Allow the coming of Christ to transform your heart more fully this Advent and Christmas! Questions about Santa A remarkably long list of conversation questions about Santa! While many of you are no doubt lamenting that you are not spending time with family and friends in the normal ways, I myself, have a very bittersweet reminder looking at my Christmas tree. I will definitely use both the adult and kid questions (my son is 4.5) over the next couple of days just to give our family a time to talk about the year that is coming to an end. The present economic crisis, causing so much suffering, can however help us to focus on the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and to welcome into our hearts the hope brought by Gods coming among us as man. For the Holidays: A Thought-Filled Gift Free for the Printing "Ponderables All Year" A Birthday Book of Original Aphorisms by Alan Harris PDF, 5.4 MB, 83 pages, double-sided format--print out odd-numbered pages, then print even-numbered on reverse For many of the past years, Christmas was a time of stress, trying to hang on to any Christmas cheer I could find, and frustration or disappointment. This image reminds me of the words of one of my favorite saints, St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” It was not just Mary who was created to be a temple for Christ. Nice reflection messages for Christmas Searching for best quotes about the spirit of Christmas ? Whenever we reach out in love we are most like God. What has comforted you? Gifts are an important part of Christmas for everyone. During this season of Advent what has challenged you? Looking back over the year, they may see many dreams not fulfilled and many questions unanswered. Questions to reflect on the past: In the past year, did I frequently fall behind on sleep, free time or my personal life as a result of my job? For work-related Christmas fun, here are six questions I posed five years ago from some of my favorite Christmas films. Wow, what a wild year it has been for us all. Christmas – A Reflection on Giving and Receiving. This Christmas we are invited to unwrap the gift of God in our lives through prayer. Prayer enables us to unwrap the gift of love by sharing our thoughts, feelings and actions. In the midst of Christmas cheer, a small thin voice insists on posing a series of difficult questions: what does it all mean? But do you feel like one? Do you believe that God wants to dwell in you? He came for all of us - believers and non-believers alike. The following is is an excerpt from a recording which is no longer available. The key gift is the gift of self. In his homily at Midnight Mass last year, Pope Benedict reflected on a phrase from the Gospel of St Luke that is read at that Mass every year: there was no room for them at the inn . Frustration and disappointment was a common theme because of expectations that Keeping Christ in Christmas. Advent and Christmas reflections that I have collected for your own use in making straight the paths of your life, and in preparing a place in your heart for the Prince of Peace to come and abide. Engage in some family reflection exercises everyday. A Reflection for Christmas Eve. It’s Christmas Eve 2020. Give God thanks in prayer as the key to God’s love. And Christmas is like that too. REFLECTION QUestion #1: What am I grateful for? Where was Christ’s temple on the night of his birth? Amen. GREAT news- in person Mass returns this weekend! Sometimes God loves us in difficult ways, but in order to flourish we need to fall in love with God. It was a stable. In what ways are you being called to turn the key of your mind, heart and will to love like Christ in action? A global pandemic. For Our Sake. Christmas - the Mystery of God’s Love. Christmas, Hanukkah, and other celebrations may be over, but consider keeping love, joy, peace and hope going into the New Year. Scrooge has a series of ghosts appear to him that show him his ways and change his outlook on life. Would I be pleased with the way I performed at work this year if I were my manager? Visit catholicterps.org to view the schedule and sign up in advance. His birth should bring us hope and triumph which will dispel the sadness from our lives. The famous Catholic actor of stage and screen, Helen Hayes, enjoyed telling the following story about her favorite Christmas dinner. While Christmas Day will always (and should) be the main event, Christmas Eve has become quite the icing to an already beautiful cake. A more tense than usual election. Christmas is a commemoration of God's coming into the world. Chances are, ... Give us a call on 020 8673 4545 and one of our friendly reception team can answer your questions and help find you the right therapist for you. So here we are. In all of the holiday bustle some precious gifts to give are time, attention, and listening. A Christmas Carol was about a man named Ebenezer Scrooge who is a businessman that is greedy, rude, unhappy, and completely focused on making profits. New Year’s Reflection Questions. Socio-political unrest. youtube.com/watch?v=SM9Jwi…, “And Mary kept all of these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”. The most critical religious question of our day is how we will answer the question "Who is my neighbor?" This Christmas, welcome Christ’s presence within you— allow him to transform you into his holy place. Although a notoriously bad cook, she decided one year to prepare a Christmas dinner. Their cry, echoed through the words of Country legend Merle Haggard … Despite the hype, Christmas has a way of stripping our lives down to the essentials. Think about reflecting every night at dinner. Classic Christmas carols Site with the words of classic Christmas carols and suggestions for use in class. May Our Lord open us to unwrap our love as a gift for others. Remember some key examples of how Christ shared his love? The spirit of Christmas, then, is very much one of recognising the value of all people, because our God has identified with us in a special way; and has told us that we find him in each other. You were too. ... A Mysterious Christmas Gift – a Man’s Reflection → Christmas Prayers. Ed Stetzer Bio. Questions that are not about “beating yourself up.” The following 3 questions are a great place to begin. All rights reserved. A Doll and a Rose – A little boy’s love for his mommy. Gratitude questions are a perennial favorite – … Almost Christmas. But do you feel like one? Christmas is not just the birth of someone whose example helped humanity. God’s love dwells within us and is reborn in our hearts this Christmas. All is gift; even our desire to reach out in love and service to others is itself God’s gift. Q: In the 1988 film “Die Hard,” police officer John McClane (played by Bruce Willis) travels from New York City to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with his wife and children. Prayer helps us to recognize our gifts and empowers us to share them with others. Below you will find daily prayers and reflections to help you enter into the beauty and splendor of this glorious season. Christmas Reflection Question | Current Events Skip to Main Content In light of these questions, I offer one last reflection for the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord. In a few minutes she returned to the dining room, where the family had expectantly settled around the table – wearing their hats and coats! Christmas Fun. Every New Year’s Eve I spend time reflecting on the year that has passed and my intentions for the upcoming year, because I believe that the more we know ourselves the more we will know … The Divine, Source, Love, Grace, Light and Love. Love of the Father Spring 2020 Retreat Talks. Do you believe that God wants to dwell in you? What one action can you take to give yourself as a gift to another. Advent and Christmas Reflections The Catholic Daily Reflections Series is a great resource for daily meditation and prayer. Follow the lead of Our Lady, who not just during her pregnancy— her nine month Advent— but all throughout her existence has pondered the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation, His Death, and His Resurrection in her Immaculate Heart. You can listen to this excerpt, Jesus is Born, in mp3 with specially commissioned soothing background music (reduced quality for 56k dial-up modems) The greatest Christmas gift we can give to another person is the gift of ourselves. It was not just Mary who was created to be a temple for Christ. Prayer is the key. Amen. In all of the holiday bustle some precious gifts to give are time, attention, and listening. Christmas Lights: A Christmas Eve Reflection For Your Family. The greatest Christmas gift we can give to another person is the gift of ourselves. Christmas thoughts and devotionals. We can't wait to see you all at Mass and Adoration! Christmas speaks to everyone; it celebrates the gift of life -- often fragile or endangered -- and the fulfilment of our deepest hopes for a world renewed. This video is unavailable. One of my favorite Spiritual authors, Carryl Houselander, says it like this, “The way to begin healing the wounds of the world is to treasure the infant Christ in us; to be not the castle but the cradle of Christ…”. Advent and Christmas Reflections is a daily devotional offering reflections on the Gospel of the day in a practical, faithful and down-to-earth way. I will try to remember to come back to this conversation to … They can't seem to identify with the celebratory Christmas spirit around them that somehow seems to have eluded them. From inspiring art to inspiring peace, we come to Christmas’s ability to inspire our individual lives. Christmas 2020 is on its way and so is quiz season. Christmas eve is one of the events that we all await with much illusion, not only for the celebration that represents but also because it is a perfect occasion to reflect a bit about what we are doing. Dec 30, 2016 - Looking for some new year's reflection questions or questions to reflect on the holidays? Our time of preparation has come to fruition! “If it isn’t right, I don’t want anyone to say a word. This Christmas season was the best Christmas I have had in a long time. Reflection question: What is one concrete thing you can do each day this week to spend time with the babe in the manger? We can't wait to see you there! ... Why Christmas Is A Time For Reflection, Not Perfection. What and who are God’s gifts to you? Here are the best Christmas quiz questions to test your trivia, music and film knowledge. Help young people look afresh at the Christmas story and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. It’s the birth of the One who saves humanity from itself. A Christmas Carol Reflection. - Father Conrad, About 6 months ago from Catholic Terps's Twitter via Twitter Web App, "My friendship with Jesus is the most satisfying and beautiful thing that's ever been in my life!" Christmas quotes and prayers. 797 Valley Road Reflection: The true meaning of Christmas Archdeacon Dorrien Davies remembers attending a Plygain service with his late father, recalls past Christmases and considers this year’s celebration At Christmas we are reminded of many things, family, friends, and memories of the past. He told you for all time that he preferred your dirty stable of a soul to a worldly throne by the circumstances of his birth. Tommy Lane. Don't try to figure out the plot of your life, try to know the author. You were too. We’ll just get up from the table, without comment, and go to a hotel for dinner.”. Most of us have spent the last several weeks getting ready. Watch Queue Queue Copyright © 2021 stphilip.org. Meditation and Reflection for Christmas. How does Christ share his love today? 19 New Year’s Eve Reflection Questions . It is a time filled with anticipation, joy, celebration, and often close friends and family. Yet it became all of those things to the greatest degree possible because he was there. A new year offers us opportunities to stop and reflect upon how we want to spend our time and energy this year. Although our gifts and talents vary, God bountifully gives us the gift of our lives to share with others. Christmas Reflections on Credit Cards & Christmas Debt Christmas is the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money. Self-reflection is easily started by asking helpful questions. Christmas is a special time of the year for many around the world. Others face stress, loneliness and financial struggles. Advent & Christmas Prayers & Reflections May this Advent be a time of spiritual awakening and renewal for you as you prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World. Christmas can be a difficult time for many people. That’s why he came. This Christmas resource can be used as part of a youth night, youth club or Christmas presentation. As we celebrate the birth of Our Lord, I invite you to pause for a moment and reflect in your heart. St. Philip the Apostle Parish Thanks for these reflection questions, Tsh. by Fr. That’s what he wants. Clifton, New Jersey 07013. In light of these questions, I offer one last reflection for the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord. Another Sean Banville production. “This is the first turkey I’ve ever cooked,” she warned her family. Chances are you’re busy preparing for Christmas. Just like with you, Jesus did not chose a stable because it was perfect, beautiful, and holy. Gospel Reflection for Christmas Day The Birth of Jesus Christ, our Saviour – Christ the Light and the Light of Christ The shopping is done, all the presents are bought and wrapped, the house is clean and the tree with all its decoration is shining brightly. That’s why he came. It works well with 11-14's but please adapt according to the knowledge and age of your group. December 21, 2016 by John Gilman 3775. This image reminds me of the words of one of my favorite saints, St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”. God’s love dwells within us and is reborn in our hearts this Christmas. It has a funny way of creating an empty space around us. That’s what he wants. Remember to sign up at catholicterps.org/event/in-pe… before you arrive :) pic.twitter.com/W7acPV7iI0, About 5 months ago from Catholic Terps's Twitter via Twitter Web App. Thursday, 11th February 2021. In a paradox of time, Easter’s hope gives rise to Christmas’s joy. Yes, the beautiful tree, the gorgeous decorations, and the more or less lovely Christmas music being piped in from every available speaker in the area can bring a sense of the Christmas spirit to anyone in the area. This Christmas, welcome Christ’s presence within you— allow him to transform you into his holy place. You don’t have to be a gleaming palace for Jesus. Most of us have those special memories as children waking up to presents from Santa Claus on Christmas Day under the tree. Join Catholic Terps for adoration happening now! Christmas is a strange time. At Christmas we celebrate Our Lord who chose to share our humanity so that we might share God’s divine love with one another. “And Mary kept all of these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Luke 2:19. May Our Lord open us to unwrap our love as a gift for others. Trees bought and decorated. Some Personal Reflection Questions for this New Year. This is a printable to use to keep the holiday spirit alive. Watch Queue Queue. Make sure to write down the answers as it can be a great keepsake in future years!