Each day is a new beginning… we return to a path in search of fulfillment and personal happiness. For the Christian, life is a journey following Jesus. He writes the script and the decisive encounters happen, unforeseen, along the way.

In the encounter on the mountain, Jesus reveals Himself and manifests His identity as the Son of God. In each encounter, He reveals Himself and is transfigured so that we may experience His glory and our life, as disciples, may be transformed by faith and faithful following.

In the encounter with the man born blind, Jesus reveals Himself as the Light of the World, as the One who brings us into the light of life. Physical healing is a symbol of inner healing that awakens the heart and mind to faith in Jesus.

In her encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan woman recovers the sense and the reason to live. This is the grace we seek as we enter into this narrative: to know the gift of God, which Jesus has to offer to those who encounter Him.

In Nicodemus’ dialogue with Jesus, we recognize the beauty of the encounter. But we also see how the dialogue can be derailed by parallel paths and abort the encounter. Our encounter with Christ can be left half-way and His grace ends up hostage of our ambiguities.

A text of John’s Gospel gives us the description of the first meeting of two disciples with Jesus. It is a classic, a must-read at the beginning of this series of meetings with Jesus and reflections on the missionary vocation as a place of encounter.