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Pray the Most Perfect Prayer Meditation: Page 2
"THE LUMINOUS (LIGHT) MYSTERIES" |
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1st - The Baptism of Jesus Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. (Mt 3,13-17) MEDITATION: God's view of things was made clear. Through God's Son, a world darkened by sin would be newly lit by love. Jesus' embrace of His humanity means that human nature, once fallen, can be transformed. The ministry of the Word made Flesh, the Light in the Darkness, had begun. |
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2nd - The Wedding at Cana On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (Jn 2,1-12) MEDITATION: Our lives are darkened by suffering. Through signs such as these--miracles of nature and healing--Jesus brings light into that darkness and God's loving presence into our pain, no matter how great or small. |
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3rd - The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mk 1,15) MEDITATION: Jesus walks the roads and shores with the Good News: The moment you have yearned for has arrived. All God's promises are fulfilled, and His kingdom of love and mercy is here. Jesus calls the apostles by name and invites them to follow Him. They say yes. Through His preaching and miracles, Jesus proclaims the kingdom. Through His call to repentance, He offers mercy and forgiveness. The call offers the light of hope, even in the darkest moments, for those who say yes. |
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4th--The Transfiguration About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.(Luke 9,28-35) MEDITATION: In Jesus, our weak eyes are given the gift of being able to behold God. The darkness of the world breaks, and we can see that there is more here than meets the eye. |
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5th--The Institution of the Eucharist While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." (Mk 14,22-25) MEDITATION: In the midst of the Passover meal, Jesus takes the ancient symbols of bread and wine in His hands. He holds the signs of God's power to free His people from bondage and sheds new, brilliant light on them. Jesus shares the gift of Himself in the Eucharist, His own body and blood, broken and shed to free us from the most terrible bondage of all: the chains of sin, the dark prison of death. Joined to Him, our lives are transformed with the light of love and we are nourished to share that light with a darkened, hungry world. |
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