A Journey of Many Encounters
As I reflect upon this theme, I realise that, like most believers, I cannot point to a single moment in my eighty-three years that I might definitively describe as my encounter with Jesus. Encounters with the Lord take many forms and vary in intensity. Some pass quietly and almost unnoticed, while others are so profound that they leave an indelible mark upon the soul.
With this understanding, I turned to Sacred Scripture and to the encounters that Biblical figures had with Jesus, allowing their experiences to guide my own reflection.
Mary: The Model of Faithful Encounter
Among the many encounters recorded in the Holy Scriptures, my thoughts turn instinctively to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was likely no more than fourteen or fifteen years of age, living the simple life of a village girl, when she experienced divine intervention in its purest form. The Annunciation irrevocably altered the course of her life. Her humble response, "Be it unto me according to thy word," reveals complete trust in God's will and offers us a model of true discipleship.¹
That moment, however, was only the beginning. She held God the Son in her arms on that holy night in Bethlehem, nurturing Him as He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and with humanity.² She pondered these mysteries silently in her heart.³ She stood resolutely at the foot of the Cross, witnessing her Son's suffering and death.⁴ Tradition holds that she later encountered the Risen Christ, drawing consolation from the victory of the Resurrection. Mary's life underscores that divine intervention is not a single event, but a lifelong journey of trust and obedience.
First Introductions to Christ
When I reflect upon my own formative years, I recognise how gently Jesus entered my life. Night after night, my elder brother would tell me a Biblical story until I fell asleep. At the time, I did not realise that these simple acts were introducing me to Christ. I remember how he explained that God would no longer walk with humanity as He once did, but would enter the world by becoming man in the person of Jesus, to redeem and restore what had been broken by sin.⁵
Encouraged by this foundation, I was left to read the Bible and study Jesus on my own. Love for Him grew quietly and gradually, deepening over the years. My brother was an instrument in God's hands then, and, decades later, when we journeyed together to the Holy Land. This taught me that God often works through human instruments, entering our lives quietly rather than dramatically.⁶
Learning Through Scripture
I hold deep affection for my alma mater, St. Joseph's Boys' School, Tellicherry. My school days were invigorating, though not without challenge. Yet I carried one disappointment: non-Catholic pupils were not permitted to attend catechism classes. When I shared this concern with my father, he gently guided me towards a more profound truth. He explained that studying the Bible itself was perhaps the best way to come to know Jesus, and he taught me how to read the Gospel accounts attentively.
Through his guidance, I came to understand that the Bible is not merely a storybook, but the living Word of God.⁷ I learned that the more one reads Scripture prayerfully, the more clearly one discerns God's will.⁸ What I once saw as a denial became, in truth, an act of divine intervention. God used these circumstances to draw me more deeply into His Word. Truly, God's ways are often beyond our immediate understanding.⁹
Faith Lived in Professional Life
The successes and struggles of my professional life also shaped my spiritual outlook. I recall the chairman of my company once remarking that people tended to see me more as a trade unionist than as a corporate executive. Yet I did not abandon my commitment to serve the weak and the needy, even if this cost me advancement. This did not trouble me, for I sought to live according to the values Jesus taught: justice, compassion, and solidarity with the marginalised.¹⁰
At times, divine intervention does not change our circumstances, but strengthens our faith, enabling us to remain steadfast and faithful.¹¹
A New Call to Service
As I approached retirement, I entered a period of uncertainty and introspection. The routine that had governed my days was coming to an end, and I wondered what lay ahead. The answer came unexpectedly. One afternoon, while returning from midday prayer, I met Bishop Paul Swarup, then serving as the Presbyter of Christ Church, Noida. A brief conversation led to another, and he invited me to place my services at the disposal of the church.
Once again, God worked through a human instrument. For the past two decades, I have committed myself to the service of the church, placing before the Lord all the skills and abilities He has blessed me with. This marked a profound renewal in my life: a living and ongoing encounter with Jesus, who continues to call, guide, and sustain me.¹²
Concluding Reflection
Encounters with Jesus are rarely confined to a single moment or dramatic experience. They unfold gradually across a lifetime, through Scripture, family, vocation, service, and unexpected calls to renewed purpose. Divine intervention often comes quietly, inviting us to deeper trust and faithful surrender. Like Mary, and the many witnesses of faith before us, we are called not merely to recognise these encounters, but to respond with openness, perseverance, and a willingness to place all that we are at the service of God's will.
Scripture footnotes: 1. Luke 1:38. 2. Luke 2:52. 3. Luke 2:19. 4. John 19:25. 5. John 1:14. 6. Romans 10:14-15. 7. Hebrews 4:12. 8. Psalm 119:105. 9. Isaiah 55:8-9. 10. Matthew 25:40. 11. James 1:12. 12. Matthew 20:26-28.