He was wounded for our transgressions
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
In Is. 53:5 RSVCE, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. "
This is a wonderful Scripture, it tells us that our sins (iniquities) are the reason for his wounds, the wounds of his Crown of thorns, the spikes through his wrists/hands, and His Cross is thus our Cross. He gave His life for us so that we may be forgiven our sins. “With his stripes we are healed”. That’s what His death on the Cross was all about, He gave His life for our Salvation. That doesn’t mean we will all go to Heaven automatically without lifting a finger. We must REPENT, sin no more, and tell Him (GOD) that we are trying to sin no more. But his suffering and death makes it possible for us to get to Heaven.
In 1984/5, after years of living a very bad life, I repented and gave my life to Jesus. I was a “cradle Catholic” but had a bad childhood (born in WWII in the Netherlands, left me with scars of loneliness and bad friendships. It took many years before I got my act together, and began living a good Catholic life again. Mother passed on in 1981 (Dad, 20 years before that), and not having any more family obligation, I was able to leave New York for good. In 1984, I moved, which was the beginning of a new life for me, first in Miami, Florida, and later in Vero Beach, where I live now.
In Miami, where I spent three years, I returned to the Church, to the Sacraments. Praise the Lord. I met a wonderful priest in Miami, who guided me through the process of “coming back.” I didn’t realize I had a vocation to the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), until 1989/1990 after several years in two Religious Orders, neither of which worked out for various reasons. My entry into OFS was subtle, through a stranger, a lady from Alaska who was visiting my parish in Vero Beach. This led to the founding of an OFS Fraternity, of which I was elected the first minister. After a few years in 1994, I made my OFS Profession, and the rest is history as they say. I’ve been in the OFS for 31+ years now, and during those years I have found the Lord in ways I did not think were possible before 1990. Praise the Lord.
The OFS in the USA and in large countries, have Regions. A Region is similar to a Province in the Orders of Friars (like the OFM., for example). There is a General Minister who has a business office in Rome (but actually resides and works in Hungary). Then each Nation where the OFS is represented has one or more Regions. The Florida/So. Alabama Region is Five Franciscan Martyrs Region. I do some work for them: I am Regional Contact Person and I facilitate prayer requests and such. Most of the time this is not so difficult but lately it has become a challenge because more people are suffering and there is a greater need for prayers. I’ve been doing these tasks for 4-5 years. Haven’t decided to continue this work or not. Praying about it. It’s all voluntary.
A wonderful thing happened this week. Well, it didn’t start out great because my refrigerator quit working on Sunday/Monday. I called a friend who ‘has moved mountains for me before’ and thanks to the charity and love of his family and other friends, by Tuesday I had a new used fridge, which solved the problem. Not only that, other friends delivered to me a new (used, but in excellent condition) executive desk chair, for the work room where I use my laptop, etc. The old chair was maybe 8 years old (I forget), but the gas cylinder was worn out. You’d start in typing position and ended up on the floor at the end of two hours. We can’t have that, and my friends’ generosity solved my seating problem with the gift of the chair. People are so good to me, I know they pray for me, and I pray for them, too.
Time to prepare for the Holy Thursday evening Mass (the beginning of the Holy Triduum), will try to have my Evening sandwich before that begins.
Wishing all of you, especially my Franciscan sisters and brothers, and those who frequently visit my website https://www.dmfofs2.com/
a spiritually rewarding Triduum, and a Happy Easter to one and all.
bro Fred
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
April 2, 2026