Reflecting on the Wounds of Christ
Use this reflection to help students prayerfully meditate on the wounds of Christ and to enter deeper into his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. This exercise will encourage students to grow in their personal relationship with Christ as they reflect upon his infinite love. First, invite students to pull out their notebooks or journals. Explain that during this activity, they are to enter into personal, individual prayer. This can look different for everyone. Some people prefer to pray by journaling while some prefer internal prayer. Some like to close their eyes while others prefer to keep their eyes open. Some bow their heads and fold their hands while others prefer a different posture. Encourage students to find a posture of prayer that is reverent, comfortable, and allows them to focus on their prayer. Next, project the following image, which was painted by Matthias Grunwald, in a slideshow, or pass out the following image to each student. Read the following meditation out loud, giving students time to reflect and meditate on the image. Look at the image before you. Where are your eyes drawn first? What do you notice first? Stay there for a moment. Observe what first caught your eye. What strikes you? What emotions do you feel? What do you see? Now, allow your eyes to slowly scan Jesus on the cross. Begin at His head and move to His feet. Notice his hand, pierced for your sake. Notice his had, crowned with thorns. See his precious face. Look at the bones in his rib cage and torso, and imagine the suffering he endured for you. Look at his feet, which were nailed to the cross for you. Now, look at the people surrounding him. Notice St. John and how he holds Mother Mary, who is stricken by grief. Do you think that our Mother holds you in this way when you are suffering? Do you think she understands the pain you experience since she, too, has a wounded heart? What do you think she felt as she watched her Son be crucified and die upon the cross? How can you console her heart by being her child today? Look at the other people in the image and the lamb that stands by the cross. Who stands out to you among them? Why? How do you think you would respond if you were at the foot of the cross, gazing upon your Savior? Would you fall to your knees, or would you stand? Would you bow in reverence? Would you kiss His bloodied feet? Would you be silent, or would you speak to him? How do you imagine Christ would look at you from the cross? Do you believe he would gaze at you with love? Do you believe that his blood and water would wash over you as a beautiful cleansing and a sign of his mercy? If Christ had to be crucified again and go through his suffering all over again just for you, He would. His love for you is endless, unconditional, and unfailing. There is no length to which he would not go to know you and to love you. Take a moment to talk to Jesus – the One who gave everything to save you. Amen. Megan Neuman is an Editorial Curriculum intern at Ave Maria Press. She is a senior English major at Franciscan University.
