Today, I shook Jesus’ hand. Well, kind of… But then I actually did, in a way. But not really. It’s just--well…. Let me explain. I’ve spent the last week as a seminarian for the Diocese of Amarillo at a Catholic conference for college students attended by about 17,000 other people. Like many of these kinds of conferences, it was chock full of energizing talks, awe-inspiring liturgies, meeting with old friends and making new ones. But something happened on the final day that I never would have expected. I sat down in a former NFL stadium for Mass in my cassock and surplus with about 200 other seminarians, eager to perform my one given task: escort a priest to his place to distribute communion. I’d been sitting in the second row all week, and by now I knew the drill: after the sign of peace, follow in the line of other seminarians. Then, after the “Behold, the Lamb of God,” bring a priest to his station for distribution. What I didn’t know, however, was that someone special was going to sit in the row in front of me and one chair over: Jesus. Well, actually his name is Jonathan Rumie, and he plays Jesus in the popular show “The Chosen.” To anyone who has seen the show, Jesus’ face is Jonathan’s, and there’s no escaping it. He took his place right as Mass was beginning, and I couldn’t keep my mind from racing. Huh… Jesus sitting here during Mass? That’s something you don’t see every day… What is it like for him? People see him and immediately see Jesus. Is that what it’s like being a priest?... Dude! I’m going to get to shake his hand at the sign of peace!! I’m going to get to encounter Jesus! Well at least sort of… Try as I might, these thoughts wouldn’t leave my head. I would watch closely as “Jesus” listened to the readings. As he nodded his head in agreement with the bishop’s homily. As he sang. As he prayed. All the while, I anticipated the opportunity to shake his hand. Finally, the moment came. The bishop announced, “Let us offer each other the sign of peace.” I offered a handshake to the seminarian to my left and my right, then to the woman in front of me. And then I extend my hand to Jesus– I mean, Jonathan. He extended his hand and clasped mine. I looked at his eyes and-.... well… He was already looking for whose hand he was going to shake next… Dazed, I followed the line of seminarians as instructed, then kneeled. Distracted by what I’d just experienced, I missed the bishop saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world.” I swiftly and dutifully escorted my priest to his communion station. Before others approached to receive the Eucharist, I stepped in front of the priest to receive the Eucharist. He held up the host and said, “The Body of Christ.” Then it hit me like a train. Moments ago, I had shaken hands with a man who simply reminds me of Christ, like a symbol. He made me “feel” like I’d met Jesus. But in this sacramental moment, it was not symbolism or mere feeling. It was the real deal. From this priest, I was receiving the real body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ into my body, blood, and soul in order to participate in his divinity. I was actually encountering Jesus. I’m sure Jonathan Rumie is a great guy. But he’s no Jesus. At least, not like this. After I’d received the Lord in the Eucharist, the same priest began to do something incredible: offer to hundreds of other people encounters with Jesus similar to mine. He softly and intentionally repeated over and over again to each person, “The Body of Christ... The Body of Christ… The Body of Christ…” Hands folded and choking back tears, I prayed silently: Lord, if it is your will, make me your priest.