“Mary.” One word was spoken, and Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus immediately. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were another story. They walked the road with Jesus all day, listening to Him breaking open scripture. and finally recognized Him in the breaking on the bread. And the twelve apostles were with Him for three years yet many of them still did not fully comprehend until after the Resurrection who Jesus really was.

Whose story resonates with you? Mary Magdalene, The disciples of the Road to Emmaus, the apostles? All these stories are about recognizing Jesus two thousand years ago. It doesn’t matter which story you identify with. You may have encountered Jesus in someone or someplace today. Have you suddenly been aware of Jesus in your life with a word, a look, a touch? Or have you studied scripture for a long time and then suddenly become deeply aware of His presence. Perhaps you receive Jesus weekly, or even daily, in the Eucharist, and still have doubts. 

We all come to Jesus differently, much like His early followers did. What matters is that we recognize Him when and how He comes to us. But how do we recognize Him as He comes to us today? For some, it is in Scripture; for some, it is in the Eucharist; for some, it is a person or a group of people—in community.

We may find it easier to recognize Jesus in others if we can open ourselves up to the Jesus that is present in each one of us. I plan to write a sequel to my earlier book, The Face of Jesus, which tells of many who saw the Living Jesus two thousand years ago and what effect He had on them. If you have read it, I hope this book has helped you see the Jesus in yourself and in others. 

In my earlier book, I related stories of various entities that met Jesus face to face while He was on this earth. In this new book, I want you to think about the opportunities you have to meet Jesus, perhaps not in His human physical form, but in the form of others. I plan to get a little more in depth of on some of the early encounters with Jesus by those who walked with Him 2000 years ago. I will also discuss how people encountered Him throughout the ages, including sinners who became saints. Finally, I will talk about how we encounter Him today, and how we allow others to encounter Him in us. 

If you have had an experience of seeing Jesus in others or in a place or experience, I would love to hear about your experience, and possibly include it in my new book, The Face of Jesus Today. And you can pick up my book, The Face of Jesus here.