Release Date: February 25th, 2026“Come, It’s Me”: Hearing Jesus’ Invitation Anew
- by Catherine Gitzel
I often wonder about the unrecorded stories of people’s encounters with Jesus. Who else was healed? Whose understanding of themself was transformed? What other miracles were performed? We return to these stories of Jesus throughout our lifetimes, seeking to find encouragement and renewal for our hearts and minds.
Recently a dear friend retold the story where Jesus invited Peter to walk to Him on the water. As she spoke this familiar story, a new message of Jesus’ loving invitation formed in me—it happened so quickly, catching me off guard. The addition of two simple yet powerful words allowed an opening to form in me. To Jesus’ invitation of “Come” found in Matthew 14:29, the storyteller added, “It’s Me.” “Come, it’s Me.” In that moment the story became alive. I could hear Jesus’ words spoken to Peter and to me. The warmth of Jesus’ invitation intersected with my life, landing deep within, pressing out a doubt that had been dwelling there. We are wise to linger in these familiar stories, to allow ourselves to be drawn in again and again, to hear what is being spoken to us in new and active ways.
It is encouraging to know that stories of encounters with Jesus continue to be written today.
What are some of your favourite stories of Jesus’ activity in your life? In your family’s life? In the life of your congregation? Feel free to pause and give some thought to these questions. Be encouraged in the remembering.
In our family, we retell certain stories of Jesus’ presence in our lives as a way of informing our faith and hope in the ongoing activity of God all around us. I like to think that Peter and the disciples retold the story of their encounter with Jesus on that stormy sea. That the man who suffered with a paralyzed hand recounted with joy how Jesus healed him. That the young boy enthusiastically told his friends how he had provided the necessary beginnings of a meal for thousands.
It is encouraging to know that stories of encounters with Jesus continue to be written today. As the experiences are shared, we, the present-day listeners, are hopefully moved by the reminder that Jesus’ love, healing and re-ordering remain active among us.
In faith, I picture Jesus walking among the youth, seeing them, engaging with them, helping them to build bridges with one another.
Recently our congregation formed a planning team with marginalized youth to host monthly suppers for the youth in their neighbourhood. The youth were excited to participate in menu planning and meal prep…think taco bar and cupcakes. What caused some concern was knowing that in their role as leaders, part of their mandate was to welcome all the guests with kindness and respect. We spent time brainstorming how one welcomes someone who is different than them and who they don’t naturally want to share a meal with. I reminded them that they are not alone in learning how to create a welcoming space. The night of the meal came. I admit to carrying some concern about how the youth would respond to being together in this new way. It was so beautiful to see the youth leaders demonstrate welcome and be surprised by the positive interactions they experienced as they served the meal and sat around tables.
At the end of the meal, four youth expressed, in different ways, how they experienced peace throughout the meal. One youth said, “I could feel peace. It was a good feeling.” Another suggested, “We should have more of these meals and we should invite our enemies because I bet we could actually become friends.” Transformation happened around those tables.
I choose to record this as a present-day encounter with Jesus. In faith, I picture Jesus walking among the youth, seeing them, engaging with them, helping them to build bridges with one another and passing to them His peace which transcends and transforms. There was much evidence of the Lord Himself, who is our source of peace, who gives us peace at all times and in every way. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
I encourage each of us to be attentive to the new stories of Jesus being experienced all around us. Linger with them. Receive them. Record them. Retell them. Let them be a source of encouragement, awe and transformation.
- Catherine Gitzel is pastor at The Gathering Church in Kitchener.