It’s all Gift…

 Spiritual vs. Material Gifts 

The idea of “first” is paramount in our understanding of life on planet earth.  So during this Christmas season, take time to reflect on your “first” experiences. 

I take note of who sends me my “first” Christmas card.  It is the same person each year.  I, also, take note of who sends me the “most holy” Christmas card.  This acknowledgement always goes to my “Loving Sisters of Baltimore Carmelite Convent”.  I think they must spend the whole year in preparation of finding the right illustrator and meditation with prayer for this blessed season.  My years of weekly study with them, in the past, continues to be rewarded.

My first Christmas present received during the Advent Season 2011 was a divine inspiration of how God has gifted me in my personal life.  By extension, God gifts all of us, but so many are unaware of what or how spiritual and material gifts are manifested.  The sad fact of the matter is that the notion of divine love as a fulfillment is so removed from many over the holidays.  You don’t necessarily have to be duped into a belief of nihilism. 

The people who I know who profess a personal relationship and earthly life with the Divine Christ subsist on daily scriptural readings and meditations.  In a process of personal spiritual formation and the lectio divina, many consider the highest order of prayer. 

Reference:  http://www.crossroad.to/glossary/religious.htm

Lectio Divina:  "Lectio Divina", a Latin term, means 'divine reading' and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us… 

1. "Lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God, slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into us. Any passage of Scripture can be used....

2. "Meditatio (reflection) where we think about the text we have chosen and ruminate upon it so that we take from it what God wants to give us.

3. "Oratio (response) where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts speak to God. This response is inspired by our reflection on the Word of God.

4. "Contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the Word of God. We listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us with a still small voice. As we listen, we are gradually transformed from within." 

This process of divine communion was thought to have been aptly described first by Origen Adamantius, born in Alexandria, Egypt in 185 A.D.  The focus of this type of prayer is simply to know more deeply the incarnate Christ birthed within the soul of the believer.

Oh yes…material gifts, how could they possibly compare to divine riches? 

Thank you to all those who think we need something anyway...  Sometimes, we actually do...

There are so many sources of daily scriptures and meditations that I have been led to over the years.  In the computer age, I have mine e-boxed from presentation ministries.  I deconstruct those readings, and supplement with other readings as led by the Holy Spirit.  My girls enjoy the responsorial songs found in the few minutes of devotion that we share in the morning...

Share your spiritual experience on the meaning of the Journey of Advent 2011, and the subsequent implications for the New Year 2012 with those of us who need to hear..the Divine words within you…

Speak to those with an ear to hear...

Be courageous, rise up, lectio divina, and prophesy…

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