Pax Christi Youth Ministry Middle-High School Proof Advent and Christmas Reflection - Student Guide

How to Use this Reflection

Prayer is often times something we put on the back burner, but it really should be our number

one priority each and every day. Advent is a great time to return to and/or deepen your prayer

life, which is really the basis of your relationship with God. Spend some time this week, during,

and after Christmas in prayer.

This guide includes a few different ways you can pray right at home, either on your own or with

your family. As you page though you will find that we have included multiple ways for you to

pray:

1. Images - These are original works created during the artist’s own reflection on the

Advent and Christmas seasons and Gospels. Sometimes all we need is to gaze upon an

image and ponder the beauty, goodness, and truth the artist is hoping to convey.

2. Song Lyrics and/or Poetry - Songs or poetry is a popular form of communicating some of

the deepest human emotions. Furthermore, their beauty can uplift our hearts and

illuminate truth unlike anything else. We have included the lyrics for four different songs

which correspond to the four different images in this guide. We have also included links

to the video performances of those songs. Just take some time to let the lyrics and

melodies move your heart.

3. Sacred Scripture - there is quite possibly no better way to pray than by using God’s own

Word. So often we forget that Sacred Scripture itself is a prayer. Take some time and

read each of the three Gospels included line by line, s-l-o-w-l-y… Let the words sink in

and see if any of them stick out to you as new, different, strange, beautiful, challenging,

etc… write down some of your thoughts like you would in a journal.

4. Writing/Reflecting - throughout the guide you will find space to write down your own

thoughts. Take some time to write whatever comes to mind. Come back and read what

you have written after some time has passed, have your thoughts changed, are they the

same? How so?

Epiklesis (Overshadowing of the Holy Spirit)

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Prepare Him Room By: The Vigil Project (Greg & Lizzy)

Use this space to write any

thoughts:

Let every heart let every heart ______________________________

Prepare him room ______________________________

Let every heart let every heart ______________________________

Prepare him room ______________________________

Let every heart let every heart ______________________________

Prepare him room ______________________________

Let every heart let every heart ______________________________

Prepare him room ______________________________

We’re making room ______________________________

We’re making room ______________________________

All creation groans in labor ______________________________

Waiting for our humble Savior ______________________________

Joyful hope for Jesus coming In our hearts is overflowing ______________________________

All creation groans in labor ______________________________

Waiting for our humble Savior ______________________________

Joyful hope for Jesus coming In our hearts is overflowing ______________________________

Let every heart let every heart ______________________________

Prepare him room ______________________________

Let every heart let every heart ______________________________

Prepare him room ______________________________

We’re making room ______________________________

We’re making room ______________________________

Video of this song being performed can be found at:

https://www.thevigilproject.com/advent-1/prepare-him-room

Gospel Reading #1 - A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (1:26-38)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to

a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was

Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly

troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel

said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will

conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will

be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel

said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will

overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold,

Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for

her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the

handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed

from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are the things in your life that seem to be competing for your attention with your

loved ones? What are you holding onto that’s absorbing your time?

2. How can you make changes to your schedule, activities, and priorities to make room for

Christ to come and to better love your family?

3. How is God calling you to and giving you the grace for conversion of heart this Advent?

How is he calling you and your family to holiness?

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After Joseph's Dream

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In Need of a Savior By: The Vigil Project (Andrea Thomas)

Use this space to write any

thoughts:

We stand in darkness, we wait on this holy night ______________________________

Broken and helpless descendeth upon us Your light ______________________________

Centuries waiting, we are at Your mercy, Lord ______________________________

Turn Your gaze to Your people, in need of a Savior ______________________________

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Our Spirits rejoice as we wait, as we wait for You ______________________________

God, You are mighty, we beg that You make us anew ______________________________

Centuries waiting, we ask that You now restore ______________________________

And turn Your gaze to Your people in need of Savior ______________________________

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Come O Come, Emmanuel ______________________________

Come O Lord in our hearts to dwell ______________________________

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We stand in darkness, we wait on this holy night ______________________________

Broken and helpless descendeth upon us Your light ______________________________

Centuries waiting, we are at Your mercy, Lord ______________________________

Turn Your gaze to Your people in need of a Savior ______________________________

Video of this song being performed can be found at:

https://www.thevigilproject.com/advent-1/in-need-of-a-savior-steeple

Gospel Reading #2 - A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (1:18-25)

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to

Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph

her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to

divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him

in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your

home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a

son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this

took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be

with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife

into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son,* and he named him Jesus.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions:

1. Are there any areas of your life that you don't believe God can make new? Can you

identify what holds you back from fully trusting that God will take care of you?

2. In what ways can you invite Him into your heart in a deeper way this Advent season?

What can you practically do to create some space for God to move in your life?

3. Is there a family member in need who you can pray for in a special way this week,

trusting that God sees their every need?

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Unto Us

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You Gave Us Your Love By: The Vigil Project (Greg & Lizzy)

Use this space to write any thoughts: Come to our stable there is room for you to dwell ______________________________ In flesh and blood to prove your love While we were sinners you became Emmanuel ______________________________ You have become one of us You have become one with us ______________________________ You gave us your only son ______________________________ To all of our weakness in flesh you have come Emmanuel our God is with us now ______________________________ You gave us your love

______________________________ Come to our stable there is room here in our hearts Redeem the mess we offer you ______________________________ We need a savior a light to shine into the dark And make it new ______________________________ Your presence makes all things new

______________________________ You gave us your only son To all of our weakness in flesh you have come ______________________________ Emmanuel our God is with us now You gave us your love ______________________________ You gave us, gave us (4X) ______________________________ Your yes to every promise You gave us, gave us ______________________________ The fullness of Your joy

______________________________ You gave us, gave us (2x) Your love ______________________________ You gave us, gave us (3x) Your word as flesh and blood ______________________________ You gave us, gave us Your love ______________________________

You gave us your only son ______________________________ To all of our weakness in flesh you have come Emmanuel our God is with us now ______________________________ You gave us your love

Video of this song being performed can be found at:

https://www.thevigilproject.com/chords-and-lyrics/you-gave-us-your-love-greg-and-lizzy

Gospel Reading #3 - A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (2:1-14)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled,

each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to

Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of

David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the

time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in

swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over

their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around

them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for

behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the

city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for

you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly

there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to

God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions:

1. What did you get for Christmas?

2. Was it what you were hoping for?

3. Was it what you asked for?

4. Perhaps we can spend some time in these days of Christmas to let it sink into our hearts

that God has given us the greatest gift of all…He gave us His love.

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Domestica Ecclesia (the Domestic Church, aka - the Family)

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Silent Night By: The Vigil Project (John Finch)

Use this space to write any

thoughts:

Silent night holy night ______________________________

All is calm all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child ______________________________

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace ______________________________

Sleep in heavenly peace

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Silent night holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

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Glories stream from Heaven afar

Heavenly Hosts sing Alleluia ______________________________

Christ the Savior is born

Christ the Savior is born ______________________________

Silent night holy night ______________________________

Son of God Love’s pure light

Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face ______________________________

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus Lord at Thy Birth ______________________________

Jesus Lord at Thy Birth

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Silent night holy night

All is calm all is bright ______________________________

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild ______________________________

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace ______________________________

Video of this song being performed can be found at:

https://www.thevigilproject.com/advent-1/silent-night