The Wound Speaks

The timeline of @Pontifex, Pope Benedict XVI, is filled with vicious words. Some are just trying to be wise guy. Some just wanted to pass their time trolling personalities.There are those who truly are wounded people and their wounds speak.





Those who were abused as children. Women and homosexuals who experienced brutality from other people. No one is really spared from woundedness. We can not compare wounds because it hurts just the same. Their wounds are real and can not be undermined. It may have happened a long time ago, perpetuators may have been dead or banished, but the wounds continue to bleed and hurt them.





They seek justice, wherever or whoever can give it, but they cannot find it. Why? Because there is NO JUSTICE THAT WILL SATISFY AN UNHEALED WOUND. Even the death of the assailant can not bring their wounds to just compensation because the wound continues to hurt.





Unfortunately, healing does not come easy. The defensive wall of mistrust, apathy, anger, dissent can only be eroded in small pieces at a time. Seeking justice is futile for an unhealed wound, thus, it often ends in depression and self-destruction.. We hold on to the wound and keep it afresh so it can continually shout to the world "it's real", "it hurts". So how can one find healing?





I don't know if the Pope would have time to read the replies on his timeline. But going in a very public forum, even though virtual, opened himself up to such vicious attacks. I am pretty sure, he had expected it as it was already something he had encountered as Cardinal. The gesture, however, is admirable. The Pope joining the tweet arena had allowed himself to be vulnerable; And vulnerability is an openness to love and be loved.
It leaves one the possibility of being wounded but at the same time it leaves one to the possibility of healing. Punch all you can but I will just embrace it all.



The followers and respondents of the Pope, often in anguish, cynicism, dissent, and disrespect are also venting out a wound that had continually fester them. They are in a defensive and unconciliatory mode but this could also be a break through.



The pope was not the one who abused them, forced them to have abortion, or hurt them. Yet, he remains to be the priest, the Catholic layperson, the Catholic parent who abused them, neglected them, and hurt them. But one CANNOT be angry at the world and the wrong people forever. And slowly the walls breakdown and the people truly capable of loving them can reach out and let healing start.



HEALING LEAVES A SCAR but IT CAN NOT HURT YOU anymore. And often the justice we really seek is, no more than, being able to be there for the unhealed wounds still shouting loudly in our world.


And we cannot forget our WOUNDED MESSIAH, Jesus Christ, who took all the thorns and scourges for our sins.. the Wounded Healer who will be there for us and our woundedness.