Sunday December 8: Transforming into Christ

Practice

1. Listen to this video of Handel’s “Ev’ry Valley” from Messiah, performed by Cape Town Camerata (a little over six minutes). Listen first to the way the music illustrates the exaltation of the valleys and the making-low of the mountains, the straightening of the crooked surfaces and the smoothing of the rough ways. Then listen again, without analysis and perhaps with eyes closed. What do you experience?

2. Keep the Welcoming Prayer with its simple movements, at the ready as you enter each day. This “consent-on-the-go” method can help to dismantle the afflictive emotions that seem to be always right beneath the surface. Do you notice a change after putting the Welcoming Prayer into action?

If you would like to re-read the full email reflection, you may do so here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/2024_word-of-the-week-dec8

“Advent is opening to God under any circumstances…believing…that whatever happens is coming from a motive of incredible love…” Lord, open me, keep me open, under any circumstances. Help my unbelief. I know that I know that I know all Your motives spring from Your incredible love. Grant me your peace. Amen. <3 linda

Visio with the image, my  movement into  consenting…..

Mid morning, as I sit here with deep gratitude for all you my c0-WoW- companions as togther we we plunge into the Advent mystery, so apply lived/noted by Thomas Merton as ” the begining and end of all in us that is not yet Christ.”Our church services keep the focus on Jesus, that child whose birth is imminent. Today we celebrate the feast day of John of the Cross. I am also deeply grateful for John of the Cross for as a bosum friend of many years accompanied me through all the years of ups and downs of this Advent mystery that is “the begining and the end of all, that is not yet Christ.” I have been fortunate that for several years I could avoid things like the singing of Christmas hymns during Advent, so I could be open to the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day SURPRISE, one one more step into all that is not yet Christ in me. The reflection we had a couple of weeks back on “endings” is a great gift on my  Advent 2024 unfolding. “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work me/us. will continue to complete is until the day of Christ Jesus.”

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