Can We Also Touch The Body of Jesus?

“A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” - John 20:26-28, NRSVCE

One Divine Mercy Sunday, while listening to the Gospel about Jesus appearing to St. Thomas and the other disciples, I had this inner reflection where it was as though I had a vision of Jesus’ hand. The picture in my mind was so vivid that I could almost feel I was there with the Apostles and St. Thomas.

Jesus seemed so real, allowing me to touch His pierced hand. He was more physical than I’ve ever imagined Him before. It was as though I could actually feel the flesh of His hand. In my mind, I felt that I could just stay there in that moment and worship Him. I wanted to exclaim with St. Thomas, “My Lord and My God!”

How wonderful it must be touch the hand of Jesus! How blessed are they that were with Him when He rose again.

In the end, however, we must not forget what Jesus said:

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20:29, NRSVCE)

Today, when we do not see Jesus the way the disciples saw him, we can claim the words of Jesus that we are also blessed even though we do not see.

While we can’t see with our physical eyes, we can believe with our spiritual eyes. And if we can believe with faith, we must not forget that Jesus has made Himself present even to us at this very hour that we live. How? Through the Eucharist.

Through Holy Communion, we can still touch Jesus. We can believe that the Sacred Host is indeed His body. That He is truly present with us.

Here are just some quotes from the saints that can remind us of the importance of the Eucharist:

“How many of you say: I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes. You do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him. He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment.” — St. John Chrysostom

“Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration.” — Mother Teresa

“What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation…In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood.” — St. Francis of Assisi

“If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” — St. Maximilian Kolbe

“One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to preserve the soul from sin, and to help those who fall through weakness to rise again. It is much more profitable, then, to approach this divine Sacrament with love, respect, and confidence, than to remain away through an excess of fear and scrupulosity.” — St. Ignatius of Loyola

“Every morning during meditation, I prepare myself for the whole day’s struggle. Holy Communion assures me that I will win the victory; and so it is. I fear the day when I do not receive Holy Communion. This bread of the Strong gives me all the strength I need to carry on my mission and the courage to do whatever the Lord asks of me. The courage and strength that are in me are not of me, but of Him who lives in me — it is the Eucharist.” -St. Faustina

“We must understand that in order ‘to do’, we must first learn ‘to be’, that is to say, in the sweet company of Jesus in adoration.”-St. Pope John Paul II

“You come to me and unite Yourself intimately to me under the form of nourishment. Your Blood now runs in mine, Your Soul, Incarnate God, compenetrates mine, giving courage and support. What miracles! Who would have ever imagined such!” — St. Maximilian Kolbe

“I desire to unite Myself to human souls, Know, My daughter, that when I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay any attention to Me; they leave Me to Myself and busy themselves with other things…They treat Me as a dead object. (1385) Now you shall consider My love in the Blessed Sacrament. Here, I am entirely yours, soul, body and divinity, as your Bridegroom. You know what love demands: one thing only, reciprocity… “ — Jesus to St Faustina, Divine Mercy in my Soul (1770)

“Always remain close to the Catholic Church, because it alone can give you true peace, since it alone possesses Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the true Prince of Peace.” — St. Padre Pio

“Do grant, oh my God, that when my lips approach Yours to kiss You, I may taste the gall that was given to You; when my shoulders lean against Yours, make me feel Your scourging; when my flesh is united with Yours, in the Holy Eucharist, make me feel Your passion; when my head comes near Yours, make me feel Your thorns; when my heart is close to Yours, make me feel Your spear.” — St. Gemma Galgani

“When the Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels, who adore the Divine Victim immolated on the altar.” — St. John Chrysostom

“When we work hard, we must eat well. What a joy, that you can receive Holy Communion often! It’s our life and support in this life — Receive Communion often, and Jesus will change you into himself.” — Saint Peter Julian Eymard

“All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.” — St. John Vianney, Cure d’Ars