Learning to Recognise His Presence
A reflection on what it really means to encounter Christ
I often speak about "an encounter with Christ." But I wonder sometimes whether people understand what I mean. It's a beautiful phrase, but perhaps for some people it can sound distant or abstract? What does it actually mean? How do we recognise such a moment when it happens, or know if it ever has??!
Perhaps for some, faith has always been more about duty than encounter. We were raised to go to Mass, to pray, to keep the commandments (all good things, of course), but I wonder how many of us were never taught that Jesus desires a living, personal relationship with us. We may have believed in Him all our lives without ever realising that He is trying, day after day, to meet us in the depths of our heart.
A Presence, Not an Idea
An encounter with Christ is not a thought or a feeling, but a meeting with a living Person. It isn't limited to moments of emotion or inspiration, though it can include them. At its core, it is the realisation (sometimes sudden, sometimes slow) that the Lord is present. He is not far away, not confined to the tabernacle or to the pages of Scripture, but near, attentive, alive, and looking at us with great love.
When this becomes real, even for a second, something shifts inside. The world feels different because we are different. We begin to see that faith isn't a hobby or a habit; it is the discovery that we are known and loved by the One who made us.
How It Begins
For most people, the encounter begins quietly. A line from a homily lands in the heart and won't go away. A moment of beauty (a piece of music, a sunrise, a passing moment) feels strangely sacred. A confession lifts a hidden weight, and tears come unexpectedly. Or perhaps, in the middle of an ‘just another day’, there's a sudden sense that we are not alone.
These moments are not imagination; they are invitations. They are how God stirs the soul awake. Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock." He doesn't kick it down. He waits for us to notice the sound, to turn the handle, and let Him in.
What Keeps Us from Recognising Him
One reason many people struggle to experience Christ's presence is that life has become so noisy. Our minds are filled with headlines, notifications, and responsibilities. Even when we pray, our words can pile up like busy traffic. Silence has become a rare and, dare I say, uncomfortable thing.
Yet Christ rarely shouts; He almost always whispers.
We also carry assumptions that block us. Some think, ‘I'm not holy enough for God to speak to me.’ Others expect an extraordinary sign (a vision, a voice, a miracle) and miss Him in the smallness of daily life. But when we examine Scripture, we see that Jesus often comes quietly: as a gardener mistaken for someone else, as a traveller on the road, as a stranger breaking bread, just another bloke.
A Matter of the Heart
At its simplest, an encounter with Christ happens when our heart moves towards His. It could be an act of trust in the middle of fear, or forgiveness given when it feels impossible. It could be the choice to love someone difficult, to pray when dry, to say yes when everything in us wants to say no.
Christ reveals Himself most clearly when we begin to live in the same rhythm of love that He lived. This is why the Gospels always link faith and following together. To ‘believe’ in Jesus is to start walking with Him.
Encounter and Discipleship
Every renewal in the Church begins with a rediscovery of encounter. But encounter alone is not enough. Once we have met Him, we must learn to walk with Him, to think and act like His disciples. Otherwise, our faith risks remaining a moment rather than a life.
Discipleship means moving from spectators to participants. It means learning to pray not only when we feel like it, but because we belong to Him. It means letting the Gospel shape our choices, relationships, and priorities. And it means discovering that the more we give ourselves to Christ, the more alive we become.
It could be argued that many Catholics today have inherited a version of faith that stopped at maintenance. We were taught to believe in Jesus but not necessarily to walk with Him. Yet He is inviting the Church in this country (and our parish among them) to rediscover the living heart of faith: personal relationship, communal mission, and the adventure of holiness! (Yes, truly an adventure!)
How We Can Prepare
If we want to encounter Christ more deeply, we must begin to create space for Him - not with vast heroic gestures, but with small and faithful ones. Here are some simple places to start:
Silence. Even five minutes a day in stillness before the Lord can begin to soften the heart. The more silence we give Him, the more clearly we begin to hear His voice.
The Gospels. Read slowly, one paragraph at a time, and picture the scene. Imagine Christ's tone, His eyes, His gestures. He will begin to step out of the page.
The Eucharist. Whether at Mass or in Adoration, allow the reality of His presence to sink in. The same Jesus who spoke to Mary Magdalene and Peter is before you now.
Confession. Nothing clears the spiritual fog like mercy received. It is one of the surest places of encounter because it puts us face to face with the risen Lord in forgiveness.
Community. Christ often meets us through one another (in friendship, in service, in the simple grace of being known and supported).
A Parish That Helps People Meet Christ
Imagine what our parish could become if we all began to live from that encounter, not just knowing about God but knowing Him personally. Our worship would surely become more alive, our conversations deeper, our service more joyful? We would stop merely keeping the faith and start sharing it.
This is what discipleship really means: helping one another to notice, trust, and follow the living Jesus. It isn't a programme or a slogan; it is a quiet revolution that begins in hearts which have truly met Him.
A Final Thought
Perhaps you're reading this and wondering, "Have I ever really encountered Christ?" If so, don't worry. The very fact that you're asking is already the beginning. Desire itself is grace. Christ has already begun the work.
So let us ask Him together (in prayer, in the sacraments, and in our parish life) to make Himself known among us in a way we cannot ignore: to move from theory to reality, from attendance to encounter, from faith as habit to faith as fire.
Because, essentially, once we have met Him, truly met Him, life on this earth will not be the same.