Skip to main content

This Body is Forever... Is That a Good Thing?

Something that has been bothering me when my body seems to fail me is the thought that one day, my soul will be reunited with my body and have a chance to be with God for eternity. As someone who has lived with cancer, Muscular Dystrophy, amputation, and debilitating chronic pain, I just feel like I want to escape this body. 

Sometimes I have such a strong desire to jump in and do things and have fun with my family and friends or spend time in silent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, but a lot of times, my physical pain distracts me from being present and causes me to be more focused on my body. At those times my body feels like more of a burden than a gift. 

So when considering eternal life, the idea that this is the body I'm stuck with was discouraging for a while. I wanted nothing more than to leave this shell and escape into freedom from the cross I carried. 

But then one day at Mass we read the story of Thomas doubting that Jesus had returned (John 20: 24-29). When Jesus is resurrected, He is still in His body, but none of his disciples recognize Him at first. Initially, I assumed He must have completely changed form. But when reading this passage, I realized that was not the case. You see, to prove to Thomas that Jesus was who He said He was, Jesus actually allowed Thomas to touch the wounds from His crucifixion. Those wounds- the actual physical impact of the cross that he carried were still on His body. 

The difference was- those wounds were glorified. Although they no longer caused Him pain (hence why Thomas could reach out and touch them), they were still there as a reminder of His sacrifice and his amazing perseverance. 

This realization gave me so much comfort. I know now that, although I may suffer in this life, I don't have to dread the thought of being in this body forever. This body will be glorified. I will no longer suffer, I but I will still have the wounds as a reminder of all I have overcome. 

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17)

------------

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-4) 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Comparison is truly the thief of joy

When I was a freshman, several of my friends were cheerleaders or dancers. I would go to their practices sometimes and help them learn their routines and choreography. Although I had just recently become completely wheelchair dependent, I still had a passion for dance and performing. One day, at a practice, the coach brought up the idea that I might consider being a mascot. I was so excited. I rushed home to ask my mom and she immediately said no. She said she worried it wouldn't be safe for me. I remember being so angry that I yelled at her and laid on my bed and cried about the injustice of it all. Later I heard my mom tell my aunt that she was worried that I would be picked on for being a mascot in a wheelchair and how kids on the other team may be extra cruel about their opposition being disabled. In hindsight, she was probably right and was protecting me. At the time, I didn't understand. I thought that it was her saying that I wasn't good enough or she thought I would...
Post a Comment
Read more

Words Can Wound Or They Can Heal

Sometimes, as Christians we are lead to change major parts of our lifestyle that previously never seemed to be a problem. We, in living by His teachings, sometimes must step away from things we once enjoyed or situations we may have been content with before becoming a follower of Christ.   For example, I used to cuss like a sailor. I didn’t really cuss out of malice or hatred, more just for the theatrics of it. It was a way to make the conversation more outrageous, or as I once considered, “colorful”. But once I really began to feel the Holy Spirit and the unlimited kindness and gentleness of Jesus, I realized that even if the intent of those words were not hateful, they still left their mark.   Plans are made in human hearts, but from the Lord comes the tongue’s response. All one’s ways are pure in one’s own eyes, but the measurer of motives is the Lord. (Proverbs 16:1-2) Sometimes words, much like our actions, may be intended one way, but may leave a negative impact on our s...
Post a Comment
Read more

He is Always Seeking Us

Last week during a weekday mass, one of our priests shared a homily that really put into perspective the way that God cares for us. The priest happens to be from India. He shared that in Hinduism, the main religion in India, people believe they must seek out a god to have any sort of connection.  He explained just how different that is for Christians and our relationship with the one True God. God is always seeking us. This can be seen in countless places in the Bible but one of my favorites is in the book of Ezekiel.  For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. (Ezekiel 34:11-12) When I reflect on my attitude towards God in the past, I think about how sometimes, when things in life were difficult, I thou...
Post a Comment
Read more