2021 Advent Reflection – Week Four

Week Four Advent Reflection 

Micah 5: 1- 4
Psalm 80: 2, 3, 15, 16, 18, 19
Hebrews 10: 5 – 10
Luke 1: 39 – 45

Written by Barbara Mass, SLW

“Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we will be saved.”

That’s the Fourth Sunday Psalm Response. This last week of Advent we invite God to help us to turn to see God in the days’ activities. We are asking for a contemplative way of being in this very busy week. Seems a little like an impossible task, but remember the angel told Mary in Luke 1: 37 that nothing is impossible with God.

And to help along, there was an article in the November 7, Chicago Tribune on ways to sharpen your mental focus. The author quoted a book, “Peak Mind,” by a noted neuroscientist Amishi Jha. Jha’s second way of sharpening is: Practice Brain Breaks. It’s a simple practice and perhaps you do it already-just don’t name it the same. It’s based on the word STOP. Stop what you are doing. Take a breath. Observe what is happening and Proceed. This helps to lead into a more contemplative/mindful way of being in all the tasks ahead. Jha writes that this Brain Break brings back the focus and can help to direct our attention to where we want it, not on all the distractions.

The Scripture of today reminds us to refocus on what is really important.

In Micah, the prophet reminds the listeners that the promised one will bring peace to the people by his strong way of shepherding the people. But we are not to be distracted by the lowly place of his birth. God reaches into this lowly place to select the one to lead the people. And what about me? Am I missing something or someone who I have discounted?

Then the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews points to the fact that all the rituals, although good, are not the most important element of our following of Jesus. It is where I am willing to follow the will of God in my life that stands at the top of the disciple’s life.

And in the Gospel, we meet two women. Neither has any status in the culture they where they live. Their place in the society is found in their husbands. But each carries a great amount of authority because they were open to doing the will of God in their lives.

So God makes us turn to see the face of God in all those tasks of this Fourth Week of Advent. Let’s pray to STOP enough times each day to see the face of God and rejoice.

You might want to read Luke 1: 26-79, the weekday gospels, to get ready for the Christmas Gospel.