This past November, I lost my dear grandmother. To understand the magnitude of this loss, one must understand the huge role my grandmother or, as we called her, Teta, had in our family. Teta lived five minutes away from our house and was practically always over. Most days, when I got home from school, it would be my mom and Teta waiting for me. As she advanced in age, Teta’s health deteriorated: she became increasingly homebound, and so we became accustomed to visiting her every night. As her health declined rapidly, my family increasingly began to prepare, mentally, for her impending death. Nonetheless, her passing left us extremely broken-hearted; we were sad and shocked at the treasure we had lost. After a period of grieving, it became clear to me why I missed my grandmother so much. Teta had a unique ability to love everybody she met unconditionally and was able to convey this love to all. Teta’s capacity to love made her one of the most special people I’ve ever met; yet, this love was no superpower. God’s own very love and peace were touching our hearts through my Teta.
That brings me to another remarkable aspect of Teta’s life: her tremendous faith. Like the saints we aspire to be, Teta built her life on the rock that is Christ. Through all the danger and unpredictability she faced in her life, Teta maintained faith that God would provide. Provide He did, and she never forgot that. Without fail, my Teta found time every day to pray and intercede to Our Lord. Many times I would go to her house, deeply distracted by my own concerns. Without me even saying a word, my grandmother was able to sense my angst, and assure me that God told her that I was going to be okay.
From this experience, I learned the importance of an interior prayer life and constant dialogue with Christ. It is well known that we increasingly resemble those with whom we spend most of our time. What, then, should we expect if we are spending time, everyday, with Christ? Surely, we will come to learn from Him, and imitate Him. Pope Emeritus Benedict says, “a living relationship with Christ is decisive if we are to keep on the right path,” (DCE, 36). Prayer helps us develop this deep relationship with God and allow Him to transfigure us, so that we may restore our likeness to Him.
In this day and age, where immediate gratification is at our fingertips, it can be deterring to sit in silence and pray. Developing a relationship with God through prayer is very much like any good friendship: it takes time, effort, and commitment. Robert Cardinal Sarah describes prayer as,“the silence of a child who turns his gaze completely toward God…allowing God a bit of freedom within us. We have to be able to wait for him in silence, abandonment, and confidence, with steadfast perseverance, even when it is dark in our interior night.” Though prayer may be difficult, the path to which it leads us is a beautiful friendship, like none other.
Like all friendships, it is also important for us to visit our Divine Friend frequently, offered at the altar during Mass, or in the tabernacle. Truly, we can encounter love, face-to-face, in the Eucharist, and, as St. Paul describes, let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and unite us. Sharing in this beautiful communion, how can we feel deserted, isolated and desperate? When we have the Lord dwelling within us, God’s abundant love overwhelms and comforts us, so we, with St. Thérèse de Lisieux, may proclaim, “Love has grown in me.” Afterall, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him,” (John 4:16). Prayer helps unite us with God, and in turn, we are united through God with everyone else in Christian communion. This communion, afterall, is what it means to be a part of the Catholic Church––each member is part of Christ’s body.
Reflecting on the communion Teta and I share in the Lord has brought me much consolation, despite the huge loss in my life. In exploring and focusing on prayer, I have developed an eternal relationship with her, and He whom she loved most. Indeed, the love Teta reflected throughout her life has guided me to the unending source of love and happiness.
Featured image courtesy of Ramzi Bishtawi
- Sufficit Tibi Gratia Mea - April 30, 2021
- What’s up with Catholics and Meatless Fridays? - February 25, 2021
- Sacred Music in the Western Tradition - October 29, 2020