- Isaiah 52: 7-10
- Psalms 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
- Hebrews 1: 1-6
- John 1: 1-18
- Finding God's comfort
- In Ignatian spirituality the comfort that God offers us draws us closer to Him, regardless of our circumstances. God can provide comfort even in our trials and tribulations if we are open to and seek His Presence in and through those circumstances.
- In your life, how has God comforted you in the midst of trying times?
- How did that comfort come to you? Was it a favorite Scripture passage that suddenly took on a deeper meaning, a visit from a dear friend, a prayer experience, ...?
- How confident are you that God will always be there to be a comfort to you?
- Singing praise
- Singing God's praise is a constant theme of the Psalms. Why is that?
- What do you accomplish by singing God's praises?
- Does God need our praise?
- Over the years, how has your praise to God changed, deepened?
- Follow me
- Lately I've realized that there are limits to what can be expressed in language. Perhaps, as Richard Rohr points out, that is why Jesus rarely told His disciples to believe Him, or what to believe about him. Rather, Jesus' simple instruction was "follow me".
- How has your belief about Jesus shaped your decision-making, your following of Jesus?
- How has your following of Jesus gradually shaped your beliefs concerning Him?
- The darkness has not overcome it
- Christmas comes at a time of year (at least in the northern hemisphere) of shortened days, colder temperatures, and (at least in my case) hopeful longing for Spring. Christmas comes in stark contrast to the evils evident all around us.
- Who is someone that you see bringing Light to the world around us?
- How have their actions and words made the world a better place?
- How have they inspired you in your life?
- How would you like to inspire others?
- What would you like to be said of you at your funeral?
- Preparation for Reconciliation
- Where is God offering me comfort?
- How might I be a better testimony to God in my life?
- How am I actively supporting God's plan?
- How can I better serve with, in, through my community?
At the risk of being accused of politicizing the freedom that Jesus' birth invites us to, I invite you to read Dr. Martin Luther King's I have a dream speech. I found that these words continue to be challenging and pertinent. Perhaps you will as well.
Tilting at Windmills
It seems as though no one dares to use the word "evil" anymore.
We are all afraid of being accused of being reactionary,
Succumbing to a fortress mentality,
Dividing the world neatly into "us", and "them".
No one wants to be found calling for the end of perceived evil.
When it turns out that they just misunderstood.
Or that evil results may have fallen from good intentions.
Or that they just did not see the bigger picture.
And even if something is evil, am I the one?
How do I know that, out of all God's children,
He's calling me to protest that injustice.
Could it be someone else's call that I'm hearing?
Lord, grant me
The humility to hear Your voice.
The courage to occasionally be wrong.
The passion to stand with your afflicted children.
Help me to fan your flickering light within me,
That I might be a beacon to those around me,
Who most need to see your face radiating through mine,
That I, too, might shine brightly enough -
To guide others to You this Christmastide.
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