The Life Within You Advent 2021

The Inner Life

Perhaps in our inner life, sometimes referred to as our “inner-room”, we have a moment where we can almost feel God “moving” in us.  Something is without a doubt “happening,” and it’s as if we feel it in our whole being. 

Such experiences can come with words, a bodily sensation, thoughts and inspirations, tears and laughter.  This kind of encounter with God seems in contrast with times where our relationship with God seems dry, quiet or distant and we carry some anxiety or question if anything is happening. 

The “what ifs” and uncertainties of our spiritual life are given new depth, even beauty in such moments of comfort when our inner movements with God are undeniable to us.   

The Life Within You Letters

Oh baby, my body is starting to change, so others will start to notice you soon.  Your dad and I have known you were there since the beginning; I can’t explain how, but we felt your presence. 

A few weeks ago we had our first ultrasound and we heard your heartbeat. My heart melted. I could barely make you out on the screen because you are so tiny. Since then I have experienced    moments of great fear; so many things could go wrong, so many “what ifs” float through my head every day. What if I hurt Baby by doing things I normally would do?  

Today I felt you move in a way that was undeniably real – I know without a doubt you are there! I put your daddy’s hand on my belly but he can’t feel you yet. I know you are there and I want to feel you move over and over. 

•  If you’ve experienced a time or season when God seems “absent” or your inner life seemed inactive, what (if anything) brought you relief or comfort?  

Additional Resources:

• Go to Your Inner Room (The Word Among Us) Every day, Jesus invites us to come into his presence and have communion with him.

• What to Expect At Your First Ultrasound (Parent Magazine)

• When God Feels Far Away (Catholic Digest)

Scripture Reflection with Deacon Jeff Boehlert

Do you know what are the two most important days of your life? Of course, the first one is your birthday. If you don’t know the second one, read on!

Advent season is about WAITING, REFLECTING, PREPARING our hearts, mind, and homes WITH HOPE-filled faith that one day we will enjoy eternal life with those we love and the God who brought all of us together in this world.

We try to set aside these weeks preceding Christmas so we can truly be thankful for what Christmas is supposed to be all about…e.g., the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Easier said than done in our busy lives and chaotic world!

But we are reminded over, and over again, God will move mountains and fill the deepest of gorges to keep us connected to Him.

That was the message of the first reading today. God told Israel: put aside your worries, look around you and will see that I will protect and guide my people with mercy and justice.

John the Baptist’s message in the Gospel is instructive of our role: We need to prepare the way for the Lord in our lives in the same way that God does for us. Move mountains of stubbornness, straighten roads of poor choices, smooth rough relationships…open our hearts to the gift and wonder of Jesus and do  whatever is necessary to see the salvation God wills for each of us!

The 2nd most important day of your life is the day you understand your purpose in life. Each of us is given unique skills and opportunities to fulfill that purpose. Even amidst the uncertainty the past 18 months of pandemic have thrown at our world we must never forget God’s promises.

As we reflect on the voice that cried 2000 years ago from the desert pointing the world to Jesus, we too are called to wait and prepare the way for our Lord in prayer and faithful action.

During this season of hope let us all try our hardest to focus on what God has  given us, be thankful and use those skills with purpose. For truly “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy”.

God bless you and your family in this season that unites God’s universal family unlike anything else in the world.

• What line stood out to you most from today’s Gospel (Luke 3:1-6)? Why?

• How can the readings and reflections offer you comfort or inspire you this day?

Saturday Saint Stories: St. Teresa of Avila

Teresa was born in 1515 in Avila, Spain.  She was raised in a Christian home, surrounded by the stories of the saints. When she was 7 she tried to run away with her brother Rodrigo to go to the Holy Land and become martyrs. Luckily she was stopped by her uncle on their way out of town and returned home. 

When she entered the convent she was disappointed by the lax attitude and lifestyle of the Carmelites, so set about a life-time of reform of the rule.

Mental prayer...is nothing  else than an intimate sharing between friends.  The important thing is not to think much but to love much.

She was a prolific writer & mystic.  Her book, The Interior Castle, is a wonderful read on contemplative prayer, inspired by her vision of the soul as a diamond in the shape of a castle containing seven mansions, which she interpreted as the journey of faith through seven stages, ending with union with God. She was named the first female ‘Doctor of the Church’ due to the timeless & authoritative understanding of the inner life of prayer.

Teresa is considered one of the foremost experts on the interior (contemplative) life. “One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter.”    

Despite frail health and great difficulties, Teresa spent the rest of her life establishing and nurturing 17 convents throughout Spain. She grew up in the early years of the Protestant Reformation and survived scrutiny from the Spanish Inquisition.

When she was 52 she received a new confessor, a 23 year old Jesuit priest. Despite large differences in their personalities, the two developed a deep friendship. Her confessor was St. John of the Cross! 

Let nothing disturb you.       
Let nothing make you afraid.        
All things are passing.                              
God alone never changes. Patience gains all things. If you have God you will want for nothing. God alone suffices. 
                 ~found written  in Teresa’s Breviary

Additional Resources: ( 2 videos about St. Teresa of Avila)

“Growing Pains”

Growing pains are a reality for our physical bodies, our understanding of the world, and in the spiritual life as well.  Growing pains are not pains for the sake of pain; rather, the pain is for the sake of growth.

When something feels different in our spiritual lives we are challenged with this new awareness.  New movements in our inner life can feel   destabilizing, present a need for nourishment that can be hard won and we may question what value has been added to our life experience. 

What shall we do about this new “different,” and what would help us respond to the awareness that has arrived? 

The Examen

The Examen is a method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. It’s actually an attitude more than a method, a time set side for thankful reflection on where God is in your everyday life.  It has five steps, which most people take more or less in order, and it usually takes 5-20 minute per day. 

Steps for the Examen:

1. Ask God for Light. 

   I want to look at my day with God’s eyes, not merely my own.

2. Give Thanks.

   The day I have just lived is a gift from God.  Be grateful for it.

3. Review the Day.

   I carefully look back on the day just completed, being guided by the Holy Spirit.

4. Face your shortcomings & Strengths

   I face up to what is wrong & right—in my life and in me.

5. Look toward the day to come.

   I ask where I need God in the day to come.

    

(adapted from Ignatiansprituality.com)

A Free downloadable & printable prayer card is available for you!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!

Ignatian-Style Contemplation

• Read the Scripture below and become familiar with the story.

• Close your eyes and imagine the scene.

• What do you see?  What do you hear? Are there any smells? How do you feel? Who are you in the scene?

• Imagine the story unfolding and be aware of all of your senses.

• Let it play out.

• What is Jesus telling you through this time of prayer?

Luke 1:26-38   The Announcement of the Birth of Jesus

 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 

And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,  and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;  for nothing will be impossible for God.” 

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 

•  What word or phrase stuck out to you?

• How can this word or phrase help or guide you in the coming week?

The Inner Life

God takes note and delights in the development of our inner life!  Like the formation of bones in a growing baby, things may begin to feel more solid in our inner life.  We may move from the more subtle noticing that “something is different,” into a place where the very life of God seems to circulate more freely in our being. 

We have a sense that we are “becoming” and that our formation is     ongoing and anticipate that there is more in store for us.  We may feel moved to ask God: What do you see happening in me? 

While we don’t know what is in store, or what may be coming next, God’s grace may provide a trust that God has and always knows the “shape” of our days.   

The Life Within You Letters

Mom, Mom, Mom! I’m so excited! I have legs and feet and toes, and arms and hands and fingers – I can’t wait to run to you and hug you in my arms, to run my fingers in your hair! I can open and close my hands and as my body keeps developing, I like to move around.  I’m so excited! I think I just peed – I did! I did just pee!  

By the way I know if I am a boy or girl, I could tell you but wouldn’t you rather wait and be surprised? 

Love your little peapod.  

• When you consider or reflect on the reality of your “inner life”, how have you experienced God with you, loving you, or speaking to you?

Additional Resources:

• The Gift of Contemplative Prayer by Margaret Silf (Loyola Press)

• InnerVisions Healthcare in Des Moines InnerVisions HealthCare is a faith-based provider of free and compassionate medical care services, education, resources and support for women and their families facing crisis pregnancies, empowering themselves to make life-affirming decisions.

• How Big is My Baby (Week by Week Comparison) by BabyCenter . We see the little peapod reference above! Seeing the comparisons can be a helpful (& fun) way to understand the size of the new life, for the parents, siblings, and extended family members!

The Inner Life

Our inner life grows and moves not unlike the physical growth and movements of a developing baby.  In the first couple of months of human development in the womb, the new life forming is small, and from the perspective of the mother and community surrounding her, almost undetectable. 

You formed me in my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. ~Psalm 139:13

Important to our journey in Advent is the knowledge that the movements or “evidence” of our inner life is sometimes abundant and available to our senses, feelings, thoughts and responses while other times a walk of trust in the absence of feeling or noticing God’s “knitting,” labor or calling to us from within.   

The Life Within You Letters

Hey Mom, I’m getting bigger, but I still am pretty small,  I'm about the size and weight of a postage stamp. Remember that beat I was noticing, it’s stronger – can you hear it yet? 

I have lots of little “buds” popping up all over and I’ve been watching them grow into my arms and legs, and toes and    fingers.  My brain and spinal cord are formed, so I can feel the changes happening. 

My body is taking on more structure and is getting stronger – bones are replacing cartilage. My face is changing too. I can’t wait to be able to open my eyes & see you! Lots of big changes happening to my little body.   

• What thoughts or feelings come to you as you imagine God “knitting you” in the womb?

Additional Resources:

• Psalm 139: All Life is Precious (by Lilia Olsick, Clarifying Catholicism) A deep look at the Psalm quote in today’s blog, a vibrant and comprehensive at this Psalm.

• The Gabriel Project. The Gabriel Project® offers hope and assistance to any woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy. We respect all life and see the birth of each child as a fresh expression of the unfailing love of God. Our concern is not only for the unborn child, but also for each and every mother in need.

• Slideshow of Fetal Development in the Womb (WebMD) Photos & descriptions of the incredible progress made every few days & weeks during a pregnancy.

The Inner Life

What is meant by “inner life?” Our inner life is our place of prayer. It is a space, or reality, in which God lives and labors.  Our Catholic tradition holds that our inner life is as real as the physical world in which we move around.

 It is an aspect of ourselves that deserves care and nurturing the same as our physical bodies.  We can grow in our inner life as our inner life grows within us. 

The inner life is “the one thing necessary” referred to by Jesus when speaking with Martha and Mary about the reality of God wanting to simply just be with us.  (Luke 10:38-42)

 The name “Emmanuel,” literally means, “God with us.”   As a new life forms within a mother, we may similarly experience a new beginning in our inner life as well.  We may notice within our heart and soul that “something feels different,” and with this awareness a hunger to respond may arise deep within us. 

The Life Within You Letters

I am so tiny and insignificant - like a mustard seed; Mom do you even know I am here? I can’t help but wonder if you know me the way I know you. I feel you surrounding me as your body    creates this safe space for me, nourishes me, and removes things that are not good for me. You can’t quite recognize my face, but it’s  forming. Just in the last few days I have noticed something feels different – since the beginning there's been this steady beat or rhythm that comes from you, but just in the last few days my body seems to have created its own unique beat.

• As you look inward this Advent, what do you hope for in your relationship with God?

Scripture Reflection with Deacon Greg Kolbinger

On this first Sunday in Advent, we invite you to walk with  Jesus as you contemplate the Life Within You. Our  anticipation, waiting, and longing for the Savior to come into our lives, and set things right that have gone wrong, moves us to reexamine our hearts and motives.

We are encouraged to decide anew, will I follow the world and my own path, or will I begin again with the newborn Savior, the process of conversion and hope fulfilled?

In the readings for this first Sunday of Advent, we hear from  Jerimiah that "The days are coming , says the Lord when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel", and to you.”

Just as a mother and father will guide a child, God himself promises to guide us into the ways of his truth. The Gospel today speaks of being  perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves, and we in our present time are perplexed by the roaring of division in how to deal with COVID, or elections, or even considering who is  an alien to me.

The Gospel reminds us that the struggles of each day are filled with     anxieties that can overcome us, but we are asked to welcome him into our lives and hearts,  to begin again, slowly at first with that small spark of hope, which with God's grace over the next few weeks will awaken our eyes and hearts to really see him in our neighbor, and become part of the his light that will  change our world.    

• What line stood out to you most from today’s Gospel (Luke 21:25-28, 24-26)? Why?

• How can the readings and reflections offer you comfort or inspire you this day?

WELCOME!

This Advent we encourage you to look beyond the busy schedules and   to-do list. There IS so much going on in Advent—these four weeks are a time of preparation for an amazing thing...the God of space & time     entered our imperfect world and brought redemption for all humankind.

We are focusing on “The Life Within You”. A baby is conceived and,  regardless of the awareness of the mother or father, the baby grows and develops.

The same is so often true in our interior life at the beginning of our journey...we may not be aware of Jesus in our lives, yet He is there, waiting for us to know Him.

This Advent we will journey with a child in the womb, paralleled to our own interior journey of finding God in our everyday lives. Both the pregnancy Mary experienced with Jesus and our call to lead a more    contemplative life, can help us focus our hearts & minds away from the many different external and internal distractions of the season and     instead, in a real &  authentic way, enter into the silence, beauty, and joy of the moment Christ entered into the world.

The contemplative life is “nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

~St. Teresa of Avila

Each day has its own focus in the journal, with various prayer techniques, reflections, saint stories, and more.  We also have an online blog that will further flesh out what is offered in the booklet for each day of Advent.

We invite you to look within your heart and life to find the heart that beats within you, Jesus, the One who was, who is, and who will be forever!