I have seen the Lord

John 20: 11 - 18

Jesus said to her, "Mary"

Hearing Jesus call our name is a gift beyond our wildest expectations. And that is one way the Risen Lord meets those who seek him. This is not to say that we seek spiritual experiences for their own sake. But that our faith is often deepened when we experience for ourselves the reality of Jesus Christ our Risen Lord.

As I serve as a companion to others on their spiritual journeys, I hear very unique stories of how God calls each person by her name.......and how that experience grounds the person in faith and love. Mostly, it is not an audible voice - but a sense of meeting Jesus in prayer or in a situation, where the person 'knows' that He has addressed her personally. Such stories of faith are not rare - they are experienced by many, except that in many contexts it would be difficult to share and be 'understood'. It can sound narcissistic to some to speak of these experiences, but in spiritual companionship these experiences are the raw material for reflection and discernment. When people do recall the experiences and are given an opportunity to reflect on them, however, the reality deepens and changes the way they relate to the Lord. "I have seen the Lord" is a gift - we cannot demand it - and is a life giving essence of Christianity. We desire the gift and trust the Lord to help us recognize his presence in our lives.