Book Reflection: Into His Likeness Ch.13
“Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus.”
Mother Teresa adapted from John Henry Newman
Part 3: Transformed by Fire | Chapter 13: The Primacy of the Interior Life
As we conclude our reflections on Edward Sri’s book, Into His Likeness, we are called to focus on cultivating a deep spiritual life. Our daily prayer life is crucial—it's the heartbeat of our spiritual journey and helps us nurture an intimate relationship with God, which in turn influences everything we do and everyone we encounter.
What does your interior life look like? Are we committed to daily meditation, contemplation, intimate conversations with God, and encountering Him deeply on a daily basis?
For disciples, daily prayer goes beyond reciting devotions and attending mass. It involves a daily encounter with Jesus and an intimate conversation with God through meditation and contemplation. While other forms of prayer are beneficial, they are most effective when rooted in a daily encounter with Jesus. Some of us may ask ourselves why our spiritual life feels stagnant even if we do all these prayers and devotions. It could just be that we lack intimacy with God through contemplation and meditation. Prioritizing this type of prayer not only benefits personal spiritual growth but also positively impacts others, allowing Christ's love to work through us.
After meditation, making resolutions helps translate insights into practical actions for the day, fostering continuous spiritual growth and alignment with God’s will. Without resolutions, the benefits of meditation may not manifest in our lives, risking a false sense of progress. Consistency brings transformation.
Prioritizing prayer is crucial for a deep interior life, even amidst the busyness of life and its distractions. Just as we prioritize eating and breathing, prayer is vital for spiritual life. While it may be easier to engage in mundane tasks, true disciples prioritize daily encounters with God in meditation, even during challenging moments.
True disciples prioritize daily encounters with God in meditation, remaining faithful even during challenging moments when prayer feels dry or tedious. While prayer can bring moments of joy and closeness to God, true disciples remain faithful to prayer regardless of their feelings, understanding that commitment is key to deepening their relationship with God.
ponder
What do you find most challenging or intimidating about daily meditation? If Jesus were sitting in the room with you right now, how do you think he’d respond to your concerns about committing to this kind of daily prayer? What would he say to you?
What is your biggest struggle in praying every day? What’s the difference between feeling good about our prayer time and faithfulness to daily prayer? Which is more important?
Into His Likeness provides an approachable but in-depth exploration of how to live as a disciple and experience the transformation Jesus wants to work in our lives. We might desire to live more like Christ, but we know we fall short. This book simply helps us follow those initial promptings of the Holy Spirit, so that we may more intentionally encounter Jesus anew each day and be more disposed to his grace changing us ever more into his likeness.
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