Shooting Our Wounded

Some have said that "only Christians shoot their wounded.”   Having wounded and been wounded by my brothers and sisters in the faith, I admit that this is true too often. 


This video reveals a large and growing segment of America today... those who have been wounded by the Church, and who have not returned.  

Interestingly enough, St. John devotes some of the last two chapters of his Gospel to accounts of our Risen Lord Jesus going out of His way to restore and reclaim the wounded and wandering of His Church.  


First, Jesus takes time to encourage Thomas, reclaiming Him from doubt and isolation to belief and bold service.  After seeing His Risen Lord, Thomas traveled perhaps farther than any other disciple to share the Good News; the many Indian Christians now in south and central India trace their origins to the faithful work of "doubting" Thomas.


Next, Jesus sought out Peter again by the Sea of Galilee.  Though this was at least the fourth time Peter has seen His Risen Lord, this time Jesus takes special effort to undo Peter's triple denial.  Not only does Jesus reinstate and restore Peter, but Jesus again invites Peter to life in Him with the words Jesus used the first time they met... "follow me!"  

If Thomas and Peter had been in the Church today, they would have likely been shunned by modern-day believers for their denials, betrayals, and failures.  But they are not abandoned by Jesus.


Perhaps God is inviting us all back to the time of the early church, to leave behind our judgments and follow boldly where Jesus leads. He did not abandon us.  Now it is time for us to seek out and "restore gently" those who have fallen, instead of abandoning them.   


As the Army Rangers say, "I will never leave a fallen comrade behind to fall into the hands of the enemy."  


Amen.  Yes, yes... let this be so.