Seeking the Face of God

The spiritual life consists in seeking the face of God. “I seek your face, Lord” (Ps 27:8); “Seek his face” (Ps 105:4). We too seek the face of God, because God is a mystery. Each time we draw near to him, we discover him in a new way.

Increasing our spiritual fervor

We must seek a perpetual newness in our encounter with God. For any love to be fervent, it must always contain new elements. One of the greatest dangers of our Christian lives is lukewarmness. It is not so much a lack of conversion; but the converted often let the momentum of their spiritual life slacken, and they relapse. Yet if the converted persevered and grew, the Church would be more fervent. We can believe that we no longer commit certain sins and feel a sense of satisfaction. But of those to whom much has been given, much will be asked. Do I live up to the measure of what I know? Do I live up to the measure of what I have already received?

Lack of spiritual fervor

One of the greatest dangers in our friendship with God is the lack of fervor, the lack of zeal and enthusiasm, says Pope Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi.  It is like a lamp running out of oil that gradually dims and then goes out. This lack of fervor is far more dangerous because it comes from within: it is a broken-down engine, a sick heart. It shows itself in: a heaviness, a difficulty in keeping one’s spiritual promises, spiritual laziness, a lack of interest, untimely criticisms, false judgments, comparisons of superiority over others, a lack of commitment and effort to live the word and to seek holiness.

Taking each day seriously

There are days that we risk setting aside in brackets. Events to be lived that we put off until later. Yet each day is an ideal day to love Jesus. Every moment is opportune for growing in holiness. This too is a common sin in our life, to neglect certain days and to neglect certain moments: “If only I had this, it would help me so much to love God. Since I do not have that, then God understands my attitude of lukewarmness.” “If only I were like this, God himself would see what I would do for him.” “If only he (she) were not like that, it would help me so much to love and forgive him.” “If she changed, Jesus would be pleased with what I would do for her…”. We must not wait for situations to arrange themselves to our liking before having a fervor of love for God. God wants  you to love him in the very situation you are living, in this relationship, every day of life. “In zeal be not slack; be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” (Rom 12:11).

Faithfulness in fervor

Sometimes it happens that we are full of enthusiasm one day, we make resolutions to love God, we strive to please him. The next day, perhaps because of a single thought, we are deflated. Where then is the faithfulness that all love requires? No one tolerates unfaithfulness in the one they love. When we feel the fire going out, we stir it up. When we feel the battery losing power, we recharge it. In the Song of Songs we read: “I seek my beloved” (Song 3:1). When we feel Jesus is far, let us seek him with all our heart. The word of God promises us that if we seek him, we will find him. We endure hardship to seek many things of the world. Do we endure as much to seek the face of God? One of the devil’s great temptations is to discourage and deflate the fervent, so that they can no longer lead others swiftly forward. “Be all the more diligent to make your calling and election firm” (2 P 1:10). Hence the need, each morning, to immerse ourselves anew in our vocation and our mission throughout this new year.

Henri Bayemi