Lately, I have been exercising a “softening” of myself as I confront anxieties to achieve peace of mind and heart. What do I mean by “softening” myself? It refers to not being “hard” on myself while striving to meet the high expectations of myself and others. It involves being kind and compassionate towards myself, acknowledging that I have accomplished enough in life, achieved success in my endeavors, and already demonstrated my abilities. It also means humbly accepting my limitations and allowing others to supplement the skills and talents that I may lack. This entails putting into practice the ability to delegate responsibilities to the right people.
A “softening of oneself” or being gentle with oneself means also taking time to relax more, allowing for downtime during the day, taking a nap, going for a walk on a pleasant morning or evening, enjoying a rejuvenating bath, or simply unwinding with friends. For busy individuals, it involves intentionally carving out time during the day to be alone or to enjoy the company of a loved one. It could be spending quality time cuddling with one’s dog, listening to favorite music, and singing along.
In Christian life, softening oneself involves allowing the tenderness of God to transform us, helping us recognize our true worth and His love. It means letting go of our fears and contemplating Jesus embracing us with immense love and compassion.
One effective way to soften one’s heart and mind is to remain open to the transformative power of the Holy Scriptures. Reading, reflecting on, or listening to the comforting words of Jesus in the Gospel, as well as those of the prophets, psalmists, and apostles, can be incredibly beneficial. As Jesus tells us in this Sunday’s Gospel (John 6:60-69), “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” Further on in the Gospel, Peter responds to Jesus, saying, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
The Word of God changes hearts, illuminates minds, and grants wisdom. When we contemplate Jesus inviting us to let go of our fears, to “lower our nets into the deep waters,” and to cast our burdens upon Him, we experience comfort, consolation, courage, and serenity. This is a practice that I encourage you to engage in regularly. Find peace, joy, and hope in reading, listening to, and meditating on the Scriptures.
Consider practicing Lectio Divina, the monastic method of praying with the Scriptures. This involves reading the text three times and reflecting on a word or phrase that resonates with you after each reading. Then, take a moment to discern what the Scripture reading invites you to do or commit to fulfilling throughout the day.
In this Sunday’s Second Reading, Ephesians 5:2a, 25-32, Paul exhorts us to live in love as Christ loved us. We can only fulfill this mandate by maintaining a daily conversation with God, listening to Him through our daily Scripture devotion. The effects of this practice manifest in the loving, kind, respectful, and faithful ways we relate to our loved ones.
Have a blessed week!
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
