Verse 12 from Luke 2:8-20 “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The angel didn’t leave it at that. He gave them a sign: that a newborn is wrapped in the swaddling cloths of the newly born and is lying in an animal’s feeding trough. Every one of those poor men could picture this since their own poor children may well have been born so. Already they knew the Lord, the Messiah, the glory of God; had not been born into a palace but was like one of them! Put yourself in the story. If God is…

Verses 10-11 from Luke 2:8-20 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Then a great Voice sounded like a mighty bell. “Do not be afraid!” There was more than comfort in his words to break through their fear, for the power of God was with the great Angel and overlay the hillside. The men stopped shouting and stared, the sheep went quiet, the dogs sat down on their haunches and waited. And the Angel…

With thanks to Fr. Luke Dysinger How to do Individual Lectio Reading. Prayerfully and slowly read the Bible until a word, phrase or verse speaks strongly to you. Silently repeat the word or phrase that attracts you. Don’t try to do Biblical interpretation: just quietly and peacefully repeat the passage to yourself. Meditation. Once you have gently memorized your word or phrase, ask “How does this word touch me? How does it touch what is going on in my life?” You can also enter imaging prayer (prayerful imagination) to see where the word takes you. Prayer. As answers or images begin to come to you, reflect on what God is…