Tag Archive | Advent

Advent 2016: In Praise of Light

Aug8

caa2fa6109d5be4db305cea0d99c57b5To my surprise, I see that people are already checking for my Advent reflection resource — so I have posted the updated version of “Advent 2016: In Praise of Light.” A general description of all my Advent resources can be found at the beginning of my Advent page. Here is the description of Advent 2016:

Advent 2016 In Praise of Light  CLICK HERE  – 12 sides, complete (8.8.16). This four-session resource helps participants deepen their appreciation of the gifts of L/light and energy during this season devoted to anticipating the Light of the World. Groups consider
~ Creation’s Light
~ the Christ Light
~ Darkness in need of L/light and
~ the Light within each person and all creation.

Quotes from Laudato Si’ join quotes from saints and scientists. Time is given for reflection, prayer, sharing, and socializing.

 

 

 

Paths to Peace

Oct18

Someone kindly alerted me that the link to my Advent reflection, “Paths to Peace,” advent_grwas not working. In case others have had the misfortune of clicking it only to find nothing, I assure readers that you can now click Advent.2015. Paths to Peace and connect with this four-session resource.

Although the Scripture readings come from Advent liturgies, and the sessions refer to Advent, reflecting on peace is always current. Adapt these pages for use at any time, for we always need to deepen our sense of shalom within and in relation to others, to creation, and to divinity. “Paths to Peace” includes additional information for U.S. participants that relates to today’s weapons, especially nuclear ones.

Hiroshima atomic bomb damageU.S. taxpayers, according to the National Catholic Reporter (Sept. 25-October 8, 2015), will have to pay “nearly $1 trillion over the next quarter century” for weapons like those on a Trident submarine, each with destructive force some 30 times greater than the destructive force of either of the bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. Do imagine that!

Rather than repeat the full description of “Paths to Peace” here, I suggest you click on my Advent page: https://ecospiritualityresources.com/advent.

Peace be with you — now, during Advent, and always!

Advent Group Resource

Oct6

ADVENT

Although we’ve not yet celebrated Hallowe’en or Thanksgiving, some are already planning for Advent, Nativitythe first season of the Christian church year devoted to preparing to celebrate Christmas. Christmas, in turn, celebrates the Incarnation, the embodiment of divinity in Jesus’ humanity. (Cf. my Advent blog Nov. 17, 2013.)

The Incarnation is a Mystery that a lifetime of contemplation would not exhaust. Advent is the time when we are specifically called to deepen this contemplation. Many individuals and groups use various materials to help them use well this prayer time. My contribution is Advent in the New Universe Story. It offers one page per week to explore the place and significance of the Christian story within the 13.8 billion years of creation. Theologians and others are writing about the transitions needed for this integration, and these Advent pages contain some of their insights.

Advent in the New Universe Story will be available in French and Spanish as well as in English. The English version is now available.

The four weeks include the following:
New Consciousness, New Christian Understanding
The Cosmos Prepares for New Life
Evolving Understanding of Humanity’s Place in Creation
Incarnation Revisited

Universe-Sandbox-20130429-185438The resource contains suggestions for the convener, and the weeks include excerpts from that Sunday’s Scripture readings, information, time for prayer and for sharing, and suggestions for further reading.

I am indebted to the Society of the Holy Child for supporting my ministry and, for Advent in the New Universe Story, to T.J. Murphy for checking the science, to John Surette, S.J. for checking the theology, and to Nancy Frommelt, O.S.F. for fine tuning the text. I am also indebted to those who gather to use my resources; their feedback contributes significantly to future resources.

To find this resource, go to Advent on my website.