A Labyrinth Prayer Journey Through Advent--Love

"love" mug, part of the Advent mug set

Donna Godwin, artist

The Advent season has continued to pass by more quickly than anticipated. But that's how it is every year. It seems to start off slowly and then it's almost over. That's why it's important to me to be intentional with my practices, to make the most of the season, to ensure that I slow down at least a little bit so I can reflect.

Here is the devotional material for week 4:

WEEK 4—Love

SCRIPTURE:

1 John 4:7-8 (CEB) “⁷Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. ⁸The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love.”

QUOTE:

“I want to be more loving in my heart! It is often easy to see it with my mind, and give assent to the thought of being loving. But I want to be more loving in my heart! So I must ease the tension in my heart that ejects the sharp barb, the stinging word. I want to be more loving in my heart so that, through both unconscious awareness and deliberate intent, I shall be a kind, gracious human being. I want to be more loving in my heart.” ~Howard Thurman

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 Love is the theme for this week, the fourth and final week in Advent. As you reflect on love, here are some questions for reflection:

• What brings you love?
• How do you share love with others?
• What symbolizes love for you?
• How does love shape your perspective on life?

Love can mean different things at different times. It can also depend on the situation and relationship. As we enter this fourth week of Advent, the love we are referring to is the love God has shown us and the love we are to show God, others, and ourselves. Mark 12:28-31 (CEB)—²⁸One of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” ²⁹Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, ³⁰and you must love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ³¹The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

Walking/Praying the labyrinth

During this fourth week of Advent, I invite you to walk and pray the labyrinth with the theme of love. You might try the following suggestions or you might create your own love journey. (If you need a refresher on one way to walk/pray the labyrinth, you can go back to the explanation in week 1 for “hope”.)

• Take a copy of the Scripture verse and/or quote and read them as you walk, reflecting on what comes to mind. Ask yourself where you have love these days, where you see love. Reflect on these things. Ask yourself what might show you love or how you might show love to others. Reflect on these things. 

• Take the verse and/or the quote with you. Notice where and how you sense love as you go to the center. Remain in the center for a moment to reflect on love. As you head back out of the labyrinth, what is your focus? What do you notice?

Additional practices:

• Contemplative Photography. Take a photo of something that signifies “love” to you.
• Research. What other Scripture verses or quotes can you find on “love”?
• Write a prayer on peace.  What might a prayer on love look like for you?

Journal. Consider writing about your labyrinth experiences. 

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In my preparation of the material for week 4, I came across a "new-to-me" song entitled "Mercy in a Manger" by Evan Craft, 2022.

I invite you to listen to the song: (lyrics are included in the video)

Peace as you continue the Advent adventure! Here's a quote for reflection that brings together the entire Advent journey:

"The Advent journey: Hope becomes peace. Peace becomes joy. Joy becomes love. Love becomes Christ." ~Bobby Schuller

May Advent hope, peace, joy, and love be yours as you journey to the birth of the Christ child.

Rev, Deb