A Labyrinth Prayer Journey Through Advent--Joy

"joy" cookie (my photo)

Advent is going by a bit faster than I expected or hoped for. The weeks seems to start slowly, yet somehow speed up. The third week of Advent is upon us, the week of joy.

Here is the devotional material for Week 3:

WEEK 3—Joy

SCRIPTURE:

Philippians 4:4 (NET-- New English Translation)--"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!"

QUOTES:

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day." --Henri Nouwen

"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy." --Rumi

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Joy is the theme for this week, the third week in Advent. If we were lighting an advent candle during our practice, it would be the pink (rose) candle on the Advent wreath. The third Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin term meaning “rejoice”.

As you reflect on joy, what brings you joy? How do you share joy with others?

When I consider “joy”, there is a song that pops into my memory. The first verse goes like this:

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay

Walking/Praying the labyrinth

During this third week of Advent, I invite you to walk and pray the labyrinth with the theme of joy. You might try the following suggestions or you might create your own joy 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”.

As you walk and pray the labyrinth, consider doing something that brings you joy, such as singing a song that brings you joy or blowing bubbles. Yes, you read that correctly. Bubbles bring joy. They do. If you haven’t blown bubbles recently, I invite you to do so. Blowing bubbles is a way to breathe in and out deeply, to allow your focus to be on the bubbles floating away through the air.

• 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 joy these days, where you see joy. Reflect on these things. Ask yourself what might bring you joy. Reflect on these things.

 

• Take one or both of the verses with you, the quotes, or the song into the labyrinth as part of your journey. Notice where and how you sense joy as you go to the center. Remain in the center for a moment to reflect on joy. 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 “joy” to you.
• Research. What other Scripture verses or quotes can you find on “joy”?
• Write a prayer on peace.  What might a prayer on joy look like for you?
• Journal. Consider writing about your labyrinth experiences. 

An additional link for consideration:

"Rejoice in the Lord Always"