Come into a closer relationship with God

Reflection on the journey of life invites us to appreciate our gifts as well as our areas of struggle so that we can grow in openness to the Lord and to his way. During their time in the wilderness, the Chosen People were changed in their relationship with God, with Moses and with each other. Sometimes, these changes were positive, but on other occasions, that was not so. The Commandments taught them about a God of love who called them into a true relationship with God and with each other. They reminded them that God was close to them, concerned about them and committed to them. Their image of God underwent change, as did their relationship with God. The covenant made them into a people bonded with the Lord in a special way. The law of love was to guide their relationships. While that did guide them at times, on other occasions, they went their own way, even making and worshipping false gods. Selfish interests took precedence at times, and the bigger vision was lost. Similarly, we are made in the image of God with the potential to grow. As people of the New Covenant, we are given a special dignity and invited to a closer relationship with God. Our image of God and of the self can undergo change. Growing in self-knowledge, we can expand the freedom we have to respond to the Lord in living the commandment of love. We can also go our own way, however, by finding and worshipping false gods. The choices we make have implications for our relationship with the Lord and with each other. By reflecting on our experience and learning from it, the way is opened to change and more faithful living in the truth the Lord reveals to us.

Extracted from See God Act: The Ministry of Spiritual Direction by Michael Drennan SJ