They would now be married for 41 years. 

Thomas insisted that he had to physically touch the fresh wounds of Jesus or he would not believe it really was Jesus. 

"Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'” (John 20:29.) 

What does Jesus want you to believe? Jesus wants you to believe He touches your wounds. He touches you in that place where life has wounded you. Jesus wants you to believe that He can heal you where you hurt the most. Jesus reveals His Love through the wounds inflicted upon His Glorified Body. When Jesus sees your wounds, His Love compels Him to wrap you in His blanket of care, to heal the pain, to pick you up when life knocks you down and carry you to safety. 

John 20:19-20 says, "Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and side." 

Jesus gives you Peace through His wounds. He wants you to know He understands what you are going through. Jesus wants you to believe He never turns a deaf ear to your cries for help. Isaiah prophesied this when he wrote, "the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Is 53:5.) This is what Jesus did for us because He is a compassionate God.
 
My first day as chaplain at Cincinnati Children's was April 1, 1984. I never forgot the first patient I ministered to. His name was Robbie. He was a normal 14-year-old teenager battling an abnormal rare cancer. I visited him the day before he went to Heaven. 

I remember his last words to me. "I saw Jesus last night. He said, Don't worry. I'll make everything OK." 

Robbie looked so peaceful. Jesus stands in your midst now proclaiming "Peace be with you." Jesus calls you to touch others who are wounded. Touch them with your faith. Bring them Peace. Happy Easter.