I grew up with the promise that I’ll abide in God no matter what the cost. At an early age, I learned to love Him and long for Him. It never occurred to me that things will change somehow.
I’ve witnessed the not-so-good transformations of the people around me. Angelic faces turned devilish. Hearty laughter turned into malicious giggles. I even had a glimpse of what we call “immorality”. Not to mention the turmoil inside my being. Growing up wasn’t easy then. It was a struggle. To remain unstained. To be pure. To be holy. Later did I realize that I had it all wrong.
So I attended seminars, recollections, retreats, and a series of spiritual formations. It was then that I matured, gradually, painstakingly. I learned about the real meaning of spirituality and yes, it is a lifetime lesson. As long as we are here in this world, we are never exempted from the spices that life has to offer.
How should one be spiritually mature then? Or when does one become? Is there any other living being here who had worked hard for it other than Pope Benedict XVI? Is it even possible in this chaotic world?
The first obvious thing that one would consider is the load of temptations around him. Like a cunning temptress, it stalks on him. If given a chance, it will devour him. It feeds on his human desire, on his weaknesses, on his soul. Unless he has a firm grip on his morality, he will fall hard. Who wouldn’t want power? Who wouldn’t want fame? Who wouldn’t want to be idolized? Who wouldn’t want money? Who wouldn’t want pleasure? There may be a few. But they aren’t safe at all. Temptation chooses no one. It strikes the poor. It stretches the wealthy. It confuses the “religious”. It mocks. It delights in someone’s misfortune. “Mission accomplished!” it says after one’s downfall.
Do we sin if we are tempted? We never sin unless we oblige to its lures. What does spirituality say about it? It is never a sin to be tempted. You just have to pass the test and your morality is secured. What about the religious? Do they get tempted? They are humans so they do. But they dismiss it readily. Guilt knocks but it is only there to confuse them. Their doors remain locked. Who would dare open his door to welcome the unwanted visitor?
A story about an aspiring priest reflects this. He was battling with an identity crisis. Temptation crawled one evening. And he closed his eyes, deciding to feed his human desire. His comrade woke up with an uneasy feeling and ended punching him for his malicious act. Trust was sacrificed. His morality was questioned. But you see? His formators weren’t adamant to it. He wasn’t ridiculed. Instead, he was referred to a different seminary where he could continue his priesthood, forgiving himself and burying the hatchet from the past. These people of God know that anyone alive has his own share of pitfalls. And condemnation is simply not an answer.
We seek for peace. We strive for holiness. We constantly sin and are forgiven repeatedly. We even hold grudges to ourselves. But true spirituality never dictates. It serves as our guide, a beacon of light that continuously gives us hope. This is God’s precious gift to us.
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