Introduction
In every age and within every system of belief, human beings have reached out in search of the Other . This quest for encounter with God is something more than the primitive desire of cave dwellers for some warmth and light to keep the shadows at bay. It has occupied the greatest minds and hearts of human history. It is driven by a need for meaning, a thirst for understanding and a longing for intimacy. Our human condition compels us to search for answers to our sense of isolation and the experience of suffering. But our hopes and dreams also draw us to God, as does our capacity to aspire to something greater than the here and now.
In the Bible we find stories of various moments of encounter with God. Each moment, each encounter is different, portraying the whole spectrum of human responses to this terrifying and fascinating mystery. It is not only Elijah or Peter or the disciples who meet God but Everyman and Everywoman. When we lift our heads from the depths of sorrow and fear, when we find ourselves having to revise our expectations of where and how God comes to meet us at the height of life's storms in the darkness of failure or the intimacy of a meal with friends, our untamable, unexpected God is there.
And it was Jesus who reminds us most clearly that we encounter God directly when we feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit those in prison ? whatsoever we do for the least of our brothers and sister, we are doing it to Jesus. (Mt 25:31-46)
Background
The ? Encounter ? Retreat is an essential component of the Year 11 Christian Service programme. It is the reflection element of the programme when the students are given the opportunity to spend an extended period of quality time reflecting on their four full days of Christian Service. It enables them to finish their written responses to the reflection questions in their ?Journals? and to share their experiences in a variety of settings ? with one peer, in small groups and in a larger group.
This reflection process is then extended to ?a theologizing process? whereby the students are encouraged to connect their experience with the Christian story. Just like the Cardijn Y.C.S. method of see, judge, act , students, having shared their own stories and experiences, then look at their experience in the light of the gospel. This is the ?judge? part, when they look at a situation and ask: ?What would Jesus do?? (WWJD)
The final phase of this retreat calls on students to take further action ? the praxis. Having served others, and having looked closely at the gospel; having prayed and having made a commitment to on-going discipleship and to ?doing justice?, students leave the retreat with a determination to commence their Senior Project and to become ?men for others?.
Theology
The ? Encounter ? Retreat is based on incarnational theology. Our God has always tried to make his love visible and enfleshed, as He did His Son and our Brother and Lord, Jesus, who came in the flesh (Incarnation) and remains with us in the Eucharist (Sacrament). Encounter consequently is very Christ-centred.
It was Jesus who taught us that God touches humans and that he himself is present to humans in and through each other: ?Whatsoever you do to the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you do unto me ... Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their
midst ...?
In the story of Bartimaeus (Mark10:46-52) when Jesus asked him: ?What do you want me to do for you?? Bartimaeus asked ? Lord, that I might see!?
It is Bartimaeus' plea to Jesus that we echo during the Encounter Retreat; not for the restoration of physical sight, but for the gift of ?insight? ?that we might have the sensitivity and intuitive empathy as well as deep faith to really see Christ present in the eyes of our neighbour, especially the poor and needy of our world.
And in John's story of how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at their Last Supper (John 13:1-15) through all the drama and intimacy of the encounter between Jesus and Peter we come to realise that it is through service that we are truly disciples of Christ: ?It is by your love for one another that everyone will recognize you as my disciples.?
Goals
The specific goals of the ? Encounter Retreat ? are:
- To provide some quality time for the student to reflect on his experience of Christian Service.
- To recall many of the minor and major incidents that happened during the experience of serving others.
- To bring each student to an honest appraisal of himself, (especially in the way he responded to people in need), with both strengths and weaknesses, in a supportive atmosphere that will allow him to deal with both in a positive way;
- To awaken and deepen their personal love for Jesus Christ, and to provide a meaningful encounter with Him in prayer.
- To introduce the students to the Scriptures and to both personal and communal prayer in an experiential community setting;
- To develop their understanding that true Christian discipleship requires a commitment to doing justice;
- To provide an opportunity for students to make the connection between local issues and global injustices.
- To call youths to live their faith as active, vital members of the Church, a believing community.
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