Be Spiritual
A Catholic reflection on God’s presence in ordinary life, the work of the Holy Spirit, and growing in faith through prayer, service, and love.
In trying to understand spiritual life, I have sometimes pictured the body and spirit as separate worlds, with good on one side and evil on the other. The Church helps us speak about this more carefully. We are not two people, or two parallel universes, trapped inside one body. Each human person is a unity of body and soul, created by God and called to live in communion with Him (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 362–365).
There is a real spiritual struggle between good and evil, but God and Satan are not equal powers. Satan is a created being who rejected God; he is not God’s opposite or a ruler with power equal to Him (CCC 391–395). Christ has conquered sin and death, and He calls us to resist evil by remaining close to Him.
Seeing the parable of the wheat and weeds clearly
Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and weeds in Matthew 13:24–30. He later explains that the good seed and weeds grow together until the harvest (Matthew 13:36–43). The parable teaches us that good and evil are present in the world and that final judgment belongs to God.
It does not mean that there are two equal universes, one ruled by God and one ruled by Satan. Nor does it give us permission to label other people as weeds. We are called to resist evil, examine our own hearts, and leave final judgment to the Lord.
There are many things I have experienced over the years that are difficult to put into words. Spiritual, emotional, and physical experiences have all shaped me. I pray that God will help me recognize the right path and give me the grace to follow it.
Providence, freedom, and the choices we make
I used to say there are no coincidences in life. I still believe that God can work through unexpected moments, but I have learned not to assume that every event is a direct sign or that I know exactly why something happened.
The Catechism teaches that God lovingly guides creation toward its fulfillment (CCC 302). It also teaches that God invites human beings to cooperate with His plan through our real choices and actions (CCC 306–308). Providence does not erase freedom, ordinary causes, or other people’s responsibility. It means that no situation is beyond God’s ability to meet us with grace and draw good from it.
Everything we have and everyone we become is shaped by choices, circumstances, relationships, and grace. We are responsible for our choices, but we do not control every circumstance or every outcome. Saint Paul writes, “In everything God works for good with those who love him” (Romans 8:28). This is not a promise that everything that happens is good or that faithful people will always prosper. It is a promise that God can bring good even through trials.
Let us give thanks for the good we have enjoyed, and let us also bring our grief and questions to God. The Psalms show us that lament can be prayer too (Psalm 13:1–2). Living in the Word means trusting God honestly, not pretending we understand every part of His plan.
Messengers of the Lord
Recently, I spoke with two Jehovah’s Witnesses who came to share their beliefs. The young man spoke about the Bible, and the woman listened. I shared my own faith and said that the Holy Spirit is known through faith, not proven like an object in a laboratory.
I remember feeling a strong physical and emotional response during the conversation. I experienced it as meaningful and encouraging. But a feeling, even a powerful one, is not by itself proof that God has given a particular message or that another person was meant to respond in the way I hoped.
The Church teaches that the Holy Spirit is active in the life of the Church and in the mission to share the Gospel (CCC 683, 849–856). We are called to witness to Christ, while respecting the freedom and dignity of the people we meet. The Apostles were sent to preach, and Jesus told them how to respond when a place did not receive them (Luke 9:3–5). That instruction is not permission to pressure people or to assume we know why they leave.
I sometimes say, “Guided by armies of angels,” when I feel encouraged in serving God. I mean that I trust God’s help and the communion of saints. I also know that spiritual experiences need discernment. Scripture tells us, “Test the spirits to see whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1).
We can test an impression by asking whether it agrees with the Gospel and the Church’s teaching, whether it respects other people’s freedom, and what fruit it produces. Saint Paul names the fruit of the Spirit as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). A spiritual experience should lead us toward humility and love, not self-importance or contempt for others.
Our everyday vocation
I believe God calls us to different responsibilities in different seasons of life. I have been called to be a husband and father. Teaching my children happens not only when I sit down to explain something, but also in the way I live each day.
Children notice whether we keep our word, how we treat people, whether we admit mistakes, and how we respond when life becomes difficult. They learn from our example even when we do not realize it. Scripture tells parents to speak of God’s words in the ordinary rhythms of family life (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).
The Catechism teaches that parents have the first responsibility for their children’s education and formation, including formation in the faith (CCC 2221–2223). That responsibility is not about controlling every choice or claiming that we know exactly what God has planned for a child. It is about giving children love, guidance, example, and room to grow in freedom and responsibility.
Let the Word take root
One of my favorite parables is the sower (Luke 8:5–15; Mark 4:3–20). Jesus describes seed falling on different kinds of ground and explains how people receive the Word in different ways.
We all face distractions, worries, pressure, and discouragement that can make it difficult to stay rooted in faith. The parable invites us to receive God’s Word with an open heart and to keep tending the soil through prayer, worship, learning, and acts of love.
We should not read the parable as a formula that guarantees worldly success. Spiritual fruit may include patience, courage, forgiveness, compassion, and fidelity, even when our circumstances remain hard.
Joshua says, “Choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Choosing the Lord is not a one-time slogan. It is renewed in daily life—in how we spend time, use money, treat our families, and serve people in need.
What we worship shapes us
Modern idols do not always look like statues. We can give too much importance to wealth, status, appearance, possessions, or other people’s approval. But owning a nice car, wearing something beautiful, or enjoying a good thing does not automatically make someone an idolater.
Idolatry happens when something created takes the place of God in our hearts (CCC 2112–2114). The better question is not simply, “Do I own this?” but “Does this own me? Am I willing to use what I have for the good of others? Does my desire for more keep me from loving God and neighbor?”
Jesus warns us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15). He also teaches us to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Work and material goods can be good and necessary. The Church recognizes the dignity of human work (CCC 2427), while calling us to use goods responsibly and with concern for others (CCC 2402–2404).
It is wise to distinguish what we need from what we merely want, but this is not a reason to condemn people for having possessions or to neglect our responsibilities. We can work honestly, provide for our families, rest, give generously, and keep God at the center.
Spiritual fullness is not a promise of an easy life
I have experienced times when doing good was followed by an unexpected blessing. I give thanks for those moments. But the Gospel does not promise that every good deed will be repaid with money, health, or success. We serve God because He is worthy of our love, not as a way to guarantee a reward.
Faith can bring deep fulfillment, but it does not mean we will never feel sadness, struggle with illness, or need help. Prayer, the sacraments, family and community, medical care, and wise counsel can all be part of how God sustains us.
Saint Paul writes, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Sometimes God changes our circumstances. Sometimes He gives us strength and companions as we walk through them.
A prayer for spiritual growth
Heavenly Father, help me recognize Your presence in the ordinary moments of my life.
Teach me to receive Your Word with an open heart, discern spiritual experiences with humility, and use my gifts in service of others.
Help me guide my family with patience, keep material things in their proper place, and trust You when I cannot see the whole path.
May the Holy Spirit grow in me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Conclusion
To be spiritual is not to escape our bodies, our families, or the responsibilities of daily life. It is to live as a whole person in relationship with God, letting the Holy Spirit shape how we think, speak, work, love, and serve.
We can be grateful for spiritual experiences without claiming certainty about every sign. We can share the Gospel without pressuring others. We can work and enjoy good things without making them our gods. We can raise children in faith while respecting their dignity and freedom.
Stay rooted in Christ. Receive His grace. Serve the Lord in sincerity and truth. Let holiness make you more loving, more humble, and more fully alive in God.