Question of the Week - Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B
Today we hear the Gospel proclaimed just a couple of weeks ago, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In my reflection for the solemnity, I suggested a simple ritual prayer that focused on surrendering the seemingly impossible situations in our lives to God’s care.
In these few remaining Advent days, consider beginning each day with an adaptation of that prayer. Cup your hands before you, and pray, “God, today, I place my life in your hands.” Sit in silence for a moment or two. Then raise your hands and surrender yourself to God’s care, praying: “May it be done to me according to your word.”
As you go about the work and play of your day, be aware of the many ways that God is acting in your life, blessing you, encouraging you, providing for you, answering your prayers, delighting you, and surprising you. At the end of each day, write these memories on paper strips and place the papers in a gift bag. Then, on Christmas Day, find a few quiet moments to sit and enjoy your memories of God at work in your life.
With this ritual, you could invite the whole family to take part in, praying the ritual prayer together each morning, writing memories, placing them in the gift bag each evening, and reading aloud everyone’s memories as a shared prayer on Christmas Day.
Even in this challenging year of 2020, wintertime, our disappointment at not being able to gather together with family and friends physically, God has a good plan for our lives. God is working in our midst. God is walking with us every step of the way. May our physical eyes and the eyes of our hearts recognize God’s presence at every turn. May we pray with Mary, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. Also, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.