In our first reflection, we considered the wonderful truth that every baptised Christian has a mission. Christ does not call only priests, religious or missionaries. He calls each one of us.

But where does that mission begin? It begins with an encounter.

Many people would answer that we encounter Christ at Mass, in prayer, in the Eucharist or through Sacred Scripture. They would be absolutely right. These are the privileged places where Christ gives himself to us and where our faith is nourished.

Yet the Gospel invites us to look further.

Throughout his public ministry, Jesus met people where they were. He walked beside fishermen, sat at table with tax collectors, welcomed children, touched those suffering from leprosy, comforted the sorrowful and forgave sinners. He sought out those whom others overlooked and restored dignity to those who had been pushed to the margins.

He did not wait for people to come to him. He went out to meet them.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to do the same.

Perhaps the clearest example comes in the Lord's description of the Last Judgement. Jesus tells us:

"For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome."
Matthew 25:35

The righteous are astonished. They ask when they ever saw him hungry, thirsty or a stranger. His answer is one that every Christian should carry in their heart:

"In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."
Matthew 25:40 (Jerusalem Bible)

Those words transform the way we see the world.

The lonely neighbour. The elderly parishioner who quietly slips away after Mass. The person struggling with illness. The family under pressure.

The newcomer who stands alone, wondering if anyone will speak to them.

Christ asks us to recognise him in them.

This is why our Catholic faith can never remain within the walls of the church. We come to Mass to worship God, to hear his Word and to receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Strengthened by these gifts, we are sent out to continue Christ's work in the world.

The dismissal at the end of Mass is not the conclusion of our worship. It is the beginning of our mission.

Every act of kindness. Every word of encouragement. Every visit to someone who is lonely. Every moment of forgiveness. Every quiet act of charity.

These become opportunities to encounter Christ.

St John reminds us that our love for God cannot be separated from our love for one another:

"Anyone who says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, is a liar, since whoever does not love the brother whom he can see cannot love God whom he has never seen." 1 John 4:20

Perhaps we spend too much time asking where we can find Christ.

Perhaps a better question is this: Who will Christ place in my path today?

The answer may not come in an extraordinary moment.

It may come through an ordinary conversation. A smile. A listening ear. A helping hand. A simple act of compassion.

For wherever genuine Christian love is lived, Christ is already there.

A Moment for Reflection Read Matthew 25:31–46 slowly.

Ask yourself:

Who have I encountered today? Did I recognise Christ in them? Is there someone I have overlooked who needs my kindness this week?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Open my eyes to recognise you in those I meet each day. May I never pass by someone in need without seeing your face.

Strengthen me through your Word and your Eucharist, so that I may serve you faithfully in my neighbour.

Amen.

Walking with Christ This Week

Choose one deliberate act of Christian charity.

• Visit someone.

• Telephone someone who is lonely.

• Welcome someone you do not know after Mass.

• Offer practical help without expecting anything in return.

Then quietly thank Christ for allowing you to encounter him.

by Johannes

A Lay Voice at Saint Charles Borromeo
Scripture quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible.