Experiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 3 – “Encountering Jesus”

O’Collins begins his third chapter, “Encountering Jesus,” with two vivid images taken from classic novels. The first image, taken from Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago, is of the depressed and dejected young Lara sitting in a church considering the complete emptiness of her life. The second image, taken from Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, is of the powerful completion of Charles Ryder’s gradual conversion. Both images invite us to use our imaginations in our search for the presence of God in our world. Both images also share a journey of sorrow or questioning that is broken through by the gentle hand of God, reaching out in ways that are most needed at the time, most needed by the person searching for answers. O’Collins use of these images helps us to consider how it is that Jesus is present to us in our daily lives, and especially present to us during our Lenten journey.

O’Collins presents a scriptural example of the presence of Jesus in the life of Levi (Matthew) the tax collector. Despised in their time, tax collectors were agents of the Roman state that prospered through their exploitation of others and their abuse of the powerless. Yet, it is to one of these despised tax collectors that Jesus comes and calls to a new life of discipleship…and Levi responds to Jesus’ call. Simply said: Jesus has come, Levi has a new life in Christ. O’Collins presents a threefold theme of conversion by representing Jesus’ call in this way: “I have come to call Levi; I have come to share the divine presence; I have come to invite you all to a profound conversion of life.” (p. 35) Jesus has come, and as we open ourselves to the love of Christ in this holy season of Lent may we each be aware of the powerful images of God breaking into our daily lives.