Several times a year the Missioners host a very special retreat called a “Pan de Vida” (Bread of Life). It was a retreat literally centered on the Eucharist. Jesus was placed in the center of the room on a multileveled stand which held many candles. The effect was the burning bush that called out to Moses in the wilderness.
The priest offered confession all weekend while the Missioners shared talks, testimonies, worship music and dynamic songs. This all happened in a circle with the Eucharist in the center; like our lives revolving around our daily bread from heaven (John 6). Some of our own missionaries remembered this weekend with Jesus as their call to the missionary life.
These are encounters just like yours.
The first characteristic of the Christian faith is a fact, an encounter. Matthew sees Someone look into himself, tells him to follow and Matthew drops his coins. It is an event, it is a fact.
The second characteristic is that the Presence be exceptional. Matthew desires something deep in his heart and when the encounter happens it meets his desires and exceeds them in a natural way he could not have planned.
The third characteristic of the Christian faith is that when this exceptional encounter happens John and Andrew are left with wonder. ‘Who is this guy? Let’s follow Him and spend the whole afternoon finding out more.’
The guys in my small group had similar experiences. More or less they passed through Saturday morning registration quietly going with the flow. Then after a day with Jesus by 4pm they had so much to talk about in our small group!
The Missioners of Christ can not hand out exceptional experiences with Jesus like a bread line. Faith is a gift from God 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:16-7)" and we accompany others on their journey. The talks, music and testimony are meant to help them see who is meeting them by the Jordan, seeing them under the fig tree, standing at their desk or calling them down from their tree. The humility of Jesus Christ is that He does all the same things He did walking 2000 years ago today, in a piece of bread and a cup of wine.
“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. (John 6:56)”
The priest offered confession all weekend while the Missioners shared talks, testimonies, worship music and dynamic songs. This all happened in a circle with the Eucharist in the center; like our lives revolving around our daily bread from heaven (John 6). Some of our own missionaries remembered this weekend with Jesus as their call to the missionary life.
 |
| Sunday school games |
How would I describe being in the Presence of God? The same as Andrew and John when they followed Him that afternoon, captivated by Him and then John ran to go tell his brother Peter what he found. Or when Nathanael meets a man who in one look knows everything about him and shouts for joy, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! (John 1:49)” Or Matthew counting his coins when all of a sudden there’s a Presence who has turned His gaze to him and every precondition drops with the coins hitting the table as he follows. Or Zacchaeus, the mafia boss of northeastern Jerusalem, of Jericho, who only wants to see Jesus from a distance, from a tree, where he is in control. “Zacchaeus hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today. (Luke 19:5)” Zacchaeus repents and promises to change.
These are encounters just like yours.
 |
| Members of the retreat sharing their experiences Sunday afternoon. |
The first characteristic of the Christian faith is a fact, an encounter. Matthew sees Someone look into himself, tells him to follow and Matthew drops his coins. It is an event, it is a fact.
The second characteristic is that the Presence be exceptional. Matthew desires something deep in his heart and when the encounter happens it meets his desires and exceeds them in a natural way he could not have planned.
The third characteristic of the Christian faith is that when this exceptional encounter happens John and Andrew are left with wonder. ‘Who is this guy? Let’s follow Him and spend the whole afternoon finding out more.’
 |
| Our Small group! |
 |
| We slept in a flooded building. The hundred fold on earth (Mark 10:30) is recognizing God in everything and living in His love. We bonded so well over this experience, we learned to love more! |
The guys in my small group had similar experiences. More or less they passed through Saturday morning registration quietly going with the flow. Then after a day with Jesus by 4pm they had so much to talk about in our small group!
The Missioners of Christ can not hand out exceptional experiences with Jesus like a bread line. Faith is a gift from God 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:16-7)" and we accompany others on their journey. The talks, music and testimony are meant to help them see who is meeting them by the Jordan, seeing them under the fig tree, standing at their desk or calling them down from their tree. The humility of Jesus Christ is that He does all the same things He did walking 2000 years ago today, in a piece of bread and a cup of wine.
“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. (John 6:56)”
No comments:
Post a Comment