How Do You "Know" Jesus?

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If I were a secular individual my entire life, could a Catholic tell me how to “know” Jesus? :hmmm: What would **YOU **say?
 
Would not the best place to begin be with the record of Jesus own words and actions in the gospels?
 
Trishie said:
Would not the best place to begin be with the record of Jesus own words and actions in the gospels?
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I guess. But why? What’s that? What does that have to do with me? How does this old story manifest in the reality of my daily life? What do I have to do/acknowledge that makes my life any different, or adds anything new to my life? Why is Tim Tebo always praying like the thinking statue because of his buddy Jesus? 🤷
 
I’m sure you can work it out!
I would have my own way of communicating Jesus, with warmth, enthusiasm, eyes dancing, as I told the person of Jesus, what He says, He does, just because that’s the way I do things. I speak of Him in an immediate, real way, Someone known, Someone loved, and real. That’s what’s natural to me
You would have your way.
 
Trishie said:
I’m sure you can work it out!
I would have my own way of communicating Jesus, with warmth, enthusiasm, eyes dancing, as I told the person of Jesus, what He says, He does, just because that’s the way I do things. I speak of Him in an immediate, real way, Someone known, Someone loved, and real. That’s what’s natural to me
You would have your way.
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That’s an interesting perspective, Trishie.
To you or anyone else interested: How would I get started? What if I just don’t feel like I know what I’m doing…? 🤷
 
Jesus own words and actions in the gospels

it relates very much to your daily life.
 
Luvtosew said:
Jesus own words and actions in the gospels

it relates very much to your daily life.
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Let’s say I know the gospel and read it in middle school, but that doesn’t make me want to cease sinning and turn over my life to him, as some of these Christians seem to do… 🤷
 
MrZetterlund said:
If I were a secular individual my entire life, could a Catholic tell me how to “know” Jesus? :hmmm: What would **YOU **say?
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I would say that Jesus is my Saviour, Healer, Best friend, my guide, my Teacher, and more.

And, how a Catholic tells another person who is a secular individual their whole life, depends on where the Catholic is on their spiritual journey with the Lord, because that is what the other person would be hearing.

We can only give what we have. When people of great faith and a lot of compassion talk with others, it is contagious. Catholics are on a journey, and the opportunity to grow in faith, hope, and love is available to them. With mujch prayer and a right attitude in receiving the Sacraments they can grow in His grace, and attract (or repel) others.
 
MrZetterlund said:
Let’s say I know the gospel and read it in middle school, but that doesn’t make me want to cease sinning and turn over my life to him, as some of these Christians seem to do… 🤷
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Well for me its a continous thing, I have to read daily, even if 15 mins. but usually spend more but I have time, no matter how many times I read a passage it kinda can take a deeper meaning . That is how I got to know Jesus the best, and well praying and it gets to like you think about him all the time, the bible has been my lifesaver. I think this forum is also a good place. You will find him and know him if you seek him.
 
It’s hard to answer you in one way. I can only speak from experience. Jesus is very real to me as a Person. It’s fairly natural for me to on a plane and to think of Jesus and wish I could share such an incredible experience with Him, and I suppose in a way I do. Even a chocolate. I’d like to sit down with Him and have a coffee together. There is nothing elevated about such thought of wanting to share experiences He didn’t have on earth. It is simply a desire to give to Him in a way I understand.

I fit more into the category of those who come to Jesus primarily with love. One of the saints, unfortunately I forget which, said that Jesus told her that souls come to Him either with primarily love, or primarily reverence. I do with love because that’s what my nature is like. That doesn’t mean without reverence, but it is why automatically I’d be giving the person I’m speaking to about Jesus, a real sense of Jesus as He comes across in scripture…but not without the reverence comes with Who He is as God.

I don’t read what Jesus said or did without seeing it in a real way. I see Jesus as a living, breathing Person. If I think or write of Him I see the events of His life as personal and real. I’m very tactile and visual…but I also at some stage read a number of books with deeper explanations of life and culture of the Jew in the Lord’s times, and explanations of background of Jesus’ words and acts, so I guess they’ve had their influence. Currently I have in my restroom from a writer all mightn’t favour but still there is something to learn, “A portrait of Jesus”, Fr Joseph F. Girzone…there is always something I have in that room that I open at a page and read a bit more, briefly regarding the Lord. So it is very natural for me to speak of Jesus in a personal way. The enthusiasm I have is just part of my nature, being excited and warm is easy for me…my sisters are like that also…so I can’t teach you anything about that. In a way, that seduces people into feeling drawn to Him.

Perhaps if you study more behind the scriptures as well as carefully reading the New Testament. One of my books for example, that’s been on my shelf for years is “The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, an interpretation”, by Fr Goodier, a Jesuit, but you could find more modern aids to understanding Jesus’ life better…but the whole effect is to leave me with a sense of Jesus that is very real and the events in His life are, so I can make people excited about Him. In whatever way God may lead us, we need to be convinced of Jesus, to be able to convince others of Him. But one can’t everyone. My own husband blocks mention of God or Jesus from me. So all I can do is be a good wife and Christian, except that he’s a much better person than I am anyway!
 
For many years I did not seek a close relationship with Jesus, and recent reading of scripture has helped me to know his words and works. But actually understanding what he did throughout his lifetime, actually feeling his presence - that requires something deeper from me. Jesus comes to me through prayer and reflection. When my life is difficult and full of challenges, I know that he understands and that he is carrying me towards the good. And when I am achieving happiness and success, I know that he is behind it, always watching over and loving me despite my failings.
 
One thing that has helped me learn to love God more is to learn how much he loves me. There are many ways to do this: Scripture, meditation,spiritual reading, prayer, adoration, and most importantly Mass. I think about how God out of love keeps me in existence every second of every day, or how God came down from Heaven and took the form of a man in order to save me and bring me back to him. I think about how this same God comes down to me and wants to be received by me in Holy Mass, and how this same God waits every day in the tabernacle and adoration chapels just for me. I think about his Passion and death and the sufferings he endured and continues to endure in the Blessed Sacrament. I try to think about Him as much as I can like He does with me, and since I have done this I have not been able to do anything but love Him more and more.

Slowly God has been transforming my life and the things I used to have an inordinate love for are now becoming unimportant to me. I can now see that by loving God with my whole heart I end up loving everything else as it should be loved and view all things as they should be viewed.
 
I have a tough time with such things. Maybe it’s because I’m returning to the church after a long absense, or maybe I’m just not a very good person.

I am not sure that I know or feel Christ at all, despite much prayer and reflection. The same is true of Mary, despite lots of rosaries, and the majority of the saints.

I don’t know whether I’ve been touched by God the Father (well, we all are, because we’re here, but I’m not sure I’ve felt it, or understood it as distinct from angels if it happened). I that think a few like The Holy Spirit, St. Anthony, and angels (guardian or otherwise) are easier to “get”.

I know, you’ll say that if I’ve gotten in touch with The Holy Spirit, I’ve gotten in touch with Christ, but I’m talking more about “aspects” or “persons” here.

I’m also not sure that I’m not just deluding myself either.

All I can do is pray, go to Mass, and continue to experiment I guess.
 
Trishie said:
It’s hard to answer you in one way. I can only speak from experience. Jesus is very real to me as a Person. It’s fairly natural for me to on a plane and to think of Jesus and wish I could share such an incredible experience with Him, and I suppose in a way I do. Even a chocolate. I’d like to sit down with Him and have a coffee together. There is nothing elevated about such thought of wanting to share experiences He didn’t have on earth. It is simply a desire to give to Him in a way I understand.

I fit more into the category of those who come to Jesus primarily with love. One of the saints, unfortunately I forget which, said that Jesus told her that souls come to Him either with primarily love, or primarily reverence. I do with love because that’s what my nature is like. That doesn’t mean without reverence, but it is why automatically I’d be giving the person I’m speaking to about Jesus, a real sense of Jesus as He comes across in scripture…but not without the reverence comes with Who He is as God.

I don’t read what Jesus said or did without seeing it in a real way. I see Jesus as a living, breathing Person. If I think or write of Him I see the events of His life as personal and real. I’m very tactile and visual…but I also at some stage read a number of books with deeper explanations of life and culture of the Jew in the Lord’s times, and explanations of background of Jesus’ words and acts, so I guess they’ve had their influence. Currently I have in my restroom from a writer all mightn’t favour but still there is something to learn, “A portrait of Jesus”, Fr Joseph F. Girzone…there is always something I have in that room that I open at a page and read a bit more, briefly regarding the Lord. So it is very natural for me to speak of Jesus in a personal way. The enthusiasm I have is just part of my nature, being excited and warm is easy for me…my sisters are like that also…so I can’t teach you anything about that. In a way, that seduces people into feeling drawn to Him.

Perhaps if you study more behind the scriptures as well as carefully reading the New Testament. One of my books for example, that’s been on my shelf for years is “The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, an interpretation”, by Fr Goodier, a Jesuit, but you could find more modern aids to understanding Jesus’ life better…but the whole effect is to leave me with a sense of Jesus that is very real and the events in His life are, so I can make people excited about Him. In whatever way God may lead us, we need to be convinced of Jesus, to be able to convince others of Him. But one can’t everyone. My own husband blocks mention of God or Jesus from me. So all I can do is be a good wife and Christian, except that he’s a much better person than I am anyway!
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I like your post.

You have to play an active role in faith. Participation in the Mass/Liturgy, regular attendence, and the Sacrement of reconciliation. Pray daily, when you pray you are talking to Jesus. When you read scripture it is the Saints, Prophets, and the Lord talking to you.

How do you become proficent at anything? Not without the active role of practice. Which is why we say we are “practicing Catholic’s”

How the Lord comes to you is through His will. First… their must be total submission without reservation, and constant practice.

Forget what other’s think, worry about the Lord may think. Look at what they thought of Jesus, the Prophets, Apostles during their time on earth.

Peace
 
MrZetterlund said:
If I were a secular individual my entire life, could a Catholic tell me how to “know” Jesus? :hmmm: What would **YOU **say?
Click to expand...
It depends on what your lifestyle is like and you if read Scripture and practice Prayer alot.
 
Pat_Albertson said:
I have a tough time with such things. Maybe it’s because I’m returning to the church after a long absense, or maybe I’m just not a very good person.

I am not sure that I know or feel Christ at all, despite much prayer and reflection. The same is true of Mary, despite lots of rosaries, and the majority of the saints.

I don’t know whether I’ve been touched by God the Father (well, we all are, because we’re here, but I’m not sure I’ve felt it, or understood it as distinct from angels if it happened). I that think a few like The Holy Spirit, St. Anthony, and angels (guardian or otherwise) are easier to “get”.

I know, you’ll say that if I’ve gotten in touch with The Holy Spirit, I’ve gotten in touch with Christ, but I’m talking more about “aspects” or “persons” here.

I’m also not sure that I’m not just deluding myself either.

All I can do is pray, go to Mass, and continue to experiment I guess.
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We do not have to “feel” anything to know that the Lord is right there. He is! I know I need to ask Him to increase my faith, hope, and love every day.

God bless you on your journey to the Lord!
 
I would tell the person:

Jesus is my savior, one person of the Holy Trinity, or the God-head, He saves me from living a life of sin and selfishness and allows me to live my life for something greater. He fills me with my true purpose in life, that is to journey twoards God and an eternity of unity with Him.

He is continually working in me and changing me for the better. I have joy because of my Lord and the gift of salvation that He offers.

I learn about and grow closer to Jesus, through the teaching of His Church, through reading of Sacred Scripture and other writings of the Saints, and of course Jesus comes directly to us through the Holy Sacraments of the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
Dorothy said:
We do not have to “feel” anything to know that the Lord is right there. He is! I know I need to ask Him to increase my faith, hope, and love every day.

God bless you on your journey to the Lord!
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Thank you Dorothy, and God bless you too.

I know “intellectually” that God is everywhere, but I want to feel His Presence.

I want to for several reasons:

  • *]it would increase my certainty
    *]I think other people do, so I want to too
    *]it would help bring me peace and serenity (I have problems with depression and suicidal ideation)
    *]I’m curious
    *]I want to get “a foot in the door” so to speak (i.e. think NDE, but without the D)
    *]it would allow me to let go more gracefully of things I’m probably going to lose anyway (like my house; the local government is going to dump me into the streets and I will be homeless and much colder and hungrier than I already am)
    *]it would increase the likelihood that at the time of my death (which I have no absolute certainty that I won’t cause myself, although I think I’m getting better than I was) I would try to go into the light

    I could probably go on for a long time waiting patiently for more reasons to feel the presence of Christ, but I think my point is clear; it’s more desirable to feel Christ, Mary, and the rest than not.
 
Pat_Albertson said:
Thank you Dorothy, and God bless you too.

I know “intellectually” that God is everywhere, but I want to feel His Presence.

I want to for several reasons:

  • *]it would increase my certainty
    *]I think other people do, so I want to too
    *]it would help bring me peace and serenity (I have problems with depression and suicidal ideation)
    *]I’m curious
    *]I want to get “a foot in the door” so to speak (i.e. think NDE, but without the D)
    *]it would allow me to let go more gracefully of things I’m probably going to lose anyway (like my house; the local government is going to dump me into the streets and I will be homeless and much colder and hungrier than I already am)
    *]it would increase the likelihood that at the time of my death (which I have no absolute certainty that I won’t cause myself, although I think I’m getting better than I was) I would try to go into the light

    I could probably go on for a long time waiting patiently for more reasons to feel the presence of Christ, but I think my point is clear; it’s more desirable to feel Christ, Mary, and the rest than not.
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  • Thank you for sharing!

    May our Lord Jesus Christ grant you your heart’s desire and give you everything you need to glorify the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. May our Blessed Mother cover you with her mantle and intercede for you for all the good things you need.

    St. Joseph, pray for us
    St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us

    Peace,

    Dorothy
 
I firmly believe that if you are seeking to “know” the Lord Jesus, please understand that HE is desiring to make Himself known, as we read in this scripture (John 14:21):

“Whoever has my commandments and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and show myself to him.”

I cannot but believe these words are meant for all, not just a few. Jesus commissioned his apostles to preach a baptism of “repentence.” Repentence in that sense means a total *metanoia, *born of love and earnestly desiring to follow his commandments.

In reflecting on the Incarnation and the visitation of the Angels to the Shepherds, we read that they went in haste to see the word that had been announced to them. In their zeal, they proclaimed what they had seen to the townspeople, who simply “wondered.” No haste on their part to run to the stable and “see and know.” The blessing is bestowed upon those who are humble and open their hearts to Him in loving, grateful devotion.

Luke 2:18 And all that heard, “wondered” at those things that were told them by the shepherds.
 
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