Reflection and Prayer Series: Make my life a melody

On this last day of 2011, I thought this reflection poem is appropriate since it encompasses the ongoing nature of our lives-from the passing from one year to the next and with the goal of eternity.

MAKE MY LIFE A MELODY.

Make my life a melody

In tune with all creation-

Help me live in harmony with every living thing.

Let my who existence

Be an anthem of rejoicing

A preulude to eternal life with You

My Lord and King.

Opening Prayer Series: Christmas Day 2011

A different Opening Prayer is given for the various Masses for Christmas Eve/Day.
I have chosen the Opening Prayer from midnight Mass.  It reads as follows:

Let us pray

(for the peace of Christmas midnight 

that our joy in the birth of Christ will last for ever)

Father,

You make this holy night radiant 

with the splendour of Jesus Christ our light,

We welcome Him as Lord, the true light of the world. 

Bring us to eternal joy in the kindom of Heaven 

where He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit.

To make this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged.

1. What does the birth of Christ mean to me?
2. What is so special to me about the holy night of Christmas?
3. In what areas of my life is Christ the true light of the world- how can I continue to shine that light in my life?
4. In what areas of my life is Christ not wholy the true light of the world?  What changes will I make to these areas in this Christmas season?
5. How can I assist someone who has lost a loved one during the year in this Christmas season?

Instead of writing a gospel reflection on one of the Gospels, I recommend during this Christmas season that we sit and slowly read the Christmas story given in Luke. Take your time and hear the sounds, smell the smells, get in touch with the feelings of all the Christmas characters-  Mary, Joseph, the baby, the angels announcing the news, the shepherds, Herod, the kings. There is so much to contemplate. Let us make good use of our prayer time during this Christmas season and come to a greater understanding of God's great love for us.  Perhaps you may even choose to contemplate before the crib at your parish each day during this season, or if not, why not lovingly reflect on the story at home with your family's crib.

When you hear others saying that Christmas is about family or holidays or any other secular reason, why not tell them gently

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

Happy Christmas

To all my readers

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

May all the blessings of this Christmas season be yours.

Let us remember throughout this season of Christmas

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

SIA Fourth Thursday of Advent

Today's Advent theme for the Fourth Thursday of Advent to ponder is:

The world’s true light, the Lord, comes with power and might.

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

My suggestions are as follows:

• Spend some time contemplating the rejection Mary and Joseph faced when they were not received in the inn.  
• Reflect on those who have rejected you in the past and forgive them with God's grace today.
• Pray that the light of Christ will shine through the darkness and hope will given to all.
• Prepare for Christ's birth by receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation and allowing the Lord to come to you with power and might with His graces.
• Sit in darkness for a few moments and then light a candle. Allow that light to fill you and the peace to invade your spirit. Pray to Jesus- the light of the world.

SIA: Fourth Monday of Advent

Today's Advent theme for the Fourth Monday of Advent to ponder is: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. So how might we create a Spirituality in Action (SIA) for today from this theme? My suggestions are as follows:  Spend some time in a quiet place with God today, and enjoy the reward that it will bring. Pray that the light of Christ will grow stronger each day as we approach the feast of Christmas. Share the light of Christ with somone you encounter today. Renew your faith in God today-eg say either the Apostle's creed or Nicene creed and ask God to refresh your faith. Spend some time reading the nativity gospel (Luke 2:1-21) and the passion (Mt 26-28:15) and reflect on God's great love for the world.

Opening Prayer Series: Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Opening prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent reads as follows:

Let us pray

(as Advent draws to a close, 

that Christ will truly come into our hearts)

Lord,

fill our hearts with Your love,

and as You revealed to us by an angel

the coming of Your Son as man,

so lead us through His suffering and death

to the glory of His resurrection,

for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

One God for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible during this coming week, the following reflection questions emerged.

1. What has been our spiritual goal this advent- have we made progress during this advent?
2. What changes do I need to make to meet my advent goal this coming week?
3. What would it mean to me for Christ to truly come into my heart?
4. Why is the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ referred to in this prayer?
5. What good news will you reveal to family, friends, work colleagues, parishioners as an angel in their lives?
6. What gift will you give Jesus this Christmas?
   

Today we get closer to Christmas with the appearance of the angel to Mary.  In fact it is the scene of the annunciation- where the angel Gabriel is sent by God to ask Mary to be the mother of His Son.  It is important to note that the angel is sent by God to ask Mary.  God does not impose or force Mary to say yes. Her yes is an act of free will mixed with many moments of doubts and fears. This can give us encouragement too, since God can ask of us what seems to be impossible and yet, with our yes and doubts and fears, we can do God's will.

Another aspect of this gospel is that the angel Gabriel provided Mary with the details and answered Mary's question 'How can this come about since I am a virgin''.  The angel entered into dialogue with Mary. We too can enter into dialogue with God when we are doubtful and afraid and ask God the questions of our hearts.

The angel also provides Mary with the news about her cousin Elizabeth expecting a child. The gospel makes the clear distinction that Mary would conceive through the Holy Spirit whereas her cousin Elizabeth 'had in her old age, herself coneived a son''.  

At this time of the year we often hear unsavoury secular jokes about the virgin birth or that Mary was not a virgin, or that she had other children. We, as catholics need to be prepared to speak out and not allow our faith to be rubbished or trampled on. 

As advent draws to a close, let us remember the message from today's Gospel 

nothing is impossible to God.

SIA Fourth Sunday of Advent

Today's Advent theme for the Fourth Sunday of Advent to ponder is:

Mary bore a son, and named him Jesus.

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

My suggestions are as follows: 

• Keep this last week of Advent a holy time by some time of reflection and quiet.
• Give Jesus whatever is in your heart: sadness, joy, burdens and longings.
• Pray for all pregant mothers and fathers that they will listen carefully to the name God has named the unborn.
• Pray for all pregant women about to give birth, that their labour will go smoothly for them and the pangs of childbirth will give way to the joy of a healthy baby. 
• Light the fourth candle of the advent wreath and pray for all the faithful depearted that they may see the full glory of God in heaven.
• Pray for all families around the world who have lost a loved one during this year and whose first Christmas without them will not be totally filled with sadness and pain.

Let us keep this last week of Advent a holy time as we prepare for Christmas. Let us remember the true reason for the season of Christmas- CHRIST.