You're listening to Encounter, a simple daily podcast made possible by listeners like

you.

We hope to help you discover sacred moments in the middle of ordinary days.

If you would enjoy more seasonal and topical meditations, I encourage you to download

the encountering piece mobile app, where all of the meditations are free, as they should

be.

Many years ago, I was chosen as the foreman on the jury of a criminal trial.

The 12 of us were ushered off to the jury room after listening to the defense and prosecution

both make their cases.

For many hours of deliberation, we found the defendant guilty and returned to the courtroom

where the judge asked me to read the decision and the punishment.

I thought the least I could do was turn and look the defendant in the eye and say, we the

jury, find you guilty.

And with that judgment, he was handcuffed and taken from the courtroom, separated from

his family and friends.

The fear of being judged and separated from those we love is common to all of us.

So have you ever felt condemned, afraid of being separated because of something you've

said or gone or believed?

While the theme of this meditation from John chapter 3 is about being protected from judgment,

guarded against the fear of condemnation and shielded from criticism.

So to begin your time, allow wherever you are to be transformed into a sanctuary of divine

protection, a time to be shielded by the Holy Father, embraced by the Son, and counseled

...