In my work as a vet I have had to repair many wounds, from planned surgical incisions to jagged injuries.

It was always rewarding to view your handiwork after 10-12 days and remove the fraying sutures, now spoiling the appearance of the smoothly healed wound.

Everyone was happy until . . . on occasion. . . disaster!

In another 24 hours the wound split open, gaping wide.

The surface wound had apparently healed well but deeper down the muscles and fibrous layers needed further support to gain strength.

We have all sustained wounds over this last difficult year; from human loss, to physical and mental illness, to loss of routines, jobs and identity.

Healing of these wounds takes time.

We may look calm and collected on the surface but deeper down a slower, in depth healing is necessary.

Jesus, we are told in the gospel biographies, gave the blind back their sight, the lame back their mobility and outcasts their communal identity - all in an instant.

But crucially he also focused on the healing of the deeper wounds of shame, fear and isolation.

He healed the sick by restoring their fellowship with God.

As the “Prince of Peace”, he is the embodiment of the Old Testament idea of “Shalom”.

This is more than just another word for “peace”.

It is peace, security, justice, welfare and wholeness.

A good description of something Jesus talked about more than anything else; the “Kingdom of God”.

A place where true deep healing and restoration can be found.

Nick Gray

St Thomas’

Kendal.