Growing in Our Love for God

There is a risk among Christians: that of being satisfied with one’s spiritual life and with the activities one carries out. This is a fundamental error, for Saint Paul speaks of the spiritual life as a race. He says he runs so as to win the prize (1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Tim 4:6-8). Have I lately been regarding my spiritual life as this ongoing race? Am I not weary of spiritual activities? It is not enough to start a ‘Formula 1’ racing car and set it at high speed. One must reach the finish line in due time. Let us seize this opportunity offered to us in this new year to examine our spiritual life: am I making progress in my love for Jesus? Is my love for him steady? Or has it grown weak? Let us recall the famous saying of Saint John of the Cross, who said: « in the spiritual life, there is no standing still. He who does not advance goes backward ».

Some Christians hold the idea that it is others alone who can judge their spiritual growth. It is true that other people can help us confirm the state of our life with God. But let us not forget that when we are physically ill, we are often the first to feel it, to know it, to realize it. Sometimes the illness is even hidden inside our body and others do not know that we are in pain and suffering. It is when we express it that they take notice. Generally, it is when an illness is serious that others perceive it. This is what often happens too with our spiritual life. While it is true that the community can confirm the state of my spiritual life, I myself should perceive the major changes or developments taking place within me. This is what the examination of conscience is for. Am I growing in my love for Jesus? Do I pray better? Do I pay more attention to what Jesus says to me? Do I listen to him more? Do I put the words of Jesus into practice and please him more than before? Do I better avoid temptation, sin, and vice? Do I love and forgive more? Do I better help others to encounter Jesus?

We are the children of God and must resemble him. Now ‘Jesus,’ the Gospel of Saint Luke tells us, ‘grew in age and in wisdom.’ I too must grow as a Christian and be another Christ. This is the plan of life that God has for us. « God chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ » (Eph 1:4). This is the true spiritual growth that is asked of us in our life, and especially in this year of mercy, and more precisely during the season of Lent that begins this month. May the Holy Spirit help us to resemble Jesus more closely during Lent.

Henri Bayemi