Spirituality is a transformed and transformative pattern of s person’s life due to the person’s encounter with God. It is connected with intimacy with God. Thus, in looking at myself where I am in my spiritual journey, the primary thing to be considered is my intimate relationship with God. This relationship is not necessarily a constant growth, but rather undergoes ups and downs as I moved towards the ultimate union with God. Day after day there is a gradual unfolding of the mystery of this relationship in which changes in my life and the lives of other people occur. And it is situated in the actual and temporal experience either in the personal private live or in dealing with people in the community in connection with the ministry.As I see it, talking about spirituality is not something unreachable but it is actually real. It is a real religious experience. For example in encountering the Lord through his Word the experience is real and not merely imaginary. God’s Word is felt and known in the actual and real experience. The more I immerse myself into His Word the more I experience the unfathomable mystery of God’s love. When this Word is shared in the community of faith, the presence of God is experienced. In sharing my reflection with the people, I discover more areas in which I have not yet reached. The people also have their unique and inspiring insights how they are touched by God through His Words.
As a deacon, in the ministry of preaching the Word, I slowly realized and experience the richness of the Word of God as I pray, proclaim, and pray after proclaiming. Sometimes if not all the time, the message is not just for the people who would be listening to my preaching but this message has first touched my person. There really comes nourishment by the Word of God not only for the community but also to myself. I could regard my preparation of the homily as a moment during which God talks to me intimately and He continues communicating when His Word is preached in the church. And not only that, His Word still continues to penetrate my being afterwards.
The intimate encounter with the Lord reaches its summit at the Eucharist. Christ’s real presence indeed nourishes my life. I see Christ’s presence in the Eucharist as an instance in which the Son of God by his infinite love has desired to be always with us all the time. Together with the worshipping community, I feel this love in this sacrament of communion when Christ comes to me and nourishes my being. This encounter with the Eucharistic Lord manifests the intimate union with Christ and his people. This communion transforms each one to be configured in the person of Christ. My life in the ministry has found its grounding in such perspective. Growing in the likeness of Christ is unfolded in doing the ministry in the Church. Therefore, from this source comes the enthusiasm to serve without counting cost, to serve despite the challenges that may come through, to serve in spite of the limitations of my person.
Ministry, as I consider it, could be regarded a channel in which my spirituality grows and matures. In the ministry I would find the deep and intimate union with God. Conversely, spirituality is a nourishment that would inspire me to persevere in the ministry.
