Life Within (Fourth Sunday of Advent)

December 18, 2021, By: Jimmy Scruggs

Welcome! As you set aside time each day for Advent prayer we invite you to use this approach, which works well for individuals and groups of all ages.

Light a candle. Pause to remember the presence of God filling you with Light and Love.

Pray this Opening Prayer:

Radiant Creator, awaken me to your presence.
Jesus, Light of all Lights, kindle love in my heart.
Spirit of Illumination, guide my path today.

Advent Reflection for the Day

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb…  Luke 1:41

Do you have a friend or relative who welcomes you unconditionally? Someone whose vibrant love for you makes your heart smile? My mother’s cousin, Virginia, was that person for me.

Mary and Elizabeth are a good example of the welcoming spirit of unconditional love. The two shared a compassionate, unselfish friendship. When we imagine Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, we see a young pregnant woman sacrificing for her friend. Mary took up a long journey for the sake of her older, pregnant cousin. In turn, an aging, wise woman must have been overjoyed by the visit of a youthful Mary. They each generated JOY by welcoming the light in one another.

Christmas is the perfect time to create sparks of Joy by enthusiastically welcoming the people we love into our presence; and by expressing how much we appreciate the welcome they extend to us. To be a welcoming person, we need only generosity of heart and enough humility to express love. As Mary and Elizabeth show us, our inner person is a tabernacle of God’s love. While we do not carry the flesh and blood of Christ in a pregnancy, we do carry his Holy Spirit within us.

When we joyfully receive each other, we can have the experience of God’s love leaping within us. Everyone can greet one another in the spirit of Mary and Elizabeth. All it takes is a generous heart that wants to share love and a humble, open heart, ready to receive that love.

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Set your intention for the day. Say: Today I will anticipate Christmas this week by welcoming each person with the heart of Mary and Elizabeth.

Pray this Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you are the Everlasting Light.
Help me to bring your love everywhere I go.
Fill me with Light this Advent
that all my life will reflect you.
Shine through me so that that everyone I meet today
would feel your presence in my spirit.
Let them look and see, not just me, but you,
Light of all Lights, Shining through me. Amen

As you blow out the candle and the flame vanishes, remember you have divine light within you that will never go out. You take the light of Christ with you wherever you are.

Together on the Journey,

Katie Martinez