SPIRITUAL WARFARE 5: It’s about spiritual growth
Finding happiness 5: Relationship
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
Belonging itself is a mystery. Within our Triune God is an inner-relationship of the three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Made to the image of God, we too are created for relationship; specifically, for this relationship with God.
Yet we live in a society and world where people and relationships are disposable. Babies are killed not only before birth but even a month after. Many are dismembered and cut apart while still alive, not by genocidal terrorists or in a satanic ritual but by doctors who claim justice in the name of ‘science’. People with terminal illness, dementia and the elderly are killed off with euthanasia often disguised as contributing to the common good. By doing so, they miss out on a very necessary part of suffering: togetherness. Important bonds are built between people when they journey together on this path of dying and death, particularly for families. These bonds continue even with our loved one now in Heaven.
Rather than disposable, our relationships are eternal.
Knowing this invokes a measure of hope not experienced with the death-options given by the world. To kill one’s own baby, or to watch a sick parent or grandparent take their own life by choosing a drug-induced coma, brings no hope for their soul. At best, relying upon natural human optimism, people may try to convince us our loved one is ‘in a better place’. However, as God’s people, we know His truth: when we keep and raise our child, or sit with a dying parent who is coming to terms with their own bodily mortality, faith is increased. We grow in understanding of God’s love and His loving care. Our eyes open to small glimpses of Him and we can only sit in awe. This is Catholic. It is trusting in God’s teachings and overcoming our own fears so we can steadfastly persevere in grief and trauma. By doing so, the virtues of faith, hope and love infused into our soul at baptism become alive. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit bring to us understanding and awe of God even through the tears.
All of this is gifted to us because we have been baptized into the qahal of Jesus where neither people nor relationships are disposable.
(Keep an eye out for our next post from Belonging: An Invitation to Happiness for Millennial Catholics)
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About the Author
A cradle Catholic, Debra Black received the gift of completing the full 19th annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1998 under individual direction of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She repeated the exercises in 2001 and remained an Associate to the Loreto Sisters through 2009. In 2015 she was missioned through the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality to provide spiritual direction and lead the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. She also is a perpetual member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and a contributor to SpiritualDirection.com and CatholicMom.com. In addition to over 40 years of professional experience including 33 years of leadership in international higher education, her public service roles have spanned city commissioner, pregnancy clinic board of director, youth and college ministry, public citizen activism, and homeless street ministry. Debra is author of Belonging: An Invitation to Happiness for Millennial Catholics. For spiritual warfare: Kick Butt! The Quick Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Frontline Defense Strategies for Everyday Life; for spiritual growth: The Life Confession: A Discovery of God’s Mercy and Love, and for Advent preparation: Something is different…Advent meditations from the Gospel of Luke.
