Ryan R. Mei

Spirituality in Everyday Life: An Orthodox Reflection

After becoming a catechumen in the late fall of 2024 and completing catechism by early January, I eventually agreed to get baptized on January 6, the great Theophany—the day that Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan.

Carrying on this connection with Jesus’ baptism, I am constantly reminded to live out my faith. When we take a close look at Jesus’ life, we can truly see how God himself in the flesh lived out the moral commandments of the Old Testament.

My patron saint was chosen to be St. Maximos the Confessor after careful fasting, prayer, and discernment. I felt a spiritual resonance with his journey, especially his victory over the same passions that I struggle with, as affirmed by my Godfather.

Living Orthodox Faith Every Day

The Orthodox tradition emphasizes living faith daily, not just on Sundays or major feast days. For me, this means integrating prayer, reflection, and conscious effort to embody the virtues taught by Christ and exemplified by the saints. Some days, this is as simple as recalling Jesus’ humility and patience in moments of irritation; other days, it means keeping the fast, attending liturgy, or listening to chants to start off my day in a positive mood.

I’ve found that Orthodox spirituality is about transformation—not just thinking differently, but actively becoming a new person. “Theosis” as the early Church Fathers refer to, is a constant cooperation with God’s grace. It’s in the quiet moments of the morning, during evening prayers, or even when confronted with a difficult choice, that my baptismal vows become real.

Striving to Beat the Passions

One of the central struggles in Orthodoxy is overcoming the passions: anger, pride, lust, and more. Through confession, prayer, and fasting, I’ve learned that spiritual growth is gradual, requiring both persistence and repentance. As my Godfather says, “You will fall; but everytime you fall, get back up immediately.” His words stuck in my head as a constant reminder to always stay repentant.

One thing that helped me a lot is praying the Jesus prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy upon me and save me, a sinner”. This prayer affirms that Jesus is the Christ, as well as admitting that you are a sinner, and needing his help throughout your daily life.

This prayer also reaffirms the humility needed. As St. Moses the Black says, “You fast, but Satan does not eat. You labor fervently, but Satan never sleeps. The only dimension with which you can outperform Satan is by acquiring humility, for Satan has no humility.”

Conclusion

Being baptized on Theophany connected me directly to the sacramental life of Christ and the Church. Each day is an opportunity to renew that commitment. Living out the commandments, striving to love others, and seeking God in all things is what makes us truly a Christian, not just by name. The Orthodox way is not always easy, but it is profoundly transformative, offering both continuity with the ancient faith and hope for daily renewal.