Third Thursday of Advent
– You can ponder on the picture.
– You can pray on the words of Scripture. For methods of praying with scripture click button below.
– You can follow the suggestions in the daily ‘Reflection’.
– You can listen to the music
Today’s Scripture
Song of Songs 2: 8-14 (ESV)
The voice of my beloved!
Behold, he comes,
leaping over the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Behold, there he stands
behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
looking through the lattice.
My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away,
for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtle-dove
is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away.
O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
in the crannies of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice,
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.
Reflection
The loved one in today’s reading hears her beloved calling her ‘my darling, my beautiful one, my love’. This beautiful Song has often been considered as a portrayal of Christ’s love for his Bride, the Church. We may also receive the words as God’s words to those who are His beloved, which is each one of us.
You are invited to take some time today in quiet, listening to God singing His words of love to and over you.
How does it feel for you to hear God speak those words to you, personally? Calling you ‘my beautiful one’, ‘my love’?
Speak with God about how this feels, including about any struggle or resistance you may have to God addressing you this way.
Today’s Music
Click to purchase Belovedness by Sarah Kroger
If you are finding this retreat helpful, then please consider sending us a donation towards the cost creating it and of putting it online.