Article 3 - October 24th, 2022 by Fr. Ben Daghir

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One Thing, Jesus Christ

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Article 3 - October 24th, 2022 by Fr. Ben Daghir

Thomas Rhett’s song “Beer with Jesus” provides a unique and imaginative encounter with Jesus.

The singer considers what he would do if he could have a beer with Jesus. He mentions how he would “pick a place that ain’t too crowded.” He would also “order up a couple tall ones” and tell the waitress to “put them on his tab.” Of course, he would also be sure to “let Jesus do the talking.”
 

Then, the singer admits that he would ask some more difficult questions to Jesus: “How’d you turn the other cheek to save a sorry soul like me?” “Do you hear the prayers I send?” “What happens when life ends?” and “When do you think you’re coming back again?”
 

Then, the singer realizes that no one would believe him if he had a beer with Jesus. The song challenges us to consider how we encounter Jesus.
 

The question is never “what if I met Jesus” but rather “where is He among us right now?” I think we often forget that Jesus’ name “Emmanuel” means ‘God is with us’ (Matthew 1:23). Jesus also promises his disciples, “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). In fact, Jesus is present among us more often than we realize.
 

Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25: 35-39). Jesus also adds, “As you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40). Jesus could not be clearer - He is among the poor, the weak, the distressed, the sick, the disabled, and the vulnerable.
 

Can we encounter Jesus in other places too?
 

Jesus also says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). We have two or three gathered in His name during the celebration of the Mass, in prayer groups, Bible studies, and in religious dialogue with others.
 

We encounter Christ in the Eucharist, “while they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many’” (Mark 14: 22-24).
 

Mother Teresa understood the connection between the Eucharist and the poor she served in India. She once stated, “We must pray to Jesus to give us that tenderness of the Eucharist. Unless we believe and see Jesus in the appearance of bread on the altar, we will not be able to see him in the distressing disguise of the poor.”
 

If a friend of mine were to ask me, “What would you do if you could have a beer with Jesus?” I would respond, “Let’s go right now to the soup kitchen or the retirement home or the hospital or a Bible study or let’s pray together or let’s go to Mass.” We would encounter Him.
 

Where can you encounter Christ right now? Are you willing to do so?
 

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Fr. Ben Daghir is a priest for the Diocese of Erie. He is a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School in Saint Marys, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, and St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. He considers writing one of his favorite hobbies.