“Uncle, how do I give everything to God? How do I offer my life to Him so he can take over? I just don’t know exactly how to do that.” My sixteen year-old niece surprised me with these questions a few weeks ago. I looked at her tenderly and answered, “Prayer, keep praying, Ann Jillian.”
Ann Jillian has been going to Catholic school since kindergarten. Now that she’s in high school and is involved in youth ministry, I see her having a stronger desire to grow in her faith and in her love for God. Not only is she achieving in academics and sports, she’s also developing a personal and profound relationship with God.
And so, I thank God for having a lovely niece, who is so real and humble and not shy about expressing her spiritual struggles and longings. I know that she’ll continue to develop a healthy spiritual life as long as she keeps having these childlike qualities.
It may be hard for her now to comprehend my simple answer to her questions. She needs to know and practice the art of disciplined prayer in order to understand what I said. Because I believe that it’s the fundamental way to submit oneself completely to God so that “he can take over.”
The other day, when I was with her on our trip to Vancouver, I asked her to practice daily mediation and contemplation before she goes to school. I told her to sit in a room, a garden or a chapel, and spend time alone with God.
“Should I bring a bible to read?“ she asked me. “Yes, but the first thing you do is to just sit quietly before God for a few minutes, be conscious of what’s going on in your body, including your breathing. Let go first of your mundane concerns, and allow the spirit of God to envelope you,” I responded. “This is what we call centering prayer. Then you can read some Psalms or any Scripture text and meditate on a word or a phrase that strikes you, allowing that word or phrase to heal any pain or to take away any anxiety. Do this daily for at least twenty to thirty minutes and you’ll find yourself growing in this act of self-surrender to God.”
“But that’s hard to do uncle, especially when I’m so busy with school work,” Ann Jillian remarked. “Believe me,” I answered, “when you become faithful to this discipline of prayer, you’ll experience inner joy and consolation. You’ll be less worried and you may even experience physical healing. God just becomes part of you. You’ll begin to let go of petty things that rob your peace. Yes, you’ll lean on your human pain; that’s just part of the process, but you’ll be opening up yourself to the abundant and healing graces of God. Your prayers gradually become prayers of worship and praise to God who loves you dearly and unconditionally!”
These conversations with my niece bring to my mind the Gospel that we have this Sunday when the Lord taught his disciples that it is the Spirit that gives life. This is precisely what prayer does to us: the Spirit of God enlivens us and gives us the inner joy that material things or pleasure fail to provide. That’s why Peter rightfully responded to Jesus’ question, “Do you also want to leave?” He said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
In prayer, in this act of surrendering, we stay with God even to the point of wrestling with him about our human struggles. But as long as we remain with him, he’ll keep us centered on the essential matters of life. He’ll be faithful to his promises of joy and delight, and our lives will open up to the wonders of living in his Spirit!
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
