As the Christmas season unfolds, with its twinkling lights and festive songs, there’s often a palpable excitement in the air. Yet, amidst this bustle of activity and commercialization, the profound spiritual significance of the holiday—the celebration of Jesus Christ’s miraculous birth—can become overshadowed. This year, let’s explore how turning to spiritual disciplines, including the practice of Visio Divina, can help us refocus on the awe of the Virgin Birth and rediscover the true essence of Christmas.

The Lost Spiritual Depth of Christmas
In today’s fast-paced, consumer-driven world, Christmas can easily become more about materialism than spiritual introspection. The story of the Virgin Birth, a cornerstone of Christian faith symbolizing hope and divine intervention, often gets lost amidst the holiday shopping and festivities. This dilution of spiritual focus can leave many feeling a sense of emptiness, despite the external celebrations.

Turning to Spiritual Disciplines
To recenter our experience of Christmas and embrace its true spiritual depth, various disciplines can be instrumental. These practices aren’t about earning grace but deepening our understanding and appreciation of the miraculous event we celebrate.

Advent Meditation and Prayer: Utilize the Advent period for reflection and preparation, focusing on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.

Scripture Reading: Engage with the accounts of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels, allowing these narratives to deepen your understanding of the event.

Fasting: Consider fasting from distractions or certain comforts to heighten your spiritual awareness during the season.

Service and Giving: Embody Christ’s spirit of humility and service through acts of kindness, charity, and giving.

Contemplative Practices: Practices like Lectio Divina can help in meditating on Scripture, while Visio Divina — a practice involving meditative looking at and contemplating an image, often an artwork depicting a biblical scene — can offer a profound visual approach to understanding the Incarnation.

Community Worship and Fellowship: Participate in church services and community gatherings focused on the spiritual meaning of Christmas.

Visio Divina: This practice, which means “divine seeing,” involves contemplatively looking at and reflecting on a piece of art or a sacred image. You can choose an artwork depicting the Nativity or any aspect of the Christmas story. Spend time quietly gazing at the image, noticing the emotions, thoughts, and reflections it stirs in you. This form of prayerful seeing can help you connect deeply with the mystery of God made flesh, bringing the story of the Virgin Birth to life in a unique and personal way.

Reclaiming the Awe of the Virgin Birth
By incorporating these spiritual disciplines into our Christmas routine, we shift our focus back to the miraculous event of the Virgin Birth. This intentional approach allows us to experience the deep wonder and joy that comes from understanding the true significance of Christmas.

Conclusion
Christmas is more than just a festive season; it’s a time to celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ and to reflect on what this means for our faith and our lives. By embracing spiritual disciplines, including the meditative practice of Visio Divina, we can break free from the superficial aspects of the holiday and rediscover the awe, wonder, and profound spiritual depth of Christmas. Let this season be a time of spiritual renewal and a reminder of the miraculous event that changed the world forever.