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| Art by Ruth J Smucker - Hearts from Stone |
For whatever reason, the time is now...
The Luminous Mysteries were instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II, and are sometimes considered an “extra” addition to the traditional mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious). However, the Luminous Mysteries are integral to closing the gap between the Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries. How can we meditate fully on the mysteries of the gospel without meditating on the work of Christ? How can we live our lives as disciples of Christ, if we do not meditate on the three critical years of His public ministry?
It was actually the Luminous Mysteries for which I had first received some insights a few years ago, and it transformed the way I worked throughout my day. Even still, I need to continually come back to these meditations, and refocus my attention on them.
These meditations are somewhat different from the others. These are short and acute. The point being to take them and live them out directly—moment to moment in one’s day.
I think that in these, the Mysteries of Light, we find how we too can open ourselves to becoming flames of light like our Lord.
How important it is that at this point in time, when Popes have been calling for a New Evangelization, Saint Pope John Paul II gave to us the Luminous Mysteries. Over and again, it is made clear to us—in the gospel, in Christian tradition, in the lives of the Saints—that as Christians it is first and foremost that we actually live the gospel. Evangelization cannot happen without the living out of Christian love.
Going back to the fact that we are now beyond the season of Easter…
At Easter, in the Catholic Church, many thousands of persons the world over are welcomed into the Church on the night of Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday is the pinnacle of the Liturgical Year, and is celebrated with deep solemnity and joy. Our entire faith is hinged on the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.
Then, the Sunday directly following is Divine Mercy Sunday. It is another gift of Saint Pope John Paul II, and a day when special graces are poured out on those following the devotion to the Divine Mercy, to which Saint Pope John Paul II called everyone.
Catholics throughout the world renew their Baptismal Promises during he Easter season.
In the initial Octave of Easter, and in the Easter season following, there is a tremendous outpouring of mercy, grace and love by God through His Church. It is spring not only in nature in the northern hemisphere of the earth, but spring in the Church.
If you know anything about gardening and plants, you will know that once seeds have sprouted and grown, or bulbs send forth their first growth, the next thing they need is food. They have had the spring rain, or you have watered them sufficiently, but now they need food for growth, and in due time they will begin growing flowers.
Now that we have experienced the renewal of Easter after the penance of Lent, it is time to nurture and feed our lives, to allow the next level of growth and flowering to occur.
Our Lord, in being baptized Himself and in His actions following baptism, shows us how to live as baptized Christians. He calls us to trust, He calls us to conversion, He calls us to worship, and He calls us to celebrate the Eucharist. These are the Mysteries of Light.
We are watered through baptism, or the renewal thereof, and now we need to be nurtured and to allow ourselves to grow and be transformed.
What I am about to describe in these meditations is a living out of the Luminous Mysteries moment to moment, every day. It is a way to live out God’s will in the nitty gritty of our lives.
Based on the meditations below, we could lay it out this way:
- Obedience to each little call.
- Trust in following that call.
- Conversion in doing what we are to do.
- Worship to God for what has been done.
- Thankfulness for the ability to respond to the call.
This may sound simple…but because of our concupiscence and the strength of our own wills, it can feel more like being tried in a crucible.
Growth and transformation almost always comes with pain, suffering and self sacrifice.
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” John 12:24
The Luminous Mysteries
Baptism
(Jesus is baptized by St. John in the river Jordan and is acknowledged as the Son of God.)
Christ in baptism is obedient to the Father. In every moment we must be obedient to each little call. We must acknowledge and submit ourselves to the will of God in every moment.
Wedding at Cana
(Jesus turns water into wine at the request of His mother Mary at the Wedding at Cana.)
Christ trusts His Father’s plan for Him. Mary gives Christ the opportunity to perform His first miracle, knowing this will begin His public ministry. We must follow the call of God, and trust.
Proclamation of the Kingdom
(Jesus goes out and preaches the Kingdom of God, healing many and forgiving sins.)
Christ goes out and calls everyone He encounters to conversion. In doing God’s will in every moment, we ourselves experience conversion, and we can also call others to conversion.
Transfiguration
(Jesus is transfigured on the mount, and is glorified before Saints Peter, James and John.)
Christ reveals His identity in a profound way, calling us to worship Him for He is the Son of God. He reveals His true divinity. We must praise God for the work that He does in and through us.
Institution of the Eucharist
(Jesus institutes the Eucharist as a memorial of His sacrifice of His Body and Blood.)
Christ gives Himself entirely to us, body, blood, soul and divinity. We must give entirely of ourselves, and in doing so, we must give thanks to God for the ability to respond to His will.
