I often use the word ‘training’ instead of ‘working out’ in the gym as ‘training’ sounds more like a journey of practice and improvement.
I also think of my spiritual life as being in ‘training’ to grow in holiness, to practice and improve listening to God and doing his will, and to courageously share our faith with others.
In First Timothy 4, St. Paul counsels St. Timothy about how to prepare to spiritually to lead and help ‘train’ people in his absence.
He said, “Train yourself for devotion, for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future.”
Our form of training is preparation for Eternal Life and of course, we don’t train on our own. We call on the Holy Spirit and all the helps of the Church to guide us as we seek to grow in virtue, to love more deeply and to pray more fully. Our spiritual training program requires a serious commitment — consistency paired with flexibility based on the demands of our vocation — so we can respond to how the Spirit moving in within us prioritizing what God is calling us to do.
In any training program, there are struggles, injuries and failures that we can learn from to become wiser and stronger athletes. When we stumble and fall in our spiritual lives, we also continue to forge ahead, seeking the guidance of wise souls on the journey with us, and receiving strength and consolation from the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
St. Jose Escriva said, “Don’t lose heart. Today’s defeat is training for the final victory.”
We can never stop training because our goal is to be like Jesus and to be with Jesus forever. This is the final victory we seek.
St. Paul said, “For this we toil and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe.”
Lent is a good time to consider how the world might be pulling us away from our spiritual training. We may want a stronger, more vibrant spiritual life, but are we giving enough time to prayer? Are we looking for simple ways to serve others in our homes, parishes and workplaces? Are we approaching our spiritual training creatively in these unprecedented times?
From Galatians 6:4, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”