WORDS FROM ST. JULIE: I am all yours at the feet of our good Jesus in his holy crib. Let us put all our hearts there, I beg of you, my dear good daughters. May the holy feasts be fruitful for us. How I wish it for you with all my heart. (Namur, December 22, 1810)
WHERE ARE WE ON THE JOURNEY? December finds us continuing our Advent Journey of preparation for the Feast of the Incarnation when we celebrate Jesus coming into each of our lives AT THIS MOMENT: through the Eucharist, through the Word of God, through prayer, through other people, and through God dwelling within us through the Holy Spirit we receive at Baptism. How do we want to respond to this great gift of God’s coming? How do we savor this gift of God’s coming, and respond to this gift in our time? Take some time to unwrap the gift by reflecting on the readings from the December Liturgies.
December 4 Second Sunday of Advent
December 11 Third Sunday of Advent
December 18 Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 25 Christmas (Vigil, Midnight, Dawn and Day)
WHERE AM I ON THE JOURNEY?
Read the passages again. In prayer, reflect on the following questions:
1. I read IS 40:1-5, 9-11. How do I need God’s comfort, God tenderly speaking to me in my life right now?
2. Again I read IS 40:1-5, 9-11. How is the glory of God being revealed in my life?
3. I prayerfully read MK 1:1-8. How is God “preparing the way” and “making straight the paths” in my life?
4. I return to MK 1:1-9. Where am I hearing “glad tidings”? How am I called to bring “glad tidings” to others?
5. I take time with IS 61:10. What do these words speak to me?
6. I pray LK 1:46-55. I talk to Mary about her experience. What do I want to share with her of my experience?
7. I go to 1Thes 5: 16-24 and let myself sink into the words I find there. What feelings and/or images surface within me? I talk to God about them.
8. I let God speak PS 89:2-5, 9-11 directly to me. What do I want to say in response?
9. How do I need God to strengthen me? I talk to God about what I’m thinking/feeling.
10. I pray LK 1:26-38, asking the Holy Spirit to guide my imagination as I enter into the story. What do I want to say to the Angel? What do I want to say to Mary?
11. I take time to reflect on the question: How am I experiencing God’s light in my life? How am I experiencing abundant joy…peace…justice?
12. I pray LK 2:1-20. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my imagination as I enter into the story. What do I see? What do I hear? What do I feel as I imagine myself in the midst of the events described there? What do I want to say to God at the end of my prayer time?
13. I take time to savor IS 52:7-10, letting it lead me to prayers of praise.
14. I pray JN 1:1-8, letting the phrase “and the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” repeat over and over in my heart.
A PRAYER FOR THE SEASON
Good and gracious God, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ, our Savior, and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of His coming may find us rejoicing in His presence and welcoming the light of His truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
