THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
PRAY: "O DAYSPRING, you bring God's light into our darkness.
You are the rising sun,
the morning star that brightens lives and lifts spirits.
COME blaze in us and cast out all fear."
O antiphon for December 21
REFLECT:
Before beginning this week's retreat read the scripture selections for the third Sunday of Advent :
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
1Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
As
we move toward the middle of Advent we become more aware of the
darkness of winter days. The cycles of light and darkness are around
us in these short December days. But God is with us in both light and
darkness.
Often we contrast light and darkness and think of
them as opposites, with the darkness somehow less good than the light.
But really darkness and light form a continuum. In the dawning of a
new day, light gradually overcomes the dark, and in the beauty of a
sunset light fades gradually.
PRAY:
Take
a moment to look outside your window. Be aware of the light or the
darkness and of God's presence found in both. Now light your candles
and pray slowly these words found in Sunday's opening prayer:
"Prepare
our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy
and hope which God's presence will bestow, for he is Lord forever and
ever."
REFLECT:
Advent is the time of preparing the soil of our
hearts for Christ's coming and for living in hope, trust, and peace.
This season is meant to be a time of encouragement. A well-known
passage from Isaiah (40:31) reminds us of the strength we need: "Those
who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up
with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall
walk and not faint."
Although our world is not at peace, we can
hope during this Advent to experience the joy of God's presence in our
hearts.
The
entrance antiphon at mass, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!
The Lord is near," invites us to begin our reflections for the third
Sunday of Advent, aware that as Christians our hope will move us toward
a sense of joy.
Isaiah's poetry in Sunday's first reading also puts words to our need in these days:
"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the Lord
and a day of vindication by our God.
I rejoice heartily in the Lord,
in my God is the joy of my soul ...."
Pause
now to think of the many people in the world who are poor and
brokenhearted, who are refugees and captives. Pray that your
generosity in prayer and service will strengthen them in both body and
spirit. In what specific ways this Advent can you bring "glad tidings"
to others both near and far?
All
the readings of this Sunday speak to us about how to be mature
Christians who are trying to deepen our response as followers of
Jesus. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, the second reading
for this third Sunday, sets the theme of rejoicing. Rejoicing, or joy,
is a virtue which underlies our hope and trust in God's presence with
us through Jesus Christ. Paul writes:
"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus . . . .
May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body
be preserved blameless for the coming our Lord Jesus Christ."
What
a wonderful description of how we can continue to live out this
Advent. We can rejoice, pray, give thanks--all with hope in our
hearts--as we prepare for the coming of Jesus into our world.
PRAY:
As
we approach the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, we can
rejoice that Christ the light of the world will shine in our hearts
anew this Christmas. We can greet each day as it dawns with these
words:
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!
The Lord is near."
Now turn to the Fourth Week:
"Living in Hope: Advent Reflections"
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