Luminous Mysteries
(Thursdays, sometimes Tuesdays)
The Luminous Mysteries are the newest addition to the Holy Mysteries. They were added by Pope John Paul II in October of 2002. I, for one, am glad that they were introduced. While I like, or at least appreciate, all of the Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries are the core of my belief. They focus on the teachings of Jesus and they specifically highlight the importance of several sacraments of the Church. While the Sorrowful Mysteries show His sacrifice, the Luminous Mysteries teach us what He valued in life.
The Luminous Mysteries are the newest addition to the Holy Mysteries. They were added by Pope John Paul II in October of 2002. I, for one, am glad that they were introduced. While I like, or at least appreciate, all of the Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries are the core of my belief. They focus on the teachings of Jesus and they specifically highlight the importance of several sacraments of the Church. While the Sorrowful Mysteries show His sacrifice, the Luminous Mysteries teach us what He valued in life.
The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus visits his cousin, the prophet John the Baptist, who had been heralding Jesus's arrival. Instead of establishing dominance over John, Jesus asks to be baptized by him. In doing so, Jesus shows us the first of His sacraments. While He had no original sin to wash away, as a great teacher Jesus knows that one must model the behavior one wishes to see other people do.
It is at this point that one of my favorite moments in the Bible takes place. The heavens open, the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove, and a voice says "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." God acknowledges Jesus and says that He is pleased with Him.
It is with this endorsement that Jesus begins His ministry. I wonder if Jesus filled with a sense of contentment and pride as such recognition was given to Him. Being God Himself, Jesus no doubt already knew what the Father would say, but it still is nice to hear them spoken out loud.
How I also long to hear acknowledgement and praise. How I long to hear God's voice from the heavens. May I be deserving of such recognition. May my thoughts, words and deeds be pleasing to God. May I also hold true to the promises made for me at my Baptism and that I later agreed to in my Confirmation. May I also remember to give recognition and encouragement to those around me, especially to my children. Too often I find myself correcting rather than praising even though I know that the second is so much more powerful.
Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus visits his cousin, the prophet John the Baptist, who had been heralding Jesus's arrival. Instead of establishing dominance over John, Jesus asks to be baptized by him. In doing so, Jesus shows us the first of His sacraments. While He had no original sin to wash away, as a great teacher Jesus knows that one must model the behavior one wishes to see other people do.
It is at this point that one of my favorite moments in the Bible takes place. The heavens open, the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove, and a voice says "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." God acknowledges Jesus and says that He is pleased with Him.
It is with this endorsement that Jesus begins His ministry. I wonder if Jesus filled with a sense of contentment and pride as such recognition was given to Him. Being God Himself, Jesus no doubt already knew what the Father would say, but it still is nice to hear them spoken out loud.
How I also long to hear acknowledgement and praise. How I long to hear God's voice from the heavens. May I be deserving of such recognition. May my thoughts, words and deeds be pleasing to God. May I also hold true to the promises made for me at my Baptism and that I later agreed to in my Confirmation. May I also remember to give recognition and encouragement to those around me, especially to my children. Too often I find myself correcting rather than praising even though I know that the second is so much more powerful.
The Wedding at Cana
John 2:1-12
As a guest at a wedding feast, Jesus is called upon to perform His first public miracle: turning casks of water into wine. Here Jesus establishes His control over the substance of matter, foreshadowing His ability to turn wine into His blood (and yet keep it in the form of wine). That a marriage would be the place of His first public miracle also shows the importance that He places on such unions.
There is one other aspect of this event that I find tremendously touching: He performs the miracle at the request of His mother. The story suggests that He had not originally planned on making Himself known yet, but that when the regular wine was gone, it was His loving mother who asked Him for this favor. Even as He was about to begin His ministry, He was obedient to His mother.
I also find the scene a little humorous as I think of the times my mother has asked me to perform (usually a song) before people. While I am usually embarrassed, and a little stage-shy, of these impromptu requests, I recognize the pride and love that my mother is showing. I like to think that Jesus was also thinking such thoughts as His mother told the servants at the wedding to listen to Him. I also appreciate how this shows Christ's willingness to listen to His mother, a trait that we count on when we send our appeals to her.
Lord, may I listen to and love my mother as I also recognize the joy and love that she has for me. May I not hide my talents out of fear, but instead listen to those who give me encouragement and praise. May I also keep the sacrament of marriage sacred, both my own and the marriages of others.
John 2:1-12
As a guest at a wedding feast, Jesus is called upon to perform His first public miracle: turning casks of water into wine. Here Jesus establishes His control over the substance of matter, foreshadowing His ability to turn wine into His blood (and yet keep it in the form of wine). That a marriage would be the place of His first public miracle also shows the importance that He places on such unions.
There is one other aspect of this event that I find tremendously touching: He performs the miracle at the request of His mother. The story suggests that He had not originally planned on making Himself known yet, but that when the regular wine was gone, it was His loving mother who asked Him for this favor. Even as He was about to begin His ministry, He was obedient to His mother.
I also find the scene a little humorous as I think of the times my mother has asked me to perform (usually a song) before people. While I am usually embarrassed, and a little stage-shy, of these impromptu requests, I recognize the pride and love that my mother is showing. I like to think that Jesus was also thinking such thoughts as His mother told the servants at the wedding to listen to Him. I also appreciate how this shows Christ's willingness to listen to His mother, a trait that we count on when we send our appeals to her.
Lord, may I listen to and love my mother as I also recognize the joy and love that she has for me. May I not hide my talents out of fear, but instead listen to those who give me encouragement and praise. May I also keep the sacrament of marriage sacred, both my own and the marriages of others.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Mark 1:15
"The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
This is the true message of our faith. People keep preparing for some eventual end of times, but Jesus tells us that it is now that is important. He has brought us redemption and grace. We are not to put off our good behavior or wait until later to atone for our sins, but to act in the present moment to help make our world a better place.
Not everyone likes Jesus's proclamation. According to Luke, when Jesus makes this proclamation in His home town of Nazareth, the crowd gets angry enough that they try to kill Him. His statement challenges their understanding of the world; it defies worldly powers, and it tells us that we don't have time to put off being good to one another.
May I recognize the importance of God's Word in my life and my world at this moment. May my actions and deeds reflect the message of Christ. May I constantly work towards deserving the salvation He has given all of us. May I also keep my mind open to learning more about His Truth rather than shutting my mind to possibilities.
Mark 1:15
"The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
This is the true message of our faith. People keep preparing for some eventual end of times, but Jesus tells us that it is now that is important. He has brought us redemption and grace. We are not to put off our good behavior or wait until later to atone for our sins, but to act in the present moment to help make our world a better place.
Not everyone likes Jesus's proclamation. According to Luke, when Jesus makes this proclamation in His home town of Nazareth, the crowd gets angry enough that they try to kill Him. His statement challenges their understanding of the world; it defies worldly powers, and it tells us that we don't have time to put off being good to one another.
May I recognize the importance of God's Word in my life and my world at this moment. May my actions and deeds reflect the message of Christ. May I constantly work towards deserving the salvation He has given all of us. May I also keep my mind open to learning more about His Truth rather than shutting my mind to possibilities.
The Transfiguration
Luke 9:28-35
Jesus takes His three closest disciples to a mountain and reveals His holy form to them while joined by Moses and Elijah. In doing so, Jesus shows that He is the fulfillment of both the Law (represented in Moses) and the teaching of the prophets (represented by Elijah). He is the embodiment of the Old Covenants and the creator of the New.
Again, the voice of the Father comes down from the heavens and acknowledges the Son. The apostles are in awe of this moment and the presence of these three figures together. Peter wants to set up tents for them, wanting them to stay longer with him, perhaps getting a chance to show them to others. Instead, Jesus returns to His original form and asks them not to tell people about this miraculous occurrence until after He has died and risen (a concept which they do not yet understand at this point).
May I, too, be filled at Christ's presence. May I recognize Him in all of the people around me. May I hold Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and preach His New Covenant to the world. As Jesus was transformed before His friends, may my friends recognize a transformation within me and so come to believe more deeply in Him.
Luke 9:28-35
Jesus takes His three closest disciples to a mountain and reveals His holy form to them while joined by Moses and Elijah. In doing so, Jesus shows that He is the fulfillment of both the Law (represented in Moses) and the teaching of the prophets (represented by Elijah). He is the embodiment of the Old Covenants and the creator of the New.
Again, the voice of the Father comes down from the heavens and acknowledges the Son. The apostles are in awe of this moment and the presence of these three figures together. Peter wants to set up tents for them, wanting them to stay longer with him, perhaps getting a chance to show them to others. Instead, Jesus returns to His original form and asks them not to tell people about this miraculous occurrence until after He has died and risen (a concept which they do not yet understand at this point).
May I, too, be filled at Christ's presence. May I recognize Him in all of the people around me. May I hold Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and preach His New Covenant to the world. As Jesus was transformed before His friends, may my friends recognize a transformation within me and so come to believe more deeply in Him.
The Institution of the Eucharist
Mark 14:22-25
Jesus shares with His disciples the Passover meal. This time, when He breaks the bread, He tells them that it is His body, and when He shares the chalice, He tells them that it holds His blood. He does not say this is a metaphor, but His true flesh and His true blood. He also asks them to continue this tradition in His memory.
Jesus had no children in the traditional sense. Instead, He wants to make us all a part of His flesh with His blood flowing through our veins. He wants us to do this as a community. At the Last Supper, He even shares these gifts with the one who would betray Him to His death. He shares these gifts with those who are about to abandon and deny Him. These are gifts meant for all of us because He loves all of us.
May I take the Eucharist regularly and not profane it with sin on my part. May I acknowledge the holiness of this gift that He has given us and do my best to share it with the rest of the world. May I recognize that in eating His flesh and in drinking His blood that I am physically a child of God and act in a manner that deserves such an honor.
Mark 14:22-25
Jesus shares with His disciples the Passover meal. This time, when He breaks the bread, He tells them that it is His body, and when He shares the chalice, He tells them that it holds His blood. He does not say this is a metaphor, but His true flesh and His true blood. He also asks them to continue this tradition in His memory.
Jesus had no children in the traditional sense. Instead, He wants to make us all a part of His flesh with His blood flowing through our veins. He wants us to do this as a community. At the Last Supper, He even shares these gifts with the one who would betray Him to His death. He shares these gifts with those who are about to abandon and deny Him. These are gifts meant for all of us because He loves all of us.
May I take the Eucharist regularly and not profane it with sin on my part. May I acknowledge the holiness of this gift that He has given us and do my best to share it with the rest of the world. May I recognize that in eating His flesh and in drinking His blood that I am physically a child of God and act in a manner that deserves such an honor.
