An Encounter With the Risen ChristSample

Anger and hatred prevent us from seeing God in our neighbor, they do not allow us to have an encounter with Jesus. The most concrete way to perceive God through our senses is through our neighbors.

Saul could not distinguish God in his neighbor, let us not forget that Saul was “of the lineage of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; Hebrew of Hebrews and, as to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, a persecutor of the church; as for justice that is based on law, blameless.” So, we as Christians are not free from the same thing happening to us that happened to Saul. His hatred for people who “were not like him” blinded him so much that he sought to kill anyone who did not believe the same as him. In the middle of one of his persecutions, Jesus himself appears to him and asks him why he is persecuting him. In this meeting, Saul recognizes Jesus as his Lord and is willing to do whatever He asks of him.

Perhaps we do not have such a drastic encounter with Christ, but we must remember that if we are made in the image and likeness of God then He reveals Himself to us through our neighbors. Jesus himself said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me.” We have never talked with simple people, simple neighbors, simple co-workers, simple friends, or simple family members, we have always talked with people who represent God in this world. That is why the most important commandment after the love of God is the love of your neighbor.

Conclusion:

These three encounters with the Risen Christ occur in different situations, but as we can see a real encounter with Jesus changed them, perhaps their circumstances did not change, but their way of seeing and understanding their reality did change. I hope this devotional makes you more aware of the surprising encounters you can have with God. Keep praying and attentive to these unexpected encounters with Jesus: the Risen Christ.

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