Lord,
someone spent fifteen years
studying the Shroud of Turin
and building a model
of You.

Shoulder-length hair
and a thick beard.
A nose that looks Roman …
or broken.
Gashes and slashes
in their hundreds
all over Your chest, back
legs and arms.
Gaping holes in Your feet,
knees bruised.

A body that was absolutely
tortured.

Fascinating
to see Your face,
horrifying
to see Your ravaged body,
humbling
because You did this for me.

And so I find myself
staring at this image of You
and I find myself to be
dumbfounded.

I did not deserve this.

© Claire Murray, July 2024

(https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252551/the-first-hyper-realistic-body-of-christ-based-on-the-holy-shroud-is-on-exhibit-in-spain)