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

He came for testimony, to testify to the light… John 1:7

The Advent scriptures bring up the ministry of John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus. John’s story helps us understand the importance of one life as a companion to the work of Jesus. John played the role of helping people recognize and understand their experience with Jesus. Like John, we have the role of being able to testify to the light Jesus brought to our world.

How is this so? Well, John did this by preaching; and our testimony to Christ’s presence is usually through the way we live our lives. You’ve heard it said: Preach often, and if necessary use words. Thomas Merton put it this way: Love comes out of God and gathers us to God in order to pour itself back into God through all of us… In this sense your soul is a door or window through which God shines out to the world. Imagine the beauty of a lit Christmas tree in a neighbor’s window.

Usually we’re not aware of the importance of our life’s unique window to show forth Christ’s light. We tend to underestimate the glory and beauty of our own lives and the way others appreciate us. Likewise, the people who testify Christ’s love to us may never realize how we see them.

Naturally, the window of my soul must be clear enough to show off the Christmas light. Sometimes I have work to do– like polish a dusty window, or remove the dense shrubbery shrouding the window, or get rid of ugly old curtains that diminish the light. You get the idea. When it’s time to change an unloving attitude or limiting belief, it’s worth doing.

Christmas is the best time to let the light of Christ pour forth from us.

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Set your intention for the day. Say: Today I will be a window through which God’s love and beauty shine.

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