Reflections on the new Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
The Baptism of Christ The Wedding at Cana The Proclamation of the Kingdom The Transfiguration The Institution of the Eucharist
"I have a baptism to receive and what anguish I feel till it is accomplished." Was Christ not already anticipating the baptism of blood he would receive on the cross while still in the waters of the Jordan? Baptized in the Jordan that all righteousness may be fulfilled. Baptized on the cross that we may have full access for divine intimacy with the Triune God. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," said the Father. He made the same declaration during the ascension but added "listen to him." He does not say "listen to him" during his Jordan baptism because he was not yet engaged in the fullness of his ministry. We will later hear Mary at Cana tell others "do what he tells you."
We take our needs to Mary because she takes them straight to her Son. And though He may not seem forthright in answering our prayers, she tells us "do whatever he tells you," which in a sublime way is already an answer for us. But Christ responds with far more wine than what is needed, and of the highest quality. Never in half measures does Christ give. But have we filled the jars to the rim in preparation? Have we "done whatever he tells us?"
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Jesus begins the proclamation of the coming of the kingdom by signs. He healed the sick, blind and lame. Some, but not all. Why not all? Because they were intended to be signs of some greater reality. Did those who followed him in the hopes of a cure which never came return home despondent? Or did they rejoice in the healings of their brothers and sisters, glimpse the mystery behind the sign, and receive a different kind of healing? How do we respond when our prayers do not seem to be answered but those of others are? Does God love them more than us because perhaps they appear more devout?
"The kingdom of heaven is not coming as something which can be seen."
Sometimes Jesus went off by himself to pray. Sometimes he took his disciples. Sometimes he took just his closest friends. Does this not speak to the different needs of human nature? It speaks also to the profound intimacy Christ wishes to have with us. He is the author of our nature - he made us to be personal with him. Communal too, but the extraordinary revelation of his transfiguration was only to his closest friends.
Peter, James and John saw Christ in his glory. They were overcome. But Christ's clothes soon returned to normal. The four of them came down off the mountain and in a short span of time the disciples denied knowing him. This is the power of doubt and the difficulty of faith. Is our spiritual life a constant search for transfigurations on mountaintops?
The Institution of the Eucharist
"Do not worry. I am with you always." These things which we are commanded to do and asked to believe seem utterly absurd except in the light of the Eucharist. In the Eucharist Christ is indeed with us always. "If you eat my flesh and drink my blood I will live in you and you in me." Then all things will be possible for us. Not by means of us, but by means of God dwelling in us.
Before he instituted the Eucharist he washed our feet through the feet of the disciples. Were it not for the light of truth given us by the Holy Spirit this seemingly endless series of scandalous acts by our God would collapse our faith - at least for the adult-minded. Our God stooping down below us by becoming a frail infant - completely dependent on us for everything. Our God stooping down below us to wash our feet. More signs of the kingdom. Good news indeed for the childlike of heart.