2008_advent 2_What Child is this? Peace

Slide 1: 

What Child is this? guided contemplations for advent using art, photography and scripture

Slide 2: 

second week of advent, 7 to 13 dec contemplating Jesus as Peace

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With each breath you slowly take, recall God’s presence. Rest in God. Now, imagine God smiling at you and loving you. Dwell in God’s love. As you go through the following slides, take time to pause…to ponder….to feel God’s Spirit within you. Settling into God’s presence …

Slide 4: 

Begin by calling on the Lord: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come and Visit Your People. We Await Your Coming;  You are our Peace. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Repeat these phrases in your heart…slowly…like a Taize chant… Allow the meaning of these words to sink into you more deeply…

Slide 5: 

Let us begin by looking at the quality of human relationships

Slide 6: 

Where there is hatred... not enough love... by eddie adams

Slide 7: 

Where there is doubt... not enough faith... by carf

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Where there is injury... not enough pardon... by james nachtwey

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And where there is darkness... not enough light...

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In every relationship, each of us yearns for peace... a peace that respects, embraces , and loves us as we really are. by emilee and grayson

Slide 11: 

Do you desire this peace in the relationships you have? Why? Spend some time now to converse with the Lord...with your heart. by emilee and grayson

Slide 12: 

Let us next reflect on THE PEACE Jesus offers us

Slide 13: 

Take some time to look at the painting. Madonna and Child with Angels by Adolphe Williamiam Bouguereau , 1881

Slide 14: 

Who or what attracts your attention most? Why? Madonna and Child with Angels by Adolphe Williamiam Bouguereau , 1881

Slide 15: 

How does this painting speak to you of peace? Madonna and Child with Angels by Adolphe Williamiam Bouguereau , 1881

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Now, rest in the presence of this peace… Be aware of your feelings and thoughts. Madonna and Child with Angels by Adolphe Williamiam Bouguereau , 1881

Slide 17: 

Take a few minutes to converse with the Lord about the kind of peace Jesus promises you, now and always. . Madonna and Child with Angels by Adolphe Williamiam Bouguereau , 1881

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Jesus is the PEACE the world cannot give! The Adoration of the Shepherds, Giovanni Girolamo Salvodo 1530's

Slide 19: 

Response: Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, with Your judgment endow the king,and with Your justice, the king’s son;He shall govern Your people with justiceand Your afflicted ones with judgment. R. Justice shall flower in his days,and profound peace, till the moon be no more.May he rule from sea to sea,and from the River to the ends of the earth. R. He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;the lives of the poor he shall save. R. May his name be blessed forever;as long as the sun his name shall remain.In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. R. Let us join the psalmist to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, who will bring justice and peace to humankind Psalm 72

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Let us end by allowing Jesus’ PEACE to enter into our life and world today

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Advent invites us to remember that Jesus’ Peace has come into our world with His birth. Spend some moments now to allow Jesus’ Peace to transform our relationships because all of us are God’s children.

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Jesus is our real PEACE… With him, there is certainty and warmth of peace… there is hope… We invite you to reflect on: “How have I experienced the peace of Jesus in my life” “Am I grateful for it?” “To whom should I bring Jesus’ peace to this week?” End by asking for the grace to live happily in Jesus’ Peace.

Slide 23: 

End by speaking to the Lord: “Dear Jesus, Our Prince of Peace, send me Your Holy Spirit as I continue to prepare for Christmas. Help me to recognize Your peace in my life. Teach me to share it with all at home and at work. We are a people walking in darkness and seeking Your comforting Light... To You we say, Come, Lord, Jesus! Come and fill us with Your Peace!” Glory be to the Father…

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Join us next week for another contemplation to prepare spiritually for Christmas. ©adrian.danker.sj, 2008