Annunciation: Embracing the Word
Prayerfully read Luke 1:26–38…
Imagine the glorious Archangel Gabriel appearing to the Blessed Virgin Mary when she was a young girl and announcing to her that she will conceive within her womb the Son of the Most High Who will reign as the Eternal King forever…
Hear also the Archangel coming to you and announcing that that same King desires to be conceived in your soul by grace, dwell within you, and transform your life. The invitation is the most glorious invitation we will ever receive. Nothing could be greater than the Son of God dwelling within us by grace. Take time to prayerfully imagine this invitation given to you…
How did the Blessed Virgin Mary respond? She first inquired with a holy desire to understand. “How shall this be?” She believed and eagerly longed to comprehend this announcement more fully. What a beautiful model for us! The mystery of God dwelling within us is just that—a mystery. When faced with this mystery, we must prayerfully seek to understand God’s invitation with hopeful anticipation and willing cooperation. Prayerfully ask our Lord what it means to conceive Him in your soul by grace. Pray for a deeper understanding so you can more fully cooperate with His incredible gift…
The holy archangel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” So it will be the case with you. The Holy Spirit desires to come upon you, enter you, consume you, and transform you so that the Son of God will be conceived within your soul and live within you…
Our Blessed Mother’s response was perfect: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Ponder her response. When such an invitation is given, the only appropriate response is to say with our Blessed Mother, “I am a servant of God. Yes, let it be done to me as God wills.” In humility, we must admit we do not fully comprehend all that God has in store for us. With faith, we must consent with every power of our souls. In prayerful imagination, take time to reflect silently upon your response, answering God’s invitation as sincerely and completely as you are able….
Visitation: Sharing Newfound Faith
Prayerfully read Luke 1:39–56…
Imagine the setting. The Blessed Virgin Mary had just conceived the Son of God in her womb. He had already been conceived in her Immaculate Heart by grace, from the moment of her own Immaculate Conception. Her Savior was now also her tiny child within her womb, but He was growing. Begin by prayerfully imagining the Son of God, now united to human nature, dwelling and rapidly growing within her womb. This mirrors how grace must grow within us. Does grace increase within you on a daily basis, as a child in the womb grows every day? Ponder this question and prayerfully invite the Savior to increase His grace within you and in the hearts of all…
One sign that grace is increasing within us is that those closest to us will perceive it. Elizabeth immediately perceived the presence of the Lord in her cousin Mary, as did John the Baptist who was in his sixth month within Elizabeth’s womb. Do those closest to you sense your faith, hope, and love of God? Prayerfully ponder that question, and be open to ways God wants to radiate His grace from you into the lives of those closest to you…
After hearing Elizabeth’s greeting, the Mother of God sang her song of joy, proclaiming God’s greatness and rejoicing in His mercy. Imitate her by first praising Him. Consider the blessings God has given you. Prayerfully list them in your mind, thanking and praising Him for each. As you do, allow joy to mix with your praise and savor that gift of spiritual joy….
Birth of Jesus: Bearing Fruits of Charity
Prayerfully read Luke 2:1–22…
Imagine the hiddenness of the Christ-Child in the womb of the Mother of God, secretly concealed and safe within her. Then imagine His birth. Suddenly, He is visible to all. The shepherds come in haste to adore Him. In the days that follow, friends and relatives hold the Child and Magi from the East offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Similarly, once Christ has been conceived within our souls by grace and has grown to maturity, He must emerge from our hearts and enter the world through our charity. Has Jesus, conceived within your soul by grace, emerged? Has He been born of you through your actions, expressed by your charity to others? How does God want to manifest His presence through your life? Pause and ask yourself this sacred question…
Having a child in your arms is different than carrying that child in the womb. Time, attentiveness, love, and care must be given in a new way. As we begin to manifest God’s presence to others and adore His actions in our lives, we must change. What new responsibilities must you attend to in the way a new mother must attend to her newborn child? Ponder what this entails for you as you embrace this new work of love…
An infant grows rapidly. See the rapidly growing Christ-Child in the arms of the Mother of God as a reflection of the way Jesus wants to grow in your life. Your invitation to cooperate with God’s grace and your ongoing “Yes” to that cooperation, will result in a rapid increase of His presence in your life. Is He growing? Consider the ways His presence is increasing and how you can nurture His divine presence in your life….
Presentation: Unwavering Consecration to God
Prayerfully read Luke 2:21–38…
Once Christ emerges from our lives through a manifestation of His presence in faith and charity, we must give those actions over to God. The best way to do so is to fully consecrate ourselves and our good works to God. Consecration to God is not a “one and done” act. It’s a continuous and deepening act of dedication. Imagine the Mother of God and Saint Joseph joyfully, faithfully, and devotedly bringing the Child Jesus to the Temple for consecration and dedication. Ponder them doing the same with you. In Christ, Blessed Mary and Saint Joseph offer us to the Father. Join them in that act. Begin by prayerfully pondering the joy, fidelity, and devotedness in their hearts as they brought Jesus to the Temple. As you perceive their interior dispositions, try to share in them. See yourself in the Christ-Child. See yourself brought to the Temple and offered to God. Dedicate yourself to God in every way…
Consecration means we are set aside for a sacred function. As Christ was dedicated for the fulfillment of the Father’s will, so are we. This must become the sole purpose of our lives—to do the will of Him Who created us, sanctified us, and sent us. Prayerfully ponder this duty and all that it entails. In our consecration, we are not only dedicating ourselves, we are dedicating God’s presence in our lives and His grace that must keep growing, maturing, and manifesting itself. As you ponder this sacred duty to which you are called, give your full consent to the Father…
Simeon was a “righteous and devout” man who was “looking for the consolation of Israel.” He was awaiting the Savior, the Messiah. Simeon rejoiced when the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple where he encountered the Savior. Similarly, there are many in this world looking for God, looking for their Savior. To whom is God calling you to be an instrument of His divine presence? To whom are you called to present the Lord Jesus, bringing to that person the joy of meeting the Savior?…
As Simeon rejoiced in Jesus’ presence and His act of dedication, he also prophesied that a sword of sorrow would pierce the Mother of God’s Immaculate Heart. If her perfect heart would be pierced, then so will yours, “A sword will pierce through your own soul also…” Hear Simeon saying this to you. Know that following Christ and bringing Him into the world through your life of grace will result in the Cross. Are you willing to accept this as part of your consecration? Are you willing to protect the presence of God in your life from temptation and the many evils in our world? Say “Yes” to the sword of holy sorrow today, choosing to confront every evil and suffering with courage and love, and renew that choice every day….
Finding in the Temple: Growing in Divine Wisdom
Prayerfully read Luke 2:40–52…
Ponder Jesus’ childhood. As He grew “in wisdom and in stature,” those who knew Him noticed. As a child, He was not sent out on mission by the Father. There are no miracles recorded at His hands. But His parents and those close to Him noticed his great virtue and wisdom. As you imagine Jesus’ youth, see this as an invitation to grow in wisdom and grace in your own life. If you have done so, consider the concrete ways that this growth has happened, whom it has affected, who took notice, and who was touched by God’s presence within you…
How is your family life? Some families greatly struggle. Others share strong bonds of charity and faith. Consider only your part. We cannot change people, but like the angels, we can influence them for the good. We must actively allow God to use us to influence our family and close friends for the good. Do wisdom and virtue radiate from you in such a way that others are touched by grace? Ponder these questions and resolve to grow in grace and virtue within your circle of close friends and family…
At the age of twelve, Jesus was drawn to the Temple, His Father’s house, where He conversed with the teachers of the Law. In doing so, our Lord modeled the need for us to be active within our faith community, to attend Church, study Scripture, ask questions, seek answers, and grow in wisdom. In what ways is God calling you to do so in your life? Are grace and wisdom increasing? Are you cooperating with that increase by seeking an even greater increase? Consider the ways you do this in your life and additional ways that God might be calling you to do so more fervently…
Next: Meditations for the Luminous Mysteries
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