In my 22 years of life, I have seen God work in ways I never thought possible. Despite my lack of faith in His love, mercy and goodness He has always remained faithful. I know this can sound obvious for those who have been raised Catholic and who have heard these words over and over again. But do we really believe that God who created the heavens and Earth comes to meet us in all our mess, in all our poverty, and all our pain to set us free? This is where we cry out to God to help our unbelief.

Three years ago, I believed that I was too far gone, too lost, and too broken to be found by God. I look back and I can see how God orchestrated everything in my life to bring me home to Him. Every trial, every suffering, and every struggle was out of His mercy to bring me to my knees and cry out for a saviour. It was when I looked to the cross that I experienced an abundance of love and mercy poured out into my life. Jesus who hung on the cross for me poured His love into my misery.

I share this because I believe that God does this for everyone. He does this for you. It is the desperate places in our hearts that God looks tenderly upon. We all have parts of our lives that are so in need of a saviour. Jesus comes and takes us by the hand to walk us through those places giving us pardon and peace. Jesus is so in love with the soul that struggles, and He continues to gaze upon them with love while He hangs on the cross.

It is by His wounds that we are healed.

Christ who did not sin, took on our sin to reveal the fullness of love to all of creation, the love that is Himself. As Pope John Paul II said in his encyclical ‘Redemptor Hominis’, “love is greater than sin, than weakness… it is stronger than death; it is a love always ready to raise up and forgive”. We are bought with a price through Christs redeeming sacrifice on the cross. The “price” that we have been bought with is proof of the value that God places on His sons and daughters. It is a value that no sin, darkness, or evil can take away.

The cross is personal. Its so easy to oversimplify it. The reality is that Jesus was wounded for our offences and crushed for our iniquities. It is through the cross that we find life, healing, and freedom. When we remain in His gaze of love it gives us the courage and confidence we need to know that God is with us. We can look at the cross and know that God understands, and He does not abandon us. The cross is the remedy for sin and the remedy for conversion. If we take it personally it can radically change our lives.

The question we need to ask ourselves is are we willing to let the cross change us? Are we willing to make our lives available to this grace? Part of this conversion is to keep drinking deeply of the reality of the cross. It is to lean into a greater reception of love. To remain before the passion and remember that we have been forgiven much. As we sit before Jesus crucified it fuels us to respond in love, forgiveness, endurance, and sacrifice.

This is my encouragement to you.

As you gaze at the crucifix let it transform you. Let the Lord carry you home to the Fathers house in His arms. Let Him rejoice over you and delight in you as He welcomes His little lamb home. He did it for me, He can do it for you too. Yes you. Remember that on the other side of death is the resurrection. God will use the little amount of faith you can muster up to move mountains in your life. Though the battle may be tiresome the light of Christ will be your strength leading you to victory.

Stay faithful.

Stay hopeful.

Healed by His Wounds

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