Advent does not invite us to be optimists. Advent invites us to be hopers. Not because everything is fine (it’s not), but because God is faithful.
Blessed are we who begin again,
who wait even when the world rushes past.
Blessed are we who believe God’s work is not finished,
and dare to call this waiting hope.
God, steady us as we wait.
Keep our hearts from folding in on themselves.
Let this small light be enough for today.
Remind us: You are not done here yet.
Blessed are we, refusing to be fooled by false cheer,
who choose hope over optimism,
anchored in the God who holds us fast.
Blessed are we who look at bare branches
and dare to call them future orchards.
Blessed are we who bless what seems unlikely,
trusting God that hope still grows here.
Blessed are we who scatter seed into uncertain soil,
who labor without guarantees.
Blessed are we who trust God with tomorrow,
and keep sowing anyway.
Blessed are we who cry into the dark,
who keep singing when nothing has changed yet.
Blessed are we who believe the sun will rise,
because God has promised to come.
Blessed are we who work without seeing the end,
who plant seeds and trust God with the growing.
Blessed are we who find freedom in the unfinished,
and peace in the stubborn promise of hope.
-- Kate Bowler
What would it mean to join others in singing peace into being? Not because the world is calm, but because Christ has come to make it new.
Blessed are we who light the candle of peace,
though the world is restless.
Blessed are we who choose song over silence,
courage over comfort.
For Christ, our peace,
is coming again into this weary world.
Blessed are you, Mary,
who said yes to a future no one else could see.
Blessed are we, trembling at the thought
that God might use us too.
Blessed are we, the restless ones,
striving and exhausted,
who discover that peace was never a prize to win,
but a God who will not let us go.
Blessed are we, bone-tired,
who realize we can’t conjure peace.
Blessed are we who find it instead—
in Emmanuel, God with us.
Blessed are we who long for light in the shadows.
Blessed are we who offer what we have—bread, drink, welcome—as signs of peace.
Blessed are we who carry the light of Christ in fragile lives.
Blessed are we, for even here, God has come near.
May the peace of Christ flood your heart beyond the headlines;
may His presence quiet the storms inside;
may the Spirit teach you to imagine peace—even now—and give it away.
-- Kate Bowler
Blessed are we whose hearts feel crowded and tired,
who hear an old song and dare to hum along.
Blessed are we who make a little room anyway—
in sinkful kitchens, in traffic, in grief—
and find that Joy has already arrived,
ringing the doorbell with both hands.
Blessed are we who cannot fake cheer,
who sing soft instead of loud,
who light blue candles in December
and still hope joy might come.
Blessed are we who live in shades of gray,
and still reach for color.
Blessed are we who borrow courage
from artists, poets, prophets—
all who dared to paint joy over our despair.
Blessed are we who light the window candle,
who dare to say with one small flame:
there is room here,
for the weary, the stranger, the friend.
Blessed are we who discover
that joy multiplies in the giving away.
Blessed are we who remember joy’s surprise,
who find it still waiting, disguised as grace.
Blessed are we who open our hands again,
to receive what love has already given.
Blessed are we who sense that these small joys
are woven by God into the great Joy—
the one that began in a manger
and will be finished when Christ comes again in glory.
Blessed are we who laugh through tears,
who sing while the night is still dark.
Blessed are we, joyful anyway,
because Christ is already here.
-Kate Bowler
Blessed are we who knock on each other’s doors,
bearing bread, warmth, kindness.
Blessed are we who learn to love as Christ loves—
until the longest night glimmers with His light.
Blessed are we who believe that love,
no matter how small,
is enough to remake the world.
-Kate Bowler
Design a Rule of Life
Intentionality helps us to clarify our deepest values, important relationships, authentic hopes and dreams, meaningful work, highest priorities. A rule of life allows us to live with purpose in the present moment, leading to a richer and more meaningful life which benefits everyone. A rule of life is not so much a system of rules, but a way to bring rhythm and touchstones into our lives so we can stay on the path we have set out for ourselves. It's meant to be flexible -- adapted to our present circumstances, shaped to fit our current needs and desires. It can remind us when we forget what is important to us. It’s best to start small and keep it simple, with realistic and achievable goals. You can always elaborate or add to your rule later.
Start: Identitfy five or six principles that describe the kind of person you want to be and the ways in which you want to live. Write them on an index card and keep them nearby to remind you of your purpose.
Build: If/when you’re ready for more, use the prompts below to build on them.
Suggestions for Use
Ask for God’s guidance as you sit down to reflect on these questions. You can pray with each question, or at the end of each section.
Take time: Allow yourself time to dwell with each of the questions. You may not immediately know the answer and your answers may change over time. You might find it helpful to do this work over a series of days.
Be gentle: Celebrate as you discover what matters most to you, don’t berate yourself for what you aren’t doing. Gentleness will encourage you to keep going in good directions.
Be realistic: Honesty around your time/schedule and capabilities is essential. An overly strenuous rule isn't fun -- or sustainable.
Write your goals down: This helps you engage in a more concrete way (vs simply thinking about a theme or question) leading to better outcomes.
Prayer exercises you might find helpful in beginning to design a rule of life:
Imagine yourself at the end of your life. Reflect on what you’d like others to think or say about you at that time. You could even write your own eulogy. This can help clarify what is most important to us by helping us reflect on who and what we want to be/become.
Imagine yourself talking with Jesus. Describe to him what you care about most, and how you'd like to live faithfully in the world. Ask what he values most and how he is inviting you to live.
Journaling - My Relationship with Myself
Where in my relationship with myself do I recognize the need for change or balance?
How will I care for myself (e.g. eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, adequate sleep)?
How will I preserve a “balance” in my life, so one area (eg: work) doesn’t dominate other areas?
How will I express my creativity and develop my mind (study, reading, the arts, music...)?
How can I incorporate times for rest and recreation into my day, my week, my year?
Now synthesize your journaling into two or three achievable goals and write them down, putting them where you can see them every day.
Journaling - My Relationship with Others
What relationships in my life need special attention?
What supports can I identify that would help me grow in love for the people in my life? (loved ones, friends, colleagues, others...)
What specific roles and responsibilities do I have? How will I carry them out faithfully in my day to day life? Over the long term?
How will I seek and serve God in others, especially in those who are different from me?
In what specific, concrete ways might God want to love the world through me, to bring peace, justice, healing, reconciliation and hope to my communities, my nation and the world?
Now synthesize your journaling into two or three achievable goals and write them down, putting them where you can see them every day.
Journaling - My Relationship with God
How would I describe the relationship with God I desire and seek? Do I notice a longing for more? More what?
What spiritual practices or disciplines have I found helpful in feeling close to God? Are there people who support this connection?
Can I return to those practices? Am I drawn to find new ones?
What pattern or rhythm of prayer would fit my present circumstances, and how can I incorporate times for regular prayer/worship, alone and with others, into my life?
Now synthesize your journaling into two or three achievable goals and write them down, putting them where you can see them every day.
(Adapted from "Living Intentionally" by Br. David Vryhof -- available as a PDF workbook. Other resources here.)
Remember to keep it do-able:
“Nothing should be included in a rule except what we are sure we can by honest effort carry out under the ordinary conditions of our life” (Hughson 1949, 273).
The rule “should be such that it is invariably kept without strain but occasionally makes a definite demand upon the will. It should normally be kept with no fault occasionally, a few faults frequently, and if it all goes to pieces very rarely there is little to worry about” (Thornton 1988, 54).
“Let every point in the rule be so clear and definite that you will know exactly every day whether you have observed it or neglected it” (Hughson 1949, 275).
Kate Bowler's Bless the Lent We Actually Have
Ash Wednesday
“Ash Wednesday is full of joy…The source of all sorrow is the illusion that of ourselves we are anything but dust.” —Thomas Merton
for Ash Wednesday
Bowler, Kate; Richie, Jessica. The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days
________________________
God, today my finitude is rubbed on my forehead.
The reality of my limits, my fragile body,
spoken over me like a curse:
from dust I was made to dust I will return.
Some days I need to be reminded
that I am not the perfectibility project
I set out to be.
I am full of bounce and brimming with hope.
All woes, solvable.
All problems, a distant whisper.
When I don’t feel like dust,
Bless me, oh God,
in the ways I trick myself into believing
that my life is something I’ve made,
that all my accomplishments and successes
and mastered mornings
add up to something independent of you.
But on days like today, when my head hangs low,
sunk with the grief of my neediness,
Bless me, oh God.
When my joints don’t work like they should,
when I grow sick or turn gray too soon,
when my body betrays me…
or perhaps it is doing exactly
what it is supposed to do.
Tell me again
exactly how you made me:
from dust to dust.
Blessed are we, a mess of contradictions,
in our delusions and deep hopes,
in our fragility and finitude.
Read: Psalm 51:1-17
"Do you not know what the Holy One can do with dust?" - Rev. Jan Richardson
Ask: Check in today. Are you feeling more durable, or more fragile? What do you need to be reminded of in your durability? In your fragility?
Listen: In this podcast, the Rev. Liz Richenor spoke to Kate Bowler about her profound Ash Wednesday experience when she was reminded of the power of community in times of great grief.
Pray: God, on my best days when I feel capable and unwavering, remind me of my dependence on you. And on the days when I feel inside out with inadequacies and anxieties, remind me of your enoughness for today. Though my days and moods and fears and circumstances seem always in flux, you remain. Amen.
Lectio Divina
ACCEPTING THE EMBRACE of GOD: THE ANCIENT ART of LECTIO DIVINA
Adapted from Fr. Luke Dysinger, O.S.B.
What is LECTIO DIVINA?
an ancient art
a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures
What is the purpose?
to enable the Bible (the Word of God) to become a means of union with God
to enable us to discover an underlying spiritual rhythm in our daily life
to grow our ability to offer more of ourselves and our relationships to the Father
to teach us more and more to accept the embrace of God
to enable us to savor and delight in all the different flavors of God's presence, whether they be active or receptive modes of experiencing Him (action and contemplation)
What is the process?
1. Reading / listening
we quiet ourselves down (breath prayers)
we wait in a spirit of silence and of awe, attuned to the presence of God
we read a short selected passage of the Bible slowly, attentively, gently
we listen to hear a word or phrase that is God's word for us this day
we cultivate this ability to listen deeply, to hear the still, small voice of God which is God's word for us, God's voice touching our hearts
2. Meditation
once we have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we take it in, memorize, and “ruminate” on it
we gently repeat the passage to ourselves, allowing it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires
we allow God's word to become His word for us
3. Prayer (both a dialogue with God and a consecration)
we hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him as they come to mind, and gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given us
we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering, to touch and change our deepest selves as the Word interacts with our thoughts and memories
4. Contemplation
we rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace
we practice silence again, letting go of our own words
we simply enjoy the experience of being in the presence of God
Lectio Divina as a Group Exercise
These group exercises (best with 4-8 people) can be a useful means of introducing and encouraging the practice of private lectio divina. Over time it builds trust within a group; it also is an excellent way of consecrating projects and hopes to Christ before more formal group meetings. A group leader coordinates the process and facilitates sharing. The same text from the Scriptures is read out three times, followed each time by a period of silence and an opportunity for each member of the group to share.
THE FIRST reading (the text is actually read twice on this occasion) is for the purpose of hearing a word or passage that touches the heart. When the word or phrase is found, it is silently taken in, and gently recited and pondered during the silence which follows. After the silence each person shares which word or phrase has touched his or her heart.
THE SECOND reading (by a member of the opposite sex from the first reader) is for the purpose of “hearing” or “seeing” Christ in the text. Each ponders the word that has touched the heart and asks where the word or phrase touches his or her life that day. In other words, how is Christ the Word touching his own experience, her own life? How are the various members of the group seeing or hearing Christ reach out to them through the text? Then, after the silence, each member of the group shares what he or she has “heard” or “seen.”
THE THIRD and final reading is for the purpose of experiencing Christ “calling us forth” into doing or being. Members ask themselves what Christ in the text is calling them to do or to become today or this week. After the silence, each shares for the last time; and the exercise concludes with each person praying for the person on the right.
Lectio Divina Shared in Community
1. Listening for the Gentle Touch of Christ the Word (The Literal Sense)
One person reads aloud (twice) the passage of scripture, as others are attentive to some segment that is especially meaningful to them.
Silence for 1-2 min. Each hears and silently repeats a word or phrase that attracts.
Sharing aloud: A word or phrase that has attracted each person. A simple statement of one or a few words. No elaboration.
2. How Christ the Word speaks to ME (The Allegorical Sense)
Second reading of same passage by another person.
Silence for 2-3 min. Reflect: “Where does the this reading touch my life today?”
Sharing aloud: Briefly: “I hear, I see...”
3. What Christ the Word Invites me to DO (The Moral Sense)
Third reading by still another person.
Silence for 2-3 min. Reflect: “I believe that God wants me to . . . today/this week.”
Sharing aloud: in greater detail. [Be aware of what is shared by the person to your right.]
After everyone shares, pray for the person to your right. Note: Anyone may “pass” at any time. If you prefer to pray silently instead of sharing, simply conclude your silent prayer with ‘Amen’.
Lectio Divina on Life
If one is daily growing in the art of finding Christ in the pages of the Bible, one naturally begins to discover Him more clearly in aspects of the other things He has made (including our own personal history). Very often, our concerns, our relationships, our hopes and aspirations naturally intertwine with our pondering on the Scriptures. And sometimes it is fitting to simply sit down and “read” the experiences of the last few days or weeks in our hearts, much as we might slowly read and savour the words of Scripture in lectio divina. We can attend “with the ear of our hearts” to our own memories, listening for God's gentle presence in the events of our lives. We allow ourselves the joy of experiencing Christ reaching out to us through our own memories. Our own personal story becomes “salvation history.”
For those who are new to the practice of lectio divina, a group experience of “lectio on life” can provide a helpful introduction. Unlike scriptural group lectio divina, this group lectio on life is more silence than sharing. Group facilitators or leaders guide the group through several periods of silence and reflection saving individual sharing until the end of the exercise. Since the experiences we choose to “read” or “listen to” may be intensely personal, it is important that sharing is completely optional to safeguard privacy.
We begin with restful silence, then review the events of a given period of time. We seek an event or memory which touches the heart. We recall the setting, the circumstances; we seek to discover how God seemed to be present or absent from the experience. We then offer the event to God and rest for a time in silence.
Applying Lectio Divina to my personal Salvation History
Purpose: to apply a method of prayerful reflection to a life/work incident (rather than scripture)
1. Listening for the Gentle Touch of Christ the Word (The Literal Sense)
a. Each person quiets body/mind: relax, sit comfortably/alert, close eyes, attune to breath
b. Each person gently reviews events, situations, sights, encounters that have happened since the beginning of the retreat/or during the last month at work.
2. Gently Ruminating, Reflecting (Meditatio - Meditation)
a. Each person allows the self to focus on one such offering.
b. Recollect the setting, sensory details, sequence of events, etc
c. Notice where the greatest energy seemed to be evoked. Was there a turning point/shift?
d. In what ways did God seem to be present? To what extent was I aware then? Now?
3. Prayerful Consecration, Blessing (Oratio - Prayer)
Use a word or phrase from Scripture to inwardly consecrate (to offer up to God in prayer)
the incident and interior reflections. Allow God to accept and bless them as your gift.
4. Accepting Christ's Embrace; Silent Presence to the Lord (Contemplatio - Contemplation)
Remain in silence for some period.
5. Sharing our Lectio Experience with Each Other (Operatio - Action; works)
Leader calls the group back into “community”, all share briefly (or remain in silence).
Examen Your Politics
Examen Your Politics Nish Waiseth
SPIRITUAL FORMATION is the process by which we are shaped by the power of the Holy Spirit into the image of Jesus for the sake of others.
Not for us, but for our neighbours, for our communities, for the sake of doing the work of Jesus here on this earth, in this time, to see the Kingdom of God break through the world just a little bit more tomorrow than it did today.
We are made more into the image of Jesus so that others might flourish, so that the last would be first, so that the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and the persecuted would be blessed.
We are called to be made more into the image of Jesus for their sake, so that they may be blessed. It is a formation that has others in the centre.
When we are formed into the image of Jesus for the sake of others, only then will we have a politics that is formed by our faith, rather than the other way around.
Politics is the single largest systemic tool we have at our disposal with which we can love our neighbor. Simply put, politics for the Christian should be institutional neighborliness.
Started by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Prayer of Examen is an ancient practice and opportunity to reflect on our lives, observe the movement and presence of God, and more clearly discern God’s direction and guidance. It's a form of prayer that can rightly align our hearts with the heart of Christ, giving us the eyes to see what He sees, the love He has for others, and our role in illuminating the Kingdom of God.
What if we implemented this practice in our political engagement? After all, everything can be formative for good and for bad. How are we being formed by our politics? More importantly, how are we letting God inform our political engagement?
Let's take the basic principles and outline of Ignatius's Prayer of Examen and place it within the context of our politics:
Begin with a moment of quiet or silence. Close your eyes and make yourself as comfortable as you're able. Take a deep breath. Allow yourself to awaken to the presence of God.
GRATITUDE
Thank God for today and the ability to make it through another day. Express your gratitude for any joys, victories, or encouragement you received. Thank God for the people in your life, giving thanks for the ability and opportunity to be politically engaged.
REQUEST
As you begin to review your political engagement, ask God for clarity about both yourself and about God. Ask God to show you what you need to know.
REVIEW
Look back at your own involvement in politics, whether big (maybe you're running for office) or small (you read a piece of political news online).
Ask yourself any or all of the following questions.
What has troubled you about your own engagement?
Where did you find joy in your political engagement?
How did you love and serve others through your political actions today?
Where did you feel challenged, or where did you feel opposition?
When you participated in politics, what did you do well? What needs improvement?
Be aware of your emotions - how do you think God sees you? How do you think God sees your politics?
Where did you notice the presence and movement of God?
How did you experience God's love?
YOUR RESPONSE TO GOD
After recalling your actions, reviewing your engagement in politics, reflecting on God’s movement, what is your response to God's revelations to you?
LOOKING FORWARD
What do you hope for in your own political engagement?
What do you desire from God?
How do you want to be formed tomorrow?
Nish Waiseth is a spiritual director and the founder of Formation Northwest, a contemplative living ministry for those seeking deeper intimacy with Christ.
Money Prayer - Rich Villodas
"Creator God, you are an abundant giver. There is nothing that we have that you have not given us. The way of your kingdom is the way of generosity. Help us to honor you with our resources. Free us from the deceit of riches. Lead us on the path of generosity. For your glory, Lord, for the abundance of our own lives and for the sake of others. AMEN.”
Choosing a word for the year can be a helpful spiritual practice - a creative, open-ended way to discover oneself and continue growing, moving forward with God. This is different from New Year's resolutions which tend to be based on past failure. This is about life change, responding to the invitations - what God is offering us, how God is meeting us. Sometimes a word finds me, sometimes I have to go looking. I find journaling invaluable in this process. I notice I tend to reject the word I hear at first! One year, I needed three months to be ready to accept it! God helped me be ready for that word, and continues to weave the subsequent years’ words together with words from the past.
The word itself is a word or phrase that feels inspired by the Holy Spirit that we recognize as something we would like to live into during the New Year. As we notice the word whenever it appears, study and meditate upon it, journal about it, and act in alignment with it, the word can support connection with God and growth.
How do you choose the word?
Pray, ask God for a word. Relax. Pay attention to any word, phrase, song, or Bible verse that keeps reappearing, or a word that connects you with your own deepest desires, needs, or where you are being stretched or called to surrender. This can take a few moments, or it may take months. One year, I found it at the end of the year, as I reflected on the year that had passed, and noticed a recurring theme.
Don’t let the process paralyze you. No word is right or wrong. Give it a try! Just choose a word that stirs a longing in you, give it a try, and see what happens. God can work with whatever you choose. Sometimes on New Year's Eve, we put words on pieces of paper and choose them from a bowl. Then we just see how they fit over the year.
How to incorporate your word or phrase:
Consider getting a journal and a pen that feel good, and leave them out where you can see and access them.
Put your word on a sticky note where you'll see it often.
Engage with your word - Google it, study it, collect images, articles, etc. Bring your word into silence with you. Create art with it, explore moving your body in a way that symbolizes the word...whatever seems best to you.
Check in at regular intervals (weekly, monthly, yearly...). You can choose a different word each month. Make it work for you!