Encounter is one of the Bishops three spiritual themes that he calls us to focus on. Our faith is full of encounters with God – in prayer, in the sacraments, and in the people we meet. These encounters can change us, challenge us, and bring us closer to God. When we open ourselves to encountering Christ in our daily lives, we allow His love to transform us and make us more like Him. We can encounter Christ in the Scriptures, in the Mass, and in the faces of those in need
Make time this week to look at where you might encounter Jesus in those
around you.
Day 1 – Start with scripture
We start with the Sign of the Cross.
Read the scripture passage below
A reading from the book of Samuel
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Discuss:
In the scripture we meet a young boy named Samuel who serves as a priest in the temple. One night, while everyone is sleeping, Samuel hears a voice calling him. At first, he thinks it’s Eli, the high priest, but Eli tells him it’s not him. This happens a few more times, and finally, Eli realizes that Samuel is encountering God’s voice. Eli teaches Samuel how to respond to God’s call, and Samuel learns that God has chosen him for a special purpose.
Can you think of a time when you have encountered God in your life? It might not have been obvious at the time, but thinking back you might be able to recognise God’s presence.
What steps can we take to listen more attentively to God’s voice and respond to His call in our lives?
Share some bullet points of what you discussed in the box below.
We end with a prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I long to know You more deeply. Open my heart and mind to Your presence. Help me to hear Your voice clearly. Guide me on the path You’ve chosen for me. Amen.
Day 2 – Encountering God through music…
We begin with the Sign of the Cross.
Worship music offers a special way for encountering God. Through its melodies and lyrics, it can transport us to a place of deep connection and reflection. As we sing praise and adoration, or simply listen, we open our hearts and minds to receive God’s presence. It can stir up emotions that transcend words, allowing us to express our gratitude, joy, sorrow, and hope in a profound way. Let’s take a moment to listen to this worship song, as you listen, think about the words and what they mean to you…
If anyone would like to share any thoughts on what thought’s or feelings the words conjured up for them please do…
We take a moment to pray:
Lord, we long to encounter You in our lives. We thank You that we can call You “Abba Father.” We want to receive Your embrace and Your Father’s touch in all that we do this year. Help us to love You with all our heart. Amen
We finish with the Sign of the Cross.
Day 3 – Encountering God through Creation
We begin with the Sign of the Cross…
Creator God, You formed us in your own image and gave us the gift of creation.
Help us to always respect the dignity of all persons and to cherish the incredible world that you have created.
We make this prayer through Christ, Your Son, our Lord,
Amen.
Imagine gazing up at a starry night sky, the countless twinkling lights like tiny diamonds scattered across a velvet blanket. Or maybe you’ve felt the warmth of the sun on your face on a summer day, or the gentle breeze rustling through the leaves of a tree. These are just a few examples of how we can experience God’s presence through His amazing creation. It’s like opening a beautiful book and discovering new wonders on every page. By paying attention to the world around us, we can see how amazing and powerful God is. Yet the world is under threat due to the Climate Crisis…
Eight years ago Pope Francis wrote an Encyclical (a letter to all Bishops and people of the Catholic Church) called Laudate Si (Praise Be to You). In it Pop Francis spoke about the urgent need to take care of our common home, planet earth… Now, 8 years later he has written another Encyclical called Laudate Deum (Praise God) calling for urgent action in response to the climate crisis.
Watch the video below to find out more…
Reflecting on the video, discuss as a form and think of a pledge that you can make make a difference to the crisis of climate change. Write it in the comments box below… It might be something small but like Mother Teresa said ‘We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
We ask God to bless us and help us to fulfil our pledge as we make the Sign of the Cross…
27 comments