Sunday Micro Retreat – January 1, 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 being amazed by God's creation.
Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
The shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the
Angel before he was conceived in the womb.
(Luke 2:16-21)
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 with a couple of points that you may consider during this Sunday's Retreat:
1. ... all who heard it were amazed ...
Luke likes to use the word "amazed" in his writing. This word is found 13 times in the Gospel of Luke compared to only four times in the Gospel of Mark and seven times in the Gospel of Matthew.
And you? how amazed are you to hear the Christmas story once again? Is it still fresh and exciting for you? or maybe you are bored hearing it over and over again?
What in your life, relationships, and daily tasks is amazing to you? Make a list of all the amazing people you meet, events you go to, and things that you own
and reflect on the spiritual aspect of it. Are the items on your list amazing "just because," or is there a deeper meaning hiding behind this 'amazingness."
2. Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
Mary is at a point where she does not fully understand what is happening. She is not yet comprehending all the implications of her "Yes," but she is open to
whatever God asks of her.
Thus, think about all of the events that may be happening in your life that are hard to understand now. Keep them in your mind, reflect on them
and ask God for guidance and understanding of those matters.
You may end this retreat listening to your favourite Christmas carol.
It is good to keep a personal journal in which 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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