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Spiritual Balance: Where Do I Stand Before God?As I look back on the early days of my journey in faith, I see that the years have not passed in vain. I am growing spiritually, and I feel closer to God. Yet, the true measure of my growth is not mine to determine - for what truly matters is how God sees me.
The reality of my Spiritual Life nowThis realization calls me to reexamine every aspect of my vocation in Christ. Self-love can easily deceive, and the enemy is ever eager to flatter us into believing we are already perfect. But the greatest obstacle in our spiritual life is often our own self - not because we lack the desire to do good, but because vanity and self-love cloud our judgment. We convince ourselves that our actions are flawless, and this illusion stifles our growth.
Returning to true values for our Spiritual LifeTo move forward, we must return to the foundations of our faith and renew them with sincerity. Prayer, for instance, must be slow and intentional. Each word should be understood, lived, and - if necessary - revisited. True prayer engages our whole being: heart, mind, and soul. We must enter into the sacred dimension of prayer, allowing our soul to feel and our spirit to be ignited by the fire of the Holy Spirit.
A well-lived prayer is the beginning of a deep and authentic relationship with God. If our prayer is careless, our communion with Him suffers.
Reception of the SacramentsEqually vital is our reverence for the holy sacraments, which are our real encounters with the Lord. Distraction robs these moments of their sacredness. When we receive the Holy Eucharist, we are invited to adore God who comes to dwell within us. In the sacrament of penance, we are called to humility - to feel true sorrow for our sins and confess them with honesty.Living by the Golden RuleThis intimate relationship with God must overflow into our daily lives. It should shape how we treat others and how faithfully we live the golden rule: Do to others as we would like them to do to us.
To draw near to God, we must also distance ourselves from excessive entertainment and idle chatter.
God is most easily found in silence.
IMPORTANCE AND DIGNITY OF PRIESTS
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