Posted by The WORD in Other Words by Fr Bar Fabella SVD (Philippines) for Thursday 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Even as priests and missionaries, we are not exempt from spiritual crisis. As SVDs, we are known in areas where we are hardworking missionaries. But being hardworking, especially when unbridled, can also be a pitfall for shallow spirituality where we think we are doing well based just on feeling emotionally well as we enjoy the fruits of our labor.
An unbridled zeal to do work that we most love sometimes makes us forget the equally important part of being religious missionaries, that is, prayer. Yes we work hard, but do we pray? Ora et labora as we say.
What did the Lord mean when He said, “…to anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich” or “…from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away”? Definitely not about material things but about spiritual matters.
As Christians, we are blessed with the spiritual gifts of faith, hope and love. But it is not enough to possess these. We should take care of these gifts. Only through prayer, meditation and contemplation are faith hope and love nourished in our souls. To anyone who has these, more will be given.
These spiritual exercises grow in our soul, resultingin growth in grace. By doing so we find meaning in everything, including our work. But when we neglect the practice, we may be happy outside, but inside we feel empty and are prone to deep spiritual crisis.
Spiritual nourishment is not just for religious and priests but for all human beings. We all need it.
Source – Bible Diary 2020
