Not unlike the culture of today, the young Christian community in Colossae was experiencing turbulence, with many teachers expounding false doctrines.

Some teachers there were claiming that Jesus, and the grace Jesus gives, were not sufficient for our salvation. Instead, so these teachers affirmed, we need to add on the mediation of angels and other spiritual forces, as well as various ritual practices that worked almost like magic when combined with special, secret knowledge beyond what Jesus had taught.

St. Paul recognized the danger in these kinds of false doctrines. His Letter to the Colossians functions as a kind of inoculation against those false teachings, and against the deadly virus of spiritual self-sufficiency that they were spreading. And that’s a virus that has reappeared in our own age. In this Retreat Guide, we will have a chance to renew our inoculation and discover again that Christ Alone is Enough.

• In the two Meditations, we will touch on crucial passages linked to authentic, Christ-centered spiritual freedom.

• And in the Conference, we will review the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, sacred reading, as a way to follow St. Paul’s advice to the Colossians to “let the word of Christ dwell in your richly.” The Conference will reflect on the symbolism present in the image itself, symbolism that can help stir up the spirit of Christmas in our souls.

The Personal Questionnaire/Group discussion questions are available in the Companion Guide Book or Small Group Companion Guide. Either download the PDF Companion Guide Book or purchase it. The Companion Guide Book is available for purchase as a paperback or in Kindle at Amazon. Pause the video at any moment to go to the Companion Guide Book or continue to the next meditation.

Let’s begin by quieting our hearts and turning our attention to the Lord, who never stops paying attention to us. And let’s ask him for all the graces we need, most especially, the grace to discover, once again, that Christ alone truly is enough.