Wounded Healers

Henri Nouwen, a famous Catholic priest, spent the final years of his life teaching and ministering to the disabled in a community setting in Toronto. He coined the phrase, “wounded healer” as a theological perspective to bring us hope. None of us can escape suffering, and yet our wounds have the power to bring about healing for us and others. In Isaiah 53, we encounter a servant who has suffered greatly for the lives of others—taken on others burdens. In short, this person’s wounds have been a healing balm in the world. It’s not an easy concept, but one we will wrestle with together. If we cannot avoid suffering, how can we then use our wounds to heal the world around us?