Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent – December 22, 2025
Gaze upon this vibrant scene:
A battlefield reborn as a lush meadow—wildflowers bursting in radiant color, vines climbing over a planted rifle, a helmet cradling blooming life under a golden sunrise. What was once ground of conflict now overflows with mercy, beauty, and new growth. Creation testifies: God transforms ashes into glory.
Warrior's Reflection:
Like Hannah surrendering her precious son to the Lord and Mary singing the Magnificat of God's upside-down kingdom, this image speaks of radical trust and divine reversal. The instruments of war yield to life; the lowly earth is lifted, filled with splendor. In your military journey—deployments, losses, moral wounds—God invites the same surrender. He overturns arrogance with mercy, plants hope in barren places, and exalts the humble warrior who offers everything back to Him. Your sacrifices are not in vain; they become soil for resurrection life. Visio Divina
Practice:
- Secure your position.
- Breathe the breath of the Spirit.
- Let your eyes receive divine light.
- Visio (Gaze): Look slowly at the image. Absorb the colors, the transformation, the vibrant life emerging from what was hard ground.
- Meditatio (Meditate): Rest on what stirs you—the flowers from the helmet, vines on the rifle, light breaking dawn. Where in your life has God brought beauty from battle? How is He calling you to surrender anew?
- Oratio (Pray): Speak honestly to the Lord. Name your "battlefields"—pain, loss, fear. Rejoice with Mary: "He has done great things."
- Contemplatio (Contemplate): Simply behold the scene. Rest in Emmanuel's transforming presence.
- Actio (Action): Today, release one burden to God; notice a sign of new life around you as a promise of His mercy.
The Light conquers all darkness, warrior.
Surrender and rejoice—He lifts the lowly.
MAC(SW/AW/EXW) Heath J Garcia (Ret.),
Spiritual Director
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Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent – December 22, 2025
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