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- Sunday December 21: Do Not Be Afraid: God Is with Us
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To Practice:
- Prayerfully re-read these passages again in the manner of Lectio Divina, reading them aloud to engage more of your senses and feel the vibrations in your body. Gaze at the image. What do you receive for your journey now?
- Watch this video with Thomas Keating, “The Value of Letting Go and Trusting God” (about 9 minutes).
- Anxiety and fear are natural and understandably common reactions to the disturbing times we live in. How, then, do we receive one of the most frequent Divine messages to “fear not”? We know we cannot “conquer” fear with logic. We can only act or not. Here, the Spirit acknowledges our fear and offers assurance and sustenance in its presence. Rather than suppressing our fear, then, we can find ways to be present to it while opening to and receiving God’s assurance and assistance. In her book Abide: Keeping Vigil with the Word of God, Macrina Wiederkehr offers several simple ways of “being present to your troubled heart,” including: “Take it for a walk in the early morning when few people are around. … Take it to a window at night. Turn out the light; open the curtain and gaze at the stars. … Listen to a beautiful piece of music with it. … Have tea with it and maybe even invite a friend.” When you are feeling anxious or troubled, perhaps one of these activities, in addition to Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer, can help you open your heart to the Holy One’s sustaining presence within the most difficult circumstances.
If you wish to re-read the full email reflection, you may do so here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/2025_word-of-the-week-dec21
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The image spoke powerfully into my life this week. There are two very different annunciations and the gestation image. Joseph’s annunciation , the arms of the enveloping Spirit as the Spirit whispers ever so softly; gestation, a squishing movement upon movement till ; what is unclear become action. The attached song by Matt Maber: an invitation to come as I am.
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My solace in these trying days, my best practice to be present to my fears, is to sleep with my window shade fully open. My headboard backs up under the window. As I live in the southwestern United States, I am able to fully open my window. A fan gently stirs the night air around me. Tibetan prayer flags, a gift from my son who hiked to Everest Base Camp, flutter above me. I wrap a prayer shawl around me, as I still feel vulnerable, and its warmth soothes my soul. I commend my soul to God’s loving care, and rest. <3 linda
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