Sunday Micro Retreat – December 31, 2023
As you begin your time of reflection, try to realize that you are standing on holy ground and in the presence of God, who wants to talk to you and listen to you.
Make the Sign of the Cross. The Holy Spirit is opening your heart and mind so the Word of God that you are about to read can flourish in you for God's glory. Pray that you continue to work with his grace. Let the words or your prayer flow from your mind through your heart. Try to "feel" what you are saying.
Is there anything you would like to ask God now? What graces does your heart desire?
Talk to God about it.
Today, we ask for the grace of healthy family relationships.
Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,
Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
When Mary and Joseph had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
(Luke 2:23-40)
The Word of God touches everyone differently. If there is anything that really stood out for you in this reading, meditate on it.
Go to the depths of your heart and listen to what God is trying to say to you.
Next, let's spend some time reflecting on the following points:
1.Simeon's Righteous Anticipation
Consider Simeon, a righteous and devout figure, eagerly anticipating the consolation of Israel. How does righteous anticipation shape your spiritual outlook, and how might you cultivate such devout yearning in your own lives?
2.The Sword Piercing the Soul
Consider the statement to Mary regarding a sword piercing her soul. Reflect on the depth of sacrifice and the challenges inherent in God's plans. How does this foretelling enrich your understanding of the connection between sacrifice and spiritual fulfillment?
3.Childhood Growth
Meditate on the growth of the child Jesus, filled with wisdom and the favour of God upon him. How does this growth narrative intersect with the broader theme of spiritual maturation, and how does it affect your spiritual journey?
It is good to keep a personal journal where reflections that stood out for you are recorded.
The outcome of those Sunday Micro Retreats is
good material that you can talk about in your spiritual direction.
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