Advent is a time of reflection, and one of the best ways to reflect is journaling. Paying attention to what has been, what is, and what we hope will be in the future — just as Mary pondered the mystery of what God was doing in her life, we ponder the same. It may not feel as dramatic as Mary’s experience, but it is still very important. Journaling to connect with God has a long history with Christians. Much of... Read more
Advent heralds the beginning of winter, a time when many of us seek comfort and warmth inside our homes. This prayer invites you to bundle up and go outside for a little while. It’s a great practice for people who find they need to be doing something active in order to focus on God. Mindful walking is a devotional practice in many religions. It is prayer in motion, walking calmly and confidently in God’s presence. It differs from your daily... Read more
Today, we’re praying with three verses from Luke, chapter 2, so it will be up to your imagination to create all the action here! As we pray our way through Luke’s narrative of the birth of Jesus, today we meet the shepherds who encounter an angel announcing the birth of Jesus. The Practice Begin by trusting that God is present in your imagination. Ask for the awareness to notice this presence. Read Luke 2:8-11. In that region there were shepherds living... Read more
Here’s a prayer for busy people in the busy season of Advent. It’s easy, portable and has a beautiful history. Francis of Assisi (13th Century) never set out to found an order. He simply wanted to restore an old church in his town and to live as Jesus did — as a wandering preacher with as few material possessions as possible. Amazingly, people began to emulate Francis and the “Order of Friars Minor,” which we now call the Franciscans, was created.... Read more
While everything around us screams “holly, jolly Christmas,” this Advent season is not joyful for everyone. Many of our friends and family seek healing of the mind, body and spirit. The best way we can help is to offer healing prayer for them. There is no one way to pray for healing. I like this prayer because it does not require that we know much of anything at all about any particular situation we are praying for. If you’ve ever... Read more
Want to give a really meaningful gift to someone this Christmas? Pray for them. You don’t have to tell them you are doing it, and you don’t have to forgo giving them a material gift if you really want to do that. Begin to think of intercessory prayer (praying for others) as part of your collection of spiritual gifts to impart to the world. This particular form of intercessory prayer is adapted from Marjorie Thompson’s best seller Soul Feast. It’s... Read more
You’ve probably heard people say “your body has wisdom.” Maybe you’ve wondered how to tap into that wisdom before the body gets cranky and pitches a pain fit. Let’s try focusing. Focusing prayer is a great way to step back from holiday stress this Advent. This prayer allows your body to show you what optimal health feels like. The practice of focusing comes from the work of psychologist and philosophy professor Eugene Gendlin and has been popularized in Christian spirituality... Read more
Advent invites us to embrace the mystery of incarnation — God’s action of dwelling in and among us. Because so much of our faith involves mystery, it can be helpful to acknowledge that and sit with it, question it, even when it is uncomfortable. We can pray with this holy discomfort. We can pray our questions. For this practice I have collected a series of questions for you to choose from. Or you may have one of your own ready... Read more
This Advent, why not keep your eyes open for evidence of God’s love and action in the world? Let’s try the Daily Examen. The motto Jesuits live by is “finding God in all things,” and the way to do that is to examine your own daily life for the activity of the Spirit. Ignatius of Loyola — founder of the Jesuit order of the Catholic church — gave this prayer to his community and commanded them to do it every... Read more
We began the Advent meditations with the gospel of Luke’s version of the flight of Mary and Joseph from their home while Mary was pregnant. Today we’ll re-enter this story as the time comes for Mary to give birth. Once again, use your imagination to enter the scene. It’s a short passage, so spend time not so much on the words but on the visual scene you create in your mind. The Practice Begin by asking God to be present... Read more
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