Pondering the mysteries: The third Luminous Mystery, The Preaching of the Kingdom
Emily | A Year of Living Adventurously
This is one of those mysteries that you can ponder for a long time and never quite finish pondering it. The “preaching of the kingdom” covers just about everything in the gospels: the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the cures, the Loaves and Fishes, the Bread of Life discourse–all of Jesus’ preaching and activities. In that sense, it’s an easy mystery to pray, because you can pick your favorite image or story or event and meditate on that.
But I think it’s also fruitful to use this to ponder our own sense of mission. For nuns and sisters, it’s their prayer and their apostolate that is their preaching. For married women, it’s their married life, and growing in holiness with their husbands; for a mother, it’s taking care of her family, and raising her kids to know God and to be devout Catholics. For the single, it can be a little harder, but we are all called to holiness, to prayer, and to bringing that to the world.
In the Dominican order (of which I am a part), we believe that you must fill your own well first, then bring it to others. St. Thomas Aquinas gave us the phrase ‘contemplate and share with others the fruit of your contemplation.’ So we have to pray, study, and live the Gospel ourselves before we can go out and give it to others. In secular parlance, you can see it as having to take care of yourself, before you can take care of others.
We can see this clearly in the second Greatest Commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” As yourself. How do you love yourself? Do you take care of your spiritual, physical, and emotional needs? Do you beat yourself up constantly, thinking that everything you do is wrong, that you are unlovable?
Meditate on this mystery and realize that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to us. That is immense, unchangeable love! God loves you as you are. You are so important to Him. Go to Him in prayer, in study, in lectio, and fill your own well. Realize that God has placed you here to serve Him and preach to others in your own unique way.
St. Teresa of Avila said that she found God among the pots and pans. In that same way, Jesus went among our pots and pans–our daily lives–and ministered. He preached everywhere He went. He used the basic things of life–loaves and fishes, bread and wine–to work His miracles.
In our own lives, we can preach in the most basic things. Doing our jobs well, making dinner for our family, even having coffee with a friend and providing a listening ear. Everything we do can be sanctified, and we don’t need to pass out tracts to do it.
Holiness is attractive–real holiness. That’s something we can work toward.Jesus preached the kingdom to us so that we could know it, know HIm and His Father, and then follow Him. Following involves telling others what we have heard and seen.
In 10 days we’ll celebrate Easter. Mary Magdalene on that morning ran back to the Apostles and said that Christ has risen. She brought them news of the kingdom, indeed. Let’s realize how much God loves us, and use that love to motivate us to preach the kingdom in our own small corners of the world.
Pondering the Mysteries: The Second Luminous Mystery–The Wedding Feast at Cana
Emily | A Year of Living Adventurously
I would not have wanted to be a first century wedding planner.
Instead of an event that last a day, these weddings went on for multiple days. People knew how to party in first century Israel. And anyone who’s ever planned a party knows that the two most important things you have to provide are drinks and food. What humans like hasn’t changed that much.
And you also had one heck of a guest list. No wimpy “plus ones” at these events. Jesus was there with Mary and all the disciples. Can you imagine that today? “Miriam? Hi, this is Mary, down the road…we’d love to come to Elizabeth’s wedding. My son will be coming, and about twelve of his closest friends…”
So we have the wedding. And then we have the party–a days long party.
With apparently very bad planning, because the wine ran out. Early.
At these parties, you started with the best wine you had, and then, as people “enjoyed themselves”, the wine got progressively “less good”, shall we say. It was prudent not just monetarily, but after a day or so of drinking, people probably weren’t noticing the quality anymore.
But at this wedding, there was no wine, of any vintage. Imagine the scene in the classic film A Christmas Story, after the dogs have devoured the holiday turkey: “No turkey! No turkey gravy! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, all gone!”
The wine was indeed gone. All gone.
Now, Mary had probably thrown a few parties in her day, or watched her mother do it. There was probably a party when she and Joseph became officially engaged. And like many seasoned hostesses, she didn’t panic. She simply turned to her son and said, “they have no wine.”
Now Jesus, like sons (and daughters) throughout the ages, had a little “do I have to” moment. (Remember, Jesus was human, in all ways but sin). “My hour has not yet come.”
Mary ignores this, and calls over the servants. “Do whatever he tells you,” she says. Then, Jesus performs his first miracle–he turns the large jugs of water into wine. And not just any wine–wine so good that the chief steward is amazed at its quality.
This is a “fun” miracle. No one’s life hangs in the balance, but the appearance of the wine saves the hosts from a lot of embarrassment that would probably be mentioned at every social gathering until the Second Coming. (It’s a quirk of human nature that we remember the ‘imperfect’ parties, but not the perfect ones.) But it’s also a nice reminder that Jesus and Mary care about the small events of our lives, things like parties and celebrations. We can turn to them in all times, when we need a healing, but also when we just need a party to come off without the turkey falling on the floor or someone spilling red wine all over the carpet, or the kids destroying the leather couch or the basement dry-wall.
Jesus and Mary were involved in every aspect of humanity, and that included the social aspects. In Lent, we’re probably not throwing a lot of parties. But we can remember that our heavenly family cares about everything we do, even our feasts.
Catholicism isn’t just a religion of the cross, although that’s an important aspect. It’s as Hilaire Belloc said: “Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine/ there is always laughter and good red wine.”
Contemplating the Mysteries: The Baptism in the Jordan
Emily | A Year of Living Adventurously
The Baptism of the Jordan begins the Mysteries of Light, or the Luminous Mysteries, given to us by Blessed Pope John Paul II in October of 2003. It’s the only change, really, that’s been made to the rosary in its long history.
Before my transplant, my parents asked me what mysteries of the rosary they should pray. I said they should start with the luminous, because they’re my favorite.
Looking at this mystery, we can ask, “why did Jesus even need baptism? He’s perfect, right? Why is this necessary?” Jesus himself gives us the answer in the Gospel of Matthew:
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized y him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now: for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.” Matthew 3: 13-15, RSV
“To fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus doesn’t need John’s baptism, and John knows it. But just like the Virgin Mary didn’t need purified in the Temple after Jesus’ birth. But Jesus didn’t shun the outward signs of faith and belief. So why, then, the baptism?
To show us what we need, that we may imitate him. As we imitate Jesus when we honor his mother, and partake of the Eucharist, so we do so when we baptize our children, and repent of our sins.
Ash Wednesday is quickly upon us. On that day, at Mass, the priest will mark our foreheads with ashes and say, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” This is an echo of what John said and did during his ministry–he called his people to repentance, and to believe in God’s word. He prepared the way for Christ, so that when Christ appeared, he could say, “This is the Lamb of God. This is one you should follow, not me. I am only his messenger.”
We tend to discuss John more in Advent, but he also deserves our attention in Lent. We are to prepare the way for Jesus now, just as we did in December. Lent and Advent are both penitential seasons. Are we preparing, or starting to think about preparing?
John, from the moment he met Christ, He was ready for him. He was always prepared to welcome him. Are we? What can we do to make our lives more open to God, so we too can fulfill all righteous, and fulfill our baptismal promise?
How do we prepare the way of the Lord?
Meditating on the mysteries: The Finding in the Temple
Emily | Catholic Poster Girl
I’m going to guess that Mary’s first thought here was whew.
Her second was probably: What sort of punishment can I give the Son of God?
OK, I’m guessing–and kidding–on that last one, although I’m sure that any other kid that disappeared for three days would get an, “I love you and you are so grounded!”
This is one of the mysteries that seem very relatable, almost modern, to us. Who hasn’t been in charge of children and suddenly, one was missing? The heart starts to pound, the breathing increases, panic sets in.
A few years ago, my aunt took me, my sister, and my two cousins to the water park for the day. She couldn’t stay, because she had a little boy at home and errands to run. So I was in charge of the three kids. This was before transplant, so breathing wasn’t all that great, and my swimming skills are OK, but not lifeguard worthy (My brother and I flunked swimming lessons because we couldn’t float. True story.). As the second-oldest cousin on my mom’s side of the family, I was often put in charge of the kids, on land or in water. Land, OK. Water made me nervous.
We found chairs and dropped our beach bags and towels over them. Before the kids could go in the water, I very firmly said, “I cannot swim that well. You are not to go out beyond the three foot section, especially when the waves are going, because I won’t be able to get you, and I don’t trust that the lifeguards will see you in the craziness. You will stay close, and you will stay where I can see you.”
The kids obeyed (my sister, a bit grudgingly, because she can swim, and very well). Of course, their safety was paramount, but also, I didn’t want to have to face my parents or my aunt if one of them drowned. (Yes, I do tend to think worst-case scenarios when I’m in charge of other people’s kids!)
We got through the day without incident. But every time those waves started, I was as alert as a Tijuana cab driver at a stop light.
Now, Mary and Joseph were traveling with a lot of people, so it made sense that Jesus was with someone in the family. That also happens with my family. “Where’s the baby?” “Oh, Aunt so-and-so took her out on the deck.” Even if you can’t see your kid, someone has them, and she’s OK. So Joseph and Mary probably just assumed that.
But then, they realized no one had him. Well, crap.
This isn’t losing a kid at the mall or the amusement park. This is losing a kid anywhere between where they were and Jerusalem. Three days ago. I bet they flew back to the city, panicking the entire time and thinking what ifs.
And there was twelve-year old Jesus–totally old enough to know better–in the temple, calmly engaging in discussion with the rabbis and other religious leaders.
“Son, why have you done this to us?” A perfectly valid question that Mary asks him. In other words: What were you THINKING?!?!?!
Jesus is very calm when he answers. “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Jesus had faith: in his Father, and in his mother and his adoptive father, that they would find them. Jesus had to be in the temple, speaking with these learned men, preparing them for him when he would come so many years later and begin his public life. He also knew that his parents would find him, and take him home and all would be well.
But Mary and Joseph didn’t know that. Maybe they felt silly on the way back for worrying, Jesus being who he was. Maybe they felt a little chagrined at his cool confidence and steady answer. But I imagine what Mary felt was all-encompassing relief.
Like before, Mary trusted when she really had no idea of what was going to happen. She must have trusted that God wouldn’t let anything harm His son. But I’m sure there was still some worry. She was human, and a mother. But Jesus had total faith in her and Joseph. He knew they’d come for him.
God is like that lifeguard, or like me, standing at the water’s edge, watching those kids like a hawk. Jesus says that even a sparrow is accounted for before God. We have to have faith that God is protecting us, even when we seem lost, like Jesus did, and like his parents did. Because to God, we’re never lost.
Meditating on the Mysteries: The Presentation
by Emily | Catholic Poster Girl
“When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, …and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’ …Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him….Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother, Mary… ‘and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” (Lk: 2: 22, 24, 25, 35, NRSV version)
The Presentation is a perplexing mystery. Not so much in what it is, because that’s fairly simple. After Jesus’ birth, his parents take him to the Temple to be presented to God. They are following the Jewish customs, even though Jesus is the Son of God, and has no need of presentation, or Mary of ritual purification, which she also received at this time. They are both perfect. But they also follow God’s law to the letter, and do the things he has commanded. They bring two turtle doves, the offering of the poor.
In the Temple, strange things happen. Two old people–one man and one woman–appear. They come to see the sight they have wanted to see for so long: the Son of God, the Messiah, in their midst.
“Now, Lord” cries Simeon, “you may let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled. Mine eyes have seen the salvation of your people Israel.”
But he says something else, something troubling: A sword will pierce Mary’s heart. Sorrow will come upon this young mother, and this perfect child. Remember that Mary is a young woman, still a teenager. She doesn’t know the plan that is before her. She doesn’t know what God is going to ask of her, and of her Son. She might have an idea, because she is versed in Scripture; she knows what the prophecy of the Messiah says. But there’s not a road map there, there are few specifics. Most of it is couched in poetic, prophetic language.
Imagine you’re Mary, holding that little baby in your arms. Jesus is a little more than a month old. He’s asleep there, maybe sucking his thumb. His skin is soft and so perfect. There are ten little fingernails, and his hands are so tiny. You love this child more than your own life.
Your happiness is tainted by this man’s pronouncement. What can he mean? Joseph doesn’t understand, either. Certainly, Mary “pondered this in her heart,” as Luke tells us. And also, surely, she had faith. Faith that God, who had taken her this far, wouldn’t let her or her son fall. They had to trust in His plan–in the Divine plan–and keep moving forward.
An angel would warn Joseph to take them to the safety of Egypt, where they knew no one. They had to trust in God’s word. And a few years later, the same angel would call them back to their home country. Their lives, from the beginning, were not the calm, ordered ones of their neighbors and friends.
I like plans. I like to know what’s going to happen, and when. I have a certain amount of flexibility built into my life; I never know what part of my body is going to go on strike next and demand that I drop everything to fix it. So I make plans, while knowing that they could be changed because of events outside my control. To me, ER runs and unexpected tests are normal. A bit challenging, but normal.
I imagine Mary’s life was a bit like that. She never really knew what was going to happen next. Jesus wasn’t any other child. She was raising God in her house! I think that would present a formidable challenge to even the best parents. But she had faith that God had chosen her and Joseph for this task. She didn’t know what was ahead, but at the moment, she didn’t need to know.
Later in his life, the babe-in-arms would admonish us to not worry about tomorrow, but instead focus on today. I can imagine him learning this lesson from his parents, who knew that today often brought its own surprises. Mary knew to always place her faith in God, even when she didn’t quite understand what He was doing (as we’ll see in the next mystery).
In this new year, and during the Year of Faith, let’s ask Mary to help us do the same: to trust, even when we can’t see the way; to believe, even when we don’t know why.
Meditations on the Mysteries: The Nativity and Faith
Emily DeArdo::Catholic Poster Girl
As the country ramps up for the Christmas (shopping) season, it’s apropos to consider the event that leads to the celebrating: The Nativity.
Just about everyone knows how this story starts: “In those days, Caesar Augustus…” We think we know the story, right? Angels, shepherds, stars, kings, gold, frankincense, myrrh.
But if I was Mary, I would’ve been scared out of my mind.
Think about it: she’s a teenager, she’s pregnant with the Son of God. It took awhile to convince her husband of this, but eventually she got some help from an angel. So she and Joseph are preparing for this very important birth in Nazareth.
Then they’re told they have to travel 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Now, my car can do 80 miles in an hour and change. I don’t think donkeys go quite that fast. So Mary, who is very, very pregnant, is on the back of a donkey, for a multi-day journey to a place she was probably never been. Oh, and they may or may not have a room. There was no Travelocity for them so she and Joseph are counting on there being space for them.
Except: there’s not. At the end of that probably very uncomfortable journey, there’s no room at the inn. This part always makes me a bit perturbed. There was no room for a really, really pregnant young girl? No corner of the kitchen, where at least she’d be warm and have other women around her? Nope. Nothing.
Except that stable. I’ve been in barns, and they are not places I’d want to give birth (good thing germ theory wasn’t around in 1 BC). {Tweet This} But that’s all there is, and Mary’s alone–no other women are there to help her. She probably wanted her mother. And Joseph? He was probably terrified. His wife is giving birth to the Son of God, the Messiah, and it has to be in a stable? Where is this in the plan?
Indeed. Where is this in the plan?
It’s all there. God knew it was going to happen this way. And Mary and Joseph have faith enough to know that, too. They might not know why God wants His son born in a stable, instead of a nice, warm room at an inn. But they know there is a reason for it, even if God’s not sharing it with them.
So in that stable, 80 miles from home, Mary gives birth to Jesus. Instead of the family she thought would be around her, she has shepherds, and angels singing in the sky above them. Christ’s birth is witnessed by plain, ordinary people, doing their jobs on a cold December night. They had faith, too, that if they listened in what the angel told them, they’d find this little family huddled in a stable nearby. Their faith is rewarded.
Mary’s and Joseph’s is, too. What the angel told both of them has come to pass–they have a son, who is the Son of God, the one who will save them from their sins. Here, in this dark and gloomy place, there’s a baby. There is hope and joy.
Sometimes we’re on that road, too, or in that stable. We don’t know what the heck is going on. We definitely did not picture things turning out like this. We want the warm room and clean sheets. We want our family to help. We want assurance that everything is going to happen the way it’s “supposed” to.
But who says what’s “supposed” to happen? Shouldn’t the King of Kings be born in a palace, with attendants and the best of everything? Doesn’t that sound like what’s “supposed” to happen to a child like that?
In this Advent season, let’s take our example from Mary and Joseph, who trusted, who had faith. Let’s ask Mary to give us faith like hers.
Meditations on the Mysteries: The Visitation and Faith
Emily|Catholic Poster Girl
(Author note: During the Year of Faith, I’ll be writing about each of the mysteries of the rosary within the light of Faith. Last column was about The Annunciation.)
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. (Lk. 2: 39)
The Visitation is a celebration of faith: faith that what the Lord said to both these women would be accomplished, would actually happen. Here is Mary, pregnant with the Son of God via the Holy Spirit. Here is Elizabeth, pregnant in her old age, the desire of her heart finally fulfilled. The idea of his wife being pregnant was so outrageous to Zechariah that he was struck dumb by the Angel Gabriel until John was born (Lk. 1:18-20). Here is faith rewarded in a visible, and yes, outrageous, way.
I’ve always liked this mystery because of the closeness of the two cousins. I’ve got a lot of cousins—22 on my mom’s side alone (not counting my siblings and I). And of those, I’m second in line. So I have a lot of younger cousins, and fortunately we’re close with one another. I hope I’ll always be able to offer the hospitality and love Elizabeth so clearly shows Mary. We can forget—Mary was a teenager, and a young one at that. Was she nervous about being pregnant? Was she scared about Joseph’s reaction? Did she know how to take care of a baby? Elizabeth, during the months Mary was with her, could have soothed her fears and shared what she knew. There’s faith that everything will be all right, but there is also the practical preparation, which is equally crucial.
Mary and Elizabeth created their own community of faith, and it’s something we can do, too. Are there other women around us who could use support, help, or just a listening ear? Can we be like Elizabeth and embrace them, welcome them, and share our knowledge with them? I am usually the youngest woman in a group at church, and some older women are very welcoming, which I love and appreciate. These women are so special to me, and helpful as I work out my vocation. I see them as an example I can emulate on how to be a holy, Catholic woman in my state of life.
In these uncertain times, it can be hard to have faith. Let’s use Mary and Elizabeth as our example of trusting in God and His will, even when it can seem impossible, outrageous or just plain strange.
Missionary Rosary
Colleen | Blessed Are the Feet
As we come to end of October and the month of the Church’s devotions to the Most Holy Rosary and to the missions around the world and the missionaries who serve them, I hope you have been blessed by the missions rosary and will continue to pray it with us and for us.
We end our meditations praying for the continent of Asia. We will also continue to pray for the missionary intention for the month, chosen by Pope Benedict XVI–World Mission Day: That the celebration of World Mission Day may result in a renewed commitment to evangelization.
You can find the meditations for the earlier decades here: Africa, Americas, Europe, Oceania.
And now, Asia.
Fifth Decade: Asia
Lord, bless your children living of Asia – In China’s wide expanses of country side and in her crowded cities, the deserts of the Middle East and the slums of India, those living in the shadow of Communism and on all ends of the capitalist continuum, in the island nations and the Himalayan steeps. Give their leaders a new vision, Lord, to appreciate value and protect the lives of every member of their societies, regardless of caste, class, gender, race or creed. Bring peace to their political negotiations and send solutions to alleviate their poverty. Keep them safe from disaster, both those brought by nature and those reaped by man. Open our ears to Your Word, Father, and send us out to be salt for the earth and light for the nations of Asia. Send us out to bring your hope and your mercy to those brothers and sisters suffering in Asia. Break our hearts for their orphans and widows, their sick and their poor, their refugees and their lonely. Protect the women and girls who live in fear of abuse, slavery and exploitation in Asia, Lord. Send them protectors and friends. Lord, give me a burning zeal for the people of Asia. Help me to pray fervently that they will one day know you, love you and serve you that we might share eternal happiness together. Protect those who risk all to worship you, Lord. Send missionaries to stand with them in the darkness, and to bring the light of your truth to shine in the hearts of our brothers and sisters there. May You be glorified on the continent of Asia now and forever. Amen.
• First Hail Mary: For the nations of the Middle East
• Second Hail Mary: For India
• Third Hail Mary: For the island nations of Asia
• Fourth Hail Mary: For China
• Fifth Hail Mary: For all other nations of Asia
• Sixth Hail Mary: For political peace and leaders who seek the best for their people in every nation of Asia
• Seventh Hail Mary: For Christians who worship in secrecy and fear of the consequences in Asia
• Eighth Hail Mary: For all Asia’s women and girls who are conceived, born and live in a state of perilous danger simply because of their womanhood, that light will shine on the lie that places so little value on their lives, that they will be liberated from this danger by the mercy of Christ
• Ninth Hail Mary: For the bishops, priests and religious who serve the nations of Asia
• Tenth Hail Mary: For many missionaries to be called forth and sent to Asia to go and give and not count the cost
• After the Glory Be: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Photos courtesy of the Romero family serving in Malaybalay, Philippines.
If you would like to be reminded of the beautiful faces waiting for His word at the ends of the earth to aid your meditation, you can follow Colleen’s Ends of the Earth Pinterest board.
In the last week, the vision for the Blessed Zelie Martin Initiative of the St. Bryce Foundation has solidified and become Mercy Covers. Read about the how God solidified the vision and Mercy Covers was born and follow on Facebook for news of the coming web site.
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