SIA First Friday in Advent

Today's Advent theme for the first Friday of Advent to ponder is:

The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, 

and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

So how might we create a Spirituality in Action (SIA) for today from this theme?

My suggestions are as follows:

• Since Advent is a season for waiting, embrace the opportunites given today to wait joyfully on the Lord and on all we meet today.
• Pray for those who have terminal illness asking the Lord to give them hope and courage.
• Ask yourself': What does finding joy in the Lord mean to me? 
• Go without something today that is taken for granted normally- examine how you feel and think about this during the day and review your thoughts at the end of the day- did you really miss it? Did it help you to free your spirit and rejoice in the Lord?
• Place yourself in a queue today and feel what is like to wait patiently.

Waiting can be positive and negative depending on how we think of it.  Waiting in a queue at the supermarket can be frustrating at this time of the year if we are in a hurry and we have only a few articles. Do you notice on those days, everyone else seems to have a huge trolley?  Acknowledge the frustration and think of what you would really have done if you had got through the check-out more quickly.

During Advent why not learn the art of waiting patiently.  As you are doing your weekly shopping,  instead of feeling the frustration, the racing forward in the mind of future tasks, try and stand patiently in the queue and 

1. say an "Our Father or Haily Mary "( or a prayer of your choice) for the checkout person, and the other customers who are ahead of you.  You will be asking the Lord to send these people blessings.
2. Say a prayer asking God to help you experience the sense of joyful waiting, and then watch,listen and observe others around you as your spirit  remains calm, patient and  joyful.

Thank you God for all the advent blessings that You have for each of us today.