Meeting Jesus Where We Are

At the end of July, the Catholic Church celebrates a number of holy men and women who had varying relationships with Jesus. Mary Magdalene was healed by Jesus and became his patron and faithful companion; James was one of Jesus’ first disciples; Joachim and Anne were Jesus’ grandparents; and Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany were his close friends.

An old saying proclaims that you can’t be all things to all people, but that doesn’t apply to Jesus, who enters into relationship with us in whatever way we come to him. Do you need a mother’s tender and healing touch? “He took the child by the hand and said to her, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise!’” (Mk 5:41). Do you need a father’s faithfulness and forgiveness? “While he [his son] was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him” (Lk 15:20). Do you need a nurturing friendship? “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father” (Jn 15:15). Are you weary because of life’s demands? “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

Whatever form our relationship with Jesus takes, it ends up transforming us into our best selves. After being healed, Mary Magdalene found the courage to be faithful to Jesus through his death and burial and was the first to encounter him after his resurrection. James overcame his desire for power and glory and gave his life to share the good news about his beloved teacher. The hospitality offered by Martha, Mary, and Lazarus led them to recognize Jesus as the Christ and enabled them to directly experience his ability to bring us to new life.

We can turn to Jesus, whatever our needs: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7). However, when we enter into a relationship with him, no matter what that looks like, we need to be prepared to have our hearts opened to a new and more expansive life.