Mundelein Seminary rector Father John Kartje recently offered an Advent retreat entitled “In the Fullness of Time He Sent His Son: Preparing Your Heart to Receive Christ.” Listen to all of the talks below and download the handouts, which will help guide you through this online retreat.
Click here to download all scripture references: USML Advent Retreat Scriptures – 2019
Part 1: Intro (8:55)
Part 2: Boundaries (30:54)
Part 3: Boundaries: Ladder of Beauty (10:29)
Handout: USML Advent Day of Reflection – 2019 – Two Gardens
Part 4: Two Gardens: Garden of Eden (17:30)
Part 5: Two Gardens: Garden of Gethsemane (23:57)
Part 6: The Book of Ruth (21:57)
- Book mentioned: A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
- Movie mentioned: “Shadow Lands” – watch video clip here
- Deuteronomy 10:20–21
20 The LORD, your God, shall you fear, and him shall you serve; to him hold fast and by his name shall you swear. 21 He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you those great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen. - Ruth 1:14–16
14 Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave youor to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
Part 7: The Song of Songs (9:32)
- Book mentioned: The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
- Song 3:1-5
1 On my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves—I sought him but I did not find him. 2 “Let me rise then and go about the city, through the streets and squares; Let me seek him whom my soul loves.” I sought him but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen found me, as they made their rounds in the city: “Him whom my soul loves—have you seen him?” 4 Hardly had I left them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of her who conceived me. 5 I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the field, Do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready. - Song 8:6
6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For Love is strong as Death, longing is fierce as Sheol.
Part 8: Advent Readings (18:19)
-
Matthew 11:2–6
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” -
The Women of Matthew’s Geneology of Jesus (Matthew chapter 1) Tamar (1:3); Rahab (1:5); Ruth (1:5); “wife of Uriah” (1:6)
-
Matthew 1:18–25
18 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. 19 Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. 25 He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus. -
Luke 1:26–38
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 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. 36 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; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 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. - Luke 4:1–13
1 Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ” 5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8 Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’ ” 9 Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’ ” 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
Part 9: Discernment of Spirits (24:15)
- Handout: Seeking the Love of Christ
- Books mentioned: The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Discernment of Spirits by Timothy Gallagher
- Movie mentioned: “The Days of Wine and Roses”
