Making the most of your spiritual year

Success

In everyday language, we often hear people say, ‘He’s made it. His children have all made it.’ This usually refers to financial and material success. But such material success does not always translate into success in life as a whole. Jesus said, ‘What does a man gain by having the whole world if he loses his life?’ (Mark 8:34–38). According to the world’s standards, I might have everything I need without truly succeeding in life. True success is that of the soul. Even if I managed to earn a great deal of money, even if my children had successful careers, they would still need to succeed in their spiritual lives; otherwise, they would not have succeeded in life. To help their children lead truly successful lives, parents must help them to love God. That is why we must all strive for success in our lives – our true lives.

The Test

This success will be tested by an examination of which no one knows the hour or the day. It is the Last Judgement, which will come unexpectedly. We must not merely fear the Last Judgement; we must simply prepare for it. Jesus told us to be always ready because he will come like a thief (Mt 24:36–51). To succeed in school life – for example, by obtaining a bachelor’s degree – the years are divided into primary, secondary and university education. Even at university, one must progress from the first to the second and then the third year before sitting the final examination. To succeed in one’s spiritual life, one must succeed in one’s spiritual years.

Succeeding in one’s spiritual year

Life is nothing but a succession of years. At funeral Masses, we often hear people say: ‘This gentleman died at the age of 80, etc.’ In other words, he had lived through 80 spiritual years. So if he had lived all his spiritual years well, if he had succeeded in all his spiritual years, he would have succeeded in life. It is true that the Lord tells us we can be workers of the last hour. That is to say, if we have not lived several spiritual years well and we were to convert in the final year, he does not reject us. The worker of the eleventh hour was hired at the end of the day (Mt 20) and worked for only one hour: he received the same wage as those who had been at work from the first hour. But if, whilst this one-hour labourer was being hired, he had refused to work or had done a poor job during that single hour, then the master would not have been pleased with him. He would even have called him a lazy servant. Not only did he have just one hour’s work, but he would also have neglected that work in such a short time. Our ‘hiring’ took place when we met Jesus, when we were baptised, when we were converted. Even though I have committed many sins in my life and missed out on several years of spiritual life, the Lord is hiring me now and telling me to make a success of this year. At least from this moment on, I must do everything I can to succeed in my spiritual life, in this year. Have I always been aware that I had to succeed in my spiritual life?

In normal school life, a pupil at the start of the school year is expected to pay their fees and buy school supplies. During the year, they are expected to attend lessons regularly, study their lessons and do their homework in the hope of performing well in exams and succeeding. Unfortunately, there are pupils who only go to school because they are forced to. They do not take school seriously and cause their parents to spend huge sums of money unnecessarily. Some blame the whole world and hold other people responsible for their failures. Normally, a pupil who works hard in class has a much better chance of succeeding in exams. What sort of spiritual pupils are we?

Small church communities are spiritual schools

The group is a spiritual school. It will be easier for a member to succeed in their spiritual year if they attend group and parish activities regularly; and if they follow the guidelines and recommendations given in their parish and community. Moreover, regular assessments prepare the student, either directly or indirectly, for the exam. What we do within the group prepares the member for a successful spiritual year.

Steps to take to have a successful spiritual year

Here are some ways to have a fruitful spiritual year: resolve to attend the sacraments regularly (Sunday Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation); attend weekly meetings regularly; say your daily private prayers; read the Word of God; live out the Word of God every day; make arrangements to take part in all retreats; do not neglect the apostolate for men, women or young people; serve the group and the parish; follow the guidelines for active members at your level; pay one’s parish offering; help one’s family and others to love God; avoid sin, which is like a failing mark that causes one to fail. Whoever is faithful to these simple guidelines will progress towards the success of their spiritual year, and Jesus will be pleased with them. Chiara Lubich used to say: ‘If I am holy today, I will be holy’. If you succeed in your spiritual years, you will be holy. Pray to the Holy Spirit to help you not to fail in your spiritual year 2016. Happy New Year!