Weekly Clergy Letter from Father Santiago Rodriguez

The deepest goal of the spiritual life is simple, yet profound: to experience a deeper connection with God in a way that brings inner peace, opens us to loving relationships with others, and roots us more tenderly in creation. This path requires us to learn how to see reality more clearly and more deeply. Our encounter with God (in Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit) changes the way we look at everything. It gives us fresh eyes. But to see in this new way, we must be willing to slow down, to pay attention, and to let something new be revealed to us.

 

For me, meditation has been a gentle and steady teacher in this process. Meditation is not the same as prayer. Prayer is about communion – our direct connection with God. Meditation is about mindfulness – training our hearts and minds to be fully present. In that sense, meditation prepares the ground for prayer. It strengthens our ability to notice, to see, to receive. And it helps us live more fully and freely in daily life.

 

Certain simple practices help me see this truth more clearly. Two that I often return to are meditative walking and what I call “coffee meditation.” Walking meditation can take as little as five or ten minutes. It does not require a special setting- just the willingness to pause and be present. As I walk, I take a deep breath and imagine leaving everything behind. The body already knows how to walk; all I have to do is slow down and pay attention.

 

I notice the swing of my arms, the rhythm of my steps, the sensation of my feet touching the ground – one foot, and then the next. Slowly, my mind grows quieter. I am no longer racing ahead or circling back in thought. Instead, I am here, now. Present to myself. Present to God.

Another practice that grounds me takes place each morning as I make coffee. I use a simple pour-over method, but I do it slowly and attentively, as if the act itself were a prayer. I begin by breathing calmly, planting my feet, and bringing my senses awake. As I fill the kettle, I listen to the sound of the water. Sometimes I imagine a flowing stream. As the water heats, I listen to the soft bubbling and picture myself beside a fire. When the kettle sings, I pour slowly, watching the coffee grounds bloom and change. I inhale the aroma and feel gratitude for the small gift of coffee. Holding the warm cup in my hands, I close my eyes and savor the first sip. It feels like sunlight entering my body, a quiet joy filling me from within.

Simple focus-attention practices like walking or brewing coffee help me slow down. They teach me to see with new eyes. And once learned, this kind of meditation can spill into everything: cooking a meal, folding laundry, tending a garden, even walking the dog through the neighborhood. All that is required is the willingness to pause, to notice, to pay attention. A willingness to see differently.

 

I invite you to give it a try. Begin with five minutes of meditative walking, or a morning ritual of making coffee or tea with full awareness. Let your body, your senses, your breath, guide you back into the present moment. In that space of attention, you may find yourself more open to God, to others, and to the beauty that quietly surrounds you.