HUMILITY
“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.” – Jn. 3:29-30
As I reflected on the previous year, I realized I had experienced a lot of growth and opportunities that were far beyond what I could have imagined. At the same time, it was a year filled with a lot of difficulty, anxiety, and loss, but ultimately healing. I attended the fall 2017 Caritas retreat; it was one of my most life-changing experiences, and it began my journey to renew my bond and desire for God, as well as a deeper surrender to Him. During the moments of struggle that I experienced, there was often confusion, but I never felt betrayed by God. Instead, I asked and allowed God to help guide and assist me through that time.
Through my first set of the first spiritual exercises, hitting rock bottom with quitting my job, and ending a long-term relationship, I had learned to surrender more of my will to God. It was also a time when I felt like I lost everything; I came to the realization that God’s love is enough for me. With the help of my faith sharing groups, adoration, daily readings, reflections, book clubs, and the young adult community, I was able to dive deeper into a personal relationship with God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. My daily examen has helped me to be aware of God’s presence throughout my day. I brought my struggles and thoughts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I allowed the Holy Spirit to guide my heart, mind, and soul every day. There is joy, beauty, love and comfort in following God’s will. Jesus reminds us to be humble like Him: to let go of our pride and self-centeredness as we die to ourselves just as Jesus died on the cross for us.
Take a moment to reflect on where you are at. For the new year, is there anything you want to accomplish? Talk to God about it, let the Holy Spirit guide you through this new year.
Audrey Assad - Humble
Amy Lee