A time for a mini-retreat...

Beautiful blossoming jacarandas line the streets and proclaim advent in all their purple glory. Soft, lovely Advent, gliding in to prepare us for the wonderful event celebrating the birth of Jesus. Early summer days of sunshine and blue sky. Expectant days. Days of water restrictions and drought where the blossoms are contrast to the dried baked earth. Days of waiting for rain to quench the thirst of the land, to feed the crops and the stock. Days of hopeful waiting and days were hope is hard to maintain.

Sometimes it is hard to hear Advent or to see it among the flashing Christmas lights, continuous carols, shopping frenzy, bulk junk mail, parties, drinking….etc.

We are already into the second week of Advent and we have heard of our God encouraging us into being, showing us the way of the journey:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. … Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. … He will come and save you." … A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; … they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35: 1-10

We have sung the psalms in our hearts with longing and rejoicing:

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven. Ps 85:11-12

We have been strengthened for the journey by Paul:

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6

And we are given food for the journey in the gospels of Matthew and Luke as they tell of the healing, saving, comforting of Jesus:

Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.(Matt15:30)

He said to him, "I will come and cure him." Matt 8:7

When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
"As for you, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:20

Jesus said to the crowds:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Matt 11:28-30

Then we are fast approaching the third week: the week of JOY!
We can be expectant as those in Luke's gospel

And the crowds asked him(John the Baptist),
"What then should we do?" Luke 3:10

What unfolds in the week are the joyful stories of Elizabeth and Mary sharing their pregnancies, journeying to be with each other, rejoicing in each other and open to the birth of Jesus and living God with us. They are the expectant ones and show us what we should do.

And suddenly we arrive at the fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve all rolled together. But it is not too late!! There is still time to pray. Take a moment each day out of the cacophony of Christmas, in the warm gentle evening to sit and gaze at the sky or in the morning as you rise notice the waking world, with gratitude and wonder. Take a moment with God who gifts us with love born in our hearts and lives.

Love is born With a dark and troubled face When hope is dead And in the most unlikely place Love is born: Love is always born. Michael Leunig: The Prayer Tree, HarperCollins Publishers, 1990

What will it mean for us to open our hearts at Christmas, to allow Jesus to be born again in our hearts? What will it mean to see ourselves loved and given the greatest of gifts? How can we be agents of love, generosity and friendship at Christmas and throughout the New Year.

It seems to me that this is the time to be making those 'New Year's Resolutions'. It is the time to take a mini retreat in prayer in our daily lives, to assess how we are with God, how our lives are unfolding and how we might move closer to God.

It is the Church's New Year that slips gently under the paraphernalia of a world in love with a manufactured Christmas.

Take on some wonder and take that wonder to prayer. Think of the things you are grateful for and give from your gratefulness in prayer and in your life.

What we do in frenzied merriment, God does in a gentle natural cycle of life: blossoming purple flowers inviting our contemplation, reflection, reconciliation and prayer and bring hope, peace, love, joy.

Rosemary

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you Philippians 1:3-4

Rosemary Canavan lives in Adelaide. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts major in Psychology and two Bachelors degrees in Theology, the most recent an Honours degree in New Testament studies. She has two adult children.

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Rosemary can be contacted at: rosemary@catholica.com.au

©2006 Rosemary Canavan

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