SG 2:8-14
ZEP 3:14-18A
PS 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
LK 1:39-45
“For at the moment the sound of your greeting
reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
-Luke
1:44-45
I
have had the great blessing to be pregnant during Advent with all three of my
children. It was an incarnational experience to walk with Mary, living the
scriptures in my body as my child grew and we prepared for its coming. I love
Ignatian contemplation – using my imagination to place myself in a scripture
story and exploring the scene to learn about myself and my relationship to God.
Especially with my second child who was born 3 days after Christmas, I was able
to do this…and now I encourage you to do the same.
Place
yourself in the scene, using all your senses as you read this gospel passage.
Are you Mary traveling with child to visit family? Are you a family member or bystander
who happens to be here? Are you Elizabeth who cries out in joy in the presence
of the unborn child? How do you imagine their voices sound as they speak? What
smells of baking for guests reach your nose? After some time of reflection and
reading the passage again…What themes emerge from your imaginative
contemplation? What do they say about you right now ? your relationship with
God? with others?
This passage from Luke
reminds me of being pregnant with our daughter Isabella this time last year. My
job is to prepare and coordinate the Sunday student liturgies at College
Church. And I had a similar experience to Elizabeth during several 9pm Masses,
as the child in my womb leapt for joy at the sound of the choir, in particular
their beautiful Advent communion meditations. In a very real and tangible way I
felt happiness and joy.
This Advent season I invite
you to use Ignatian contemplation to have an embodied, incarnational experience
of our shared salvation story as Christ is born as a small child and dwells
among us. Allow yourself be taken up into the scriptures and to feel happiness
and joy that can then be shared with all those you meet this holiday season. Peace
to you this Advent season!
Erin Schmidt is Liturgy Coordinator in the Department of Campus Ministry.
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