Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent as well as Merry Christmas Eve!  Today is one of those rare days in our liturgical calendar where the fourth Sunday of Advent happens to also fall on the same day as Christmas Eve.

Last week, we prayed with the second reading.  This week, we turn to praying Lectio Divina with the Gospel.  This week’s Gospel passage is one that we are familiar with as it captures the story of the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary to announce the news of her Son.  This passage is the beginning of the Word Made Flesh, God with us in the person of Jesus.  It capture the essence of the Incarnation.

I invite you to listen to the guided Lectio Divina on this scripture or use the steps listed for Lectio Divina to pray with this Sunday’s Gospel reading on your own.

Guided Lectio Divina on Lk 1: 26-38:

Click here to listen on Soundcloud.

Review of the Steps of Lectio Divina:

Here’s a brief recap of the steps of Lectio Divina:

1. Read: Pick any passage in Scripture.  Slowly, thoughtfully, savor the word.  Linger whenever a word or phrase touches your heart.
2. Reflect: What is God saying to you in this passage?  Offering you?  Asking you?
3. Respond: Respond to God from your heart.  Speak to God of your feelings and insights.  Offer these to God.
4. Rest in God: Sit quietly in God’s presence.  Rest in God’s love.

Go Deeper? 

• Scriptures for Support: 
  • Lk 1: 26-38
  • Fourth Sunday of Advent Readings 

• Resources:
  • Mother’s Song by Kelly Pease
  • Imaginative Prayer Exercise for the fourth week of Advent
  • Advent Examen
  • Lectio Divina for Advent 

Start Your New Year off with a Online Retreat- January 22-25, 2018!

Kick off your new year by giving yourself the gift of growing your relationship with God with a retreat in daily life!   I am excited to announce that we have six spiritual directors available for our January retreat.

Please join me in welcoming Sr. Ily Fernandez, CSJ, Fr. Brent Otto, SJ, Stephanie Clouatre Davis, Andy Otto, and Mike Hayes as the spiritual directors for our January retreat.

One of us will accompany you for four days from the comfort of your home or office as you seek to deepen your encounter with Christ in the upcoming new year.  For more information and to register visit here .

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.