A call to docility

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

A BEAUTIFUL psalm expresses that call. “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (95,8) This was articulated as a warning against hardening one’s heart, using the example of the Israelites’ rebellion in the time of the Exodus. They grumbled and questioned God’s provision, despite his prior blessings. Because of their lack of faith, they ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

We always have to remember that God constantly is guiding us and providing us with everything we need to reach our goal in our earthly journey, which is to be with God in heaven for all eternity. Our life here on earth is just a testing ground to see if what God wants us to be is also what we ourselves would want to be—that is, to be his image and likeness, sharers of his divine life and nature.

To be docile to God, we have to learn to be open and responsive to his guidance, like a child who is easily taught and led. This can mean that we cultivate a quiet and recollected heart even in the midst of our mundane affairs. We should seek wisdom from God and actively obey his continuous promptings. He actually never leaves us alone.

For this, we need to make time for prayer and quiet reflection with the view of cultivating a heart that is attuned to the voice and promptings of the Holy Spirit. What is also helpful is to familiarize ourselves with Sacred Scripture so we may be able to discern the true voice of the Holy Spirit, and not the fake ones that unfortunately are now getting very common.

We should also seek counsel from trusted spiritual mentors and guides who can help us discern the Holy Spirit’s will. We should also learn to be flexible and adaptable because the Holy Spirit may lead us in ways we do not expect or like.

To be able to listen to the Holy Spirit more clearly, we should try to avoid distractions, and to spend some time in meditation and contemplation. In fact, we should try to be contemplative always, especially when we are in the middle of the hustle and bustle of our daily activities.

Definitely, the virtues of simplicity and humility play a very important role in this endeavor. Without these virtues, we would actually be putting up walls and barriers around us, keeping us deaf and blind to the ways of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s also remember that in spite of our best efforts to be docile, we still can manage to commit errors in our discernment. We should just be game and sport in this regard, and just learn to move on, hopefully gaining some precious lessons from our mistakes and failures.

Once we are quite sure about what the Holy Spirit is prompting us, we should immediately take action. This would help us to maintain a continuing and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Delaying our response can cut that relationship or distort the connection we have with him.

We would somehow know that we are being docile to the Holy Spirit because the image of Christ is progressively carved into our lives. Like Christ, we become more charitable, patient and merciful. Our attitude toward the cross and suffering would be like that of Christ who considers the cross as his supreme act of love, of obedience to the will of the Father.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com