Dear Saints,
Every religious tradition embraces the concept of spiritual growth in some form or fashion. That makes sense, because human beings are by our nature dynamic creatures, constantly heading towards (or away from) something. As Catholics we recognize that the proper goal of that religious impulse - that “something” towards which we’re heading - is a person, and spiritual growth really just means the deepening of our relationship with him. That’s what love does: it seeks the beloved. As Jesus is - or ought to be - the one we love more than anything, the whole of our lives should be about seeking him in ever more intimate ways.
The “Grow” section of our parish website details a number of practical ways we can nurture this sacred friendship, and I invite you to check it out. In the meantime, here’s a brief overview.
First, it’s always helpful to start with an appreciation for how wholly and unconditionally God loves each of us, and nothing makes that reality quite so present as frequent reception of the sacraments (weekly Mass and monthly confession). Second, daily prayer gives us a chance to lay bare our hearts before Jesus with raw honesty and childlike trust. He doesn’t need this, of course, but we do. It helps us give him space to heal our brokenness and direct our footsteps towards true happiness. Finally, we deepen our relationship with Jesus by serving and giving. St. Clare once said that “we become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.” Loving Jesus means becoming him, radical generosity and all. God has entrusted the Earth to humanity’s care, and we are called to infuse it with Heaven’s own life the way Jesus did -- through service that never ceases. Further, just as Jesus returned to the Father everything he was and had in thankful praise, so too must we offer back to God what he has bestowed upon us. Tithing - that is, giving God the first 10% of our income - has long been the established benchmark among believers as the sign - and our participation in the fact - that everything belongs to him and is to be used for his purposes.
If these four practices (sacraments, prayer, serving, tithing) become the foundation of our plan for spiritual growth, we will be transformed in deep and lasting ways – and through us, God’s fallen world will be raised up to a heavenly pitch.
Christ’s Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ