The Importance of Personally Encountering Jesus

Again Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us." Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people (followed) from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God."  (Mark 3:1-11)

Sometimes even Catholics have lost or never had the chance to experience Christ personally; not Christ as a mere "paradigm", but the Living Lord: "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  John Paul II's address to American Bishops

Early in Jesus' public ministry, two groups of people who met him were keenly aware that something special was going on. The religious and political leaders recognized that Jesus' power to heal people and draw them to following him posed a threat to their authority (Mark 3:6). And the "great multitude," also recognizing Jesus' power, pressed around him seeking healing and deliverance, insight and transformation (3:7-11).

But apart from these two groups, how many people simply missed the opportunity to "experience Christ personally"? Perhaps they were too busy to waste a day chasing some miracle worker. Perhaps they were unable to believe the stories they were hearing. Perhaps Jesus didn't interest them because he didn't fit their expectations. Perhaps they were content with life as they knew it, or unable to imagine it as any different.

Others probably came to Jesus, found the healing they were seeking, and went back home. They may not have stayed long enough to listen to his teaching, or to be challenged to change. They got what they wanted, but missed the bigger thing God wanted to do for them.

Day after day, Jesus waits for us by the sea. He waits for us in the tabernacle, in the Scriptures, in the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, in the challenging words of those we love, in the needs of those who reach out to us. Are we too busy to set aside time to meet him?

Perhaps you've met Jesus once in a definite moment of conversion. That's a wonderful beginning. Now what more does Jesus have in mind for you? How does he want to carry forward the healing he has begun in you? To whom does he want you to extend his mercy? Perhaps you have taken a further step and scheduled time with Jesus in daily prayer and daily or weekly Mass. But what are your expectations during those times? Do you "press upon him to touch him" (Mark 3:10)? Do you expect him to speak to you, to heal you, to challenge you?

Jesus is always waiting to meet us in a personal way — in the snatch of a song that comes to our minds, in a line from Scripture that we recall, in a person who needs prayer. Never overlook the Lord! Instead, run to meet him and allow his love for you to heal and transform you. He will run to meet you just like the Father of the prodigal son ran to meet him.

"Lord Jesus, I don't want to miss you. I want to personally experience more deeply your love and mercy. Open my eyes, enliven my heart so that I can recognize all the ways you want to touch and heal me each day."

 

Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to adapt material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.

 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. Why do you believe the Pharisees and other religious leaders missed out on the opportunity to personally experience the great love Jesus had for them. Why do you believe they were so threatened by him? Do any of these reasons apply to you? Why or why not?

2. Why is it important to not just know about Jesus, but as John Paul II has stated, "to experience Christ personally"? In what way have you experienced Christ personally? What difference has it made in your life?

3. What steps can you take to "run to meet Jesus" in order to deepen your faith and trust in him?

4. If you are in a men's group, end your meeting by praying for one another that each of you would have a deeper experience of Jesus' healing and transforming love and mercy. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.

By

Maurice Blumberg is the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners, (http://www.waupartners.org/), a ministry of The Word Among Us (www.wau.org) to the Military, Prisoners, and women with crisis pregnancies or who have had abortions. Maurice was also the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), for which he is currently a Trustee. He can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org or mblumberg@aol.com.

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