The Gift of Our Hands

In 1970, I was a freshman at Niles College, the college seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

I remember only a few things from the classes I took back then, but one thought shared by my Theology 101 professor has always stuck with me some 56 years later. The priest teaching that class said that he was always fascinated by the gift God gives us in one’s hands.

This professor found it particularly fascinating that, when a person cups his hand and looks at the inner palm, he can see the image of the letter “M”. As that priest prayed about that observation and wondered if it could have a deeper meaning, he thought the letter “M” found on each inner hand could relate to two Latin words: “Momenti Mori”, meaning: “remember you will die” (definitely a sobering thought.)  

This was only this prayerful priest’s personal reflection, as nothing can be found in Church Teaching in this regard (to my understanding.) I have found it helpful to consider it though, in keeping me focused on the fact that this earthly life will end one day, and to recall that we are on a journey to a much better place meeting our loving Lord in heaven. In this regard, it is not a sobering thought, but an uplifting one that gives each of us hope.

This Holy Week, let’s use the gift of our hands to pray to Jesus and thank Him for loving us so much so as to undergo the cruelest of deaths on the Cross, so we can reunite with Him in heaven at the end of our earthly journey.

Let’s use the gift of our hands to place palms on the road Jesus traveled on Palm Sunday as He entered Jerusalem. Let’s use the gift of our hands to help serve each other as Jesus taught us in washing His Apostles feet on Holy Thursday.

Let us be humbled and filled with a sense of awe as Jesus outstretched His hands when being nailed on the Cross out of love on Good Friday.

Let us fold our hands in grateful appreciation of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.

Let us be filled with such love and gratefulness, and a sense of wonder and awe at Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday, opening the gates of paradise for us in conquering death. And then let us fold our hands in grateful prayer for being so deeply loved.

Hands are a wonderful gift from God, aren’t they?

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek