I wanted to try something a little different this week. Please select one of the prompts, interact with it, and respond with your thoughts. I would love to hear your insights. 1) Proclaiming from the Healed Landscape The expansive meadows and mountains under a hopeful sky reflect Jesus' mission continuing: "Let us go elsewhere... for this purpose have I come." Despite wounds, God calls you to share light—perhaps a word of encouragement to a battle buddy, patience with family readjustment, or quiet witness of faith. Let the blooming, restored land in the artwork inspire you: healing leads to fruitfulness. What small "proclamation" (a listening ear, shared story, or act of service) might flow from your own journey toward wholeness? 2) Healing in the Meadow's Renewal Gaze on the wildflowers blooming vibrantly along the riverbank—pink, purple, yellow, and blue against green hills. This scene evokes new life emerging after hardship, much like Jesus taking Simon's mother-in-law by the hand, lifting her from the fever so she rises to serve. Reflect on your own "fevers": lingering physical injuries, moral wounds from choices in service, or the exhaustion of supporting a loved one through trauma. Imagine Jesus' hand in the gentle flow of the painted river, lifting you or your family member. How does this image of blooming restoration invite you to rise and serve again—with renewed strength, perhaps in small acts of love toward your unit, spouse, or children? 3) Bringing Burdens to the Flowing River Visualize the river in the painting as a gentle path carrying away debris, symbolizing Jesus' reception of the sick and possessed at the door. Bring to this scene your burdens—comrades' unseen scars, family strains from deployments or changes, or your own guilt/anger/grief. Lay them symbolically into the flowing water, trusting Christ's compassion to cleanse and renew. How does the image's tranquil beauty assure you that no wound is beyond His reach? Offer a silent prayer: "Lord, I bring these to You—heal and restore."

Image: Mosaic of a Saintly Warrior (A detailed mosaic depicting a bearded figure with a golden halo, dressed in ornate robes and armor-like garments adorned with crosses. He holds a candle or lamp in a dimly lit, ancient setting, symbolizing a vigilant spiritual warrior illuminated by divine light.) Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV) "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." In the spirit of a soldier's discipline and readiness, this meditation draws on the unyielding resolve of faith warriors—standing firm like sentinels in battle, shielded by divine strength against unseen enemies. As in the calls to arms from ancient scriptures, we are reminded that true victory comes not from earthly might but from heavenly fortitude. Visio Divina Practice: ~ Gaze (Visio): Spend 1-2 minutes quietly observing the image. Notice the armor's details, the halo's glow, and the figure's contemplative pose. What draws your eye? How does the light piercing the darkness speak to you? ~ Reflect (Meditatio): Connect the image to the scripture. Imagine yourself donning this spiritual armor amid life's battles—perhaps the "fiery darts" of doubt, fear, or conflict. What "enemies" are you facing today, and how does God's power equip you like a battle-tested veteran? ~ Pray (Oratio): Offer a silent or spoken prayer. "Lord, arm me with Your truth as a belt, righteousness as a breastplate, and faith as a shield. Help me stand resolute in Your might." ~ Rest and Respond (Contemplatio): Sit in stillness, letting God speak through the image and words. Then, journal or act: How will you carry this military-like vigilance into your day—perhaps through disciplined prayer, protecting your peace, or supporting a fellow "soldier" in faith?

Image: The Holy Family in the Stable a tender oil painting of the Nativity: Mary and Joseph gaze in quiet adoration at the Infant Jesus lying in a manger of straw. A soft, radiant glow emanates from the Child, illuminating their faces and filling the humble stable with warm light. A small fire burns nearby, casting gentle shadows, while animals rest peacefully in the background. The scene is wrapped in silence, reverence, and profound peace. Scripture:“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Reflection for Service Members and Veterans: Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this holy night, behold the mystery: the eternal Word of God, the Creator of the universe, becomes a helpless infant in a forgotten stable. No fanfare. No palace. No legions of angels visible—only a young mother, a faithful husband, and the quiet courage to say yes to God’s plan. Many of us know what it is to stand watch in the silence of the night, far from home, in places that feel forgotten. We know vulnerability—carrying wounds seen and unseen, waiting in the dark for dawn. Tonight, the Light enters that very darkness. Jesus comes not as a conquering general, but as a child—defenseless, yet invincible in love. He chooses poverty, humility, and dependence to show us the true power of God: tender mercy that conquers fear, sin, and death. Look at Mary—serene in trust. Look at Joseph—guardian in the shadows. They teach us that faithfulness is not loud; it is steady. It is protecting what is most precious, even when the world offers no reward. Tonight, the Savior is born for you. The One who will one day carry the Cross now rests in your heart’s manger. Let Him dwell there. Visio Divina Exercise (5 minutes) Find a quiet moment. Gaze upon the image. Invite the Holy Spirit. —Silencio (Silence) – Breathe slowly. Let the noise of the day fall away. Be still before the mystery of Christmas. —Vide (See) – Look deeply. What draws your eye? The glow from the Child? Mary’s gentle gaze? Joseph’s protective presence? The humble stable?

December 22, 2025 In these final days of Advent, as we remember President Jimmy Carter—Naval officer, peacemaker, and faithful servant who entered eternal rest just weeks ago—this luminous image offers us a beautiful doorway into prayer. It shows a distinguished Navy officer standing beside a radiant angel who extends a scroll, while a shaft of heavenly light breaks through the clouds over a tranquil river valley. Framed like a sacred icon, the scene speaks of divine encounter, quiet courage, and lifelong service. Let us enter into visio divina—the prayerful practice of “sacred seeing”—together. Set aside 15–20 minutes in a quiet place. Have the image before you (on screen or printed). Breathe slowly and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your gaze. Visio Divina Practice 1. Prepare Your HeartSit comfortably. Take three slow, deep breaths. Pray silently or aloud:Come, Holy Spirit. Open my eyes to see as You see. Open my heart to receive whatever You wish to show me today. Amen. 2. Gaze (3–5 minutes) Look at the image without rushing. Let your eyes move naturally. Notice: - The officer’s posture—attentive, respectful, unafraid. - The angel’s gentle expression and the scroll offered like a gift. - The beam of light descending from heaven to earth. - The calm river, the trees, the peaceful landscape bathed in divine glow. - The ornate border that frames it all like a window into eternity. Rest your gaze on whatever draws you most. Simply be present. 3. Reflect (5 minutes) Ask the Lord to speak through what you see. Ponder these questions gently: - Where do I notice light breaking into darkness in this image? Where is it breaking into my own life? - What might the scroll say if I could read it? What message is God extending to me in this season? - The officer stands ready to receive. What am I being invited to receive—perhaps a new call, a letting go, or a deeper trust? - How does Jimmy Carter’s life of service echo in this scene for me today?

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