What does it mean to have a deep spirituality? How can one cultivate a strong relationship with God? One fundamental answer—often challenging to implement—is found in the words of St. Paul in this Sunday’s Second Reading (Romans 8:9, 11-13):
“You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the Spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if, by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
To grow in holiness and embody a profound spiritual life requires having the Spirit of Christ and consistently living in that Spirit throughout our daily lives. This can only be achieved through an intense, personal, and disciplined prayer life. Practically, this means that our first moments upon waking should be dedicated to prayer—offering thanksgiving and praise to God for the life and blessings He provides, including our daily needs, our good health, and our strong faith in Him, especially during trying times.
Our daily lives should consistently involve a conscious effort to recognize the hand of God working within us—protecting, directing, and strengthening our resolve. This task can be daunting, given the myriad distractions we face both externally and internally. By “internally,” I refer to personal struggles such as comparison, envy, fear, anger, hurt, and trauma. Externally, distractions may include social media, material possessions, and worldly concerns. While these things are not inherently bad, they can disrupt our peace, cloud our understanding of what truly matters in life, and take away our time for prayer and reflection.
Our days should involve open hands and hearts, ready to receive our Lord—His love, mercy, and will for our lives. This requires us to be childlike in our faith, believing in and trusting Him always, while casting all our fears and troubles upon Him. This understanding aligns with what Jesus conveys in this Sunday’s Gospel when He prays to His Father, stating that He has hidden these truths from the wise and learned and revealed them to little ones. We must continually remember the words of Jesus:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
At the end of each day, as we prepare for sleep, we should examine our conscience regarding how we have lived in the Spirit of Christ—reflecting on our faith in Him and our love for both Him and the people He has placed in our paths. This reflection should always include a spirit of gratitude towards God, our Creator and Guide, for all He has done for us, as well as a penitential attitude regarding any sins or failures we may have committed. Finally, our prayer should conclude with a total surrender of our lives and everything we are to Him.
Our Saints are our guides and mentors in living lives of holiness. Thus, we must strive to learn more about them and how they devoted themselves to prayer and charity. They are not only our mentors but also our friends. Now residing with God in heaven, we can ask them to intercede for our needs. Some Saints may become our closest defenders, allies, and protectors. Cultivating an intimate relationship with them in prayer brings healing and comfort to our lives.
On this July 4th weekend, I wish you all a life liberated from fear and sin—a life filled with peace, made possible through your intimate and loving relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Blessings to all!
With much love,
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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.
