The Luminous Mysteries ~ The Transfiguration of Jesus

Apse mosaic of the Transfiguration ~ 6th century Monastery of Saint Catherine ~ Mount Sinai

The Fourth Luminous Mystery

The Transfiguration of Jesus

Our Father Who art in heaven...

On the way to Jerusalem - up the mountain and down the mountain. It is a recurring New Testament theme: we're on a journey with Jesus. And journey means to move along, to keep going step-by-step, as the Christ-person in me grows to full stature.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The great mosaic is over the altar at Saint Catherine's Monastery at the base of Mount Sinai in Egypt which Moses climbed and where he beheld God while receiving the Law. Moses and the prophet Elijah are pictured here, and Jesus standing in the ancient continuity of law and prophet. He fulfills all that they said and directed in his law of love, lived wholly on the cross and from the Easter tomb.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Jesus is splendid in a radiance the gospels can only struggle to express. But whatever Jesus has, he shares. I pray to reflect my own personal brightness - not attractiveness as the culture perceives it but as Christ would call me to.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Jesus has just told Peter, James and John that he is going to suffer and die. He lets these three apostles witness the bright window into His Resurrection, as they will be with Him in the garden of His arrest. He consoles them by this Easter insight.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

This Transfiguration is our hope - our assurance that God will act: "That we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (1Cor.15:51) Change! What an important word in a world of stubborness, pride, arrogance, smuggness. That my mind would be made fresh - like the freshness of the Christ who shines as new snow.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Peter, James and John are here tumbling down the mountain, so bright is the glistening Christ. Have I ever allowed myself to be overwhelmed by the beauty of Christ? Have I ever allowed Christ to knock down what I think is life - Christ who will then raise me up in His bright vision?

Hail Mary, full of grace...

A cloud overshadowed them - like the Spirit of God hovering bird-like over the abyss in the beginning. (Genesis 1:1)  Now God hovering over Jesus, the new human person.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

We listen to sales pitches, news commentators, politicians, the clergy, good-neighborly and family advice, the experts...But when heaven opens over us, the Divine Voice tells us to "Listen always" to Jesus.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The face of humanity is often dirtied, weary; diseased; tear-stained; contorted by anger, fear or sadness. Can I see the face of Christ there too?

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Rumi is a 13th century Persian poet, scholar and Sufi mystic. The Jesus of bright-light would clap with appreciation when Rumi wrote:

There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled. There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled. You feel it don't you?

Hail Mary, full of grace...

 

Glory be to the Father...

Rose Window ~ Saint John the Divine ~ New York City

The Luminous Mysteries ~ The Proclamation of the Kingdom

The Sermon on the Mount ~ Jan Brueghel the Elder (1598)

THIS IS A GREAT PICTURE. There is a light from Jesus which permeates the crowd, but then it stops. Maybe the people beyond the line of light have hearts that are closed to Jesus. Look! Not everyone is paying attention, especially the folks in the back of the crowd. Most are involved in their own conversations. Some men even seem to be flirting with the girl with the dog. Are there people selling things? I've preached in churches which resemble aspects of this scene. Saint Thomas More (1478-1535) said of Medieval England: "England would have yawned at the Sermon on the Mount." But we're no different. Along with a deep consideration of the image, we might read The Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 5,6,7) before praying. It's the content of the teaching Jesus delivered in this painting.

The Third Luminous Mystery

The Proclamation of the Kingdom

Our Father, who art in heaven...

Jesus sat down for his Sermon on the Mount because he taught them with authority. He's the new Moses; the new Sinai. Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it!" (Luke 11:28) Jesus says. I must be attentive to the other voices I heed, especially media voices.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The Kingdom of God, which Jesus proclaims, is God's rule in my life. God first! On Easter night the Soviet soldier stood at the church door, redirecting the young people to the movie theatre to watch free Western films. The young man refused the pressure and went inside the church for the liturgy. He understood God first.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The Beatitudes are not a new code of conduct for everyone to copy but rather God's announcement of blessing for those in the world who are at the bottom, reversing the world's emphasis: the Untouchables of India, whose job is to pick up human waste from the streets. God knows. So why doesn't God do something about it? Rather, why don't people do something about it?

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Blessed are the mourners. Much of the world lives in perpetual mourning: those who live where  wars are unceasing; those in the fourth world who live off the refuse of the first world.

 Hail Mary, full of grace...

Blessed are the meek. But meek isn't a good word because it makes us think of someone who is weak or perceived as a loser. Rather, blessed are those who know how dependent we are upon God, for all we have and who we are, and who don't resort to cheating to improve things for themselves.

 Hail Mary, full of grace...

Blessed are the merciful. Mercy isn't pity but God's kindness through justice. The first world has the best food, the best toys, the best shopping and uses the most electricity. Living in that first world we often forget about the more of the world which has little to nothing.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Blessed are the pure of heart. But this isn't about sexual things. A clean heart create in me, O God (Psalm 51:10) - that is: a heart free of resentment, attachments, cynicism and inner blindness. A pure heart is open to God and other people.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Blessed are the peacemakers. Peacemakers, not peace hope-ers or peace wishers. I will be attentive to the desire for power which causes conflict. And in another gospel place, "Take no walking stick" (Luke 9:3) - the walking stick being a means of self-defense. Jesus would undoubtedly understand that this is difficult beyond imagining! But He also would probably have little patience with our bitter and divisive fighting over gun clips and background checks. 

Hail Mary, full of grace...

They will be called children of God. There can be no more derogatory name-calling. This is who we are: children of God. All of us! And the world will not be well until we realize this in our hearts and start to live out of that realization.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, Jesus says. Exceedingly glad! There can be no such thing as a sad Christian. Mother Teresa says our smile is our best gift. Often the poorest people smile the most and the best.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...  



Lights in the night, bless the Lord! (Daniel 3)

The Luminous Mysteries ~ The Wedding Feast at Cana

The account of the Wedding Feast at Cana is found only in Saint John's Gospel ( 2:1-11). It is one of the Luminous Mysteries (Mysteries of Light) because Jesus first revealed his glory there. The splendid painting by Nicolas Correa first deserves its own silent contemplation.

The Second Luminous Mystery

The Wedding Feast at Cana

Our Father, who art in heaven...

This wedding scene is one of extravagance: the robes, furnishings, the guests and table settings. In Christ, God has held nothing back nothing of Himself - He has given it all away to us in love.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

There is the canopy over the bride and groom's table. God has covered us with the unbreakable bond of His kind mercy.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The disciples are with Jesus at the wedding, but there have been no signs as of yet. Mary indicates the wine has run out, and Jesus reluctantly performs his first miracle. The disciples believe. Where Mary intervenes, faith abounds.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Now Jesus uses the water jars of Jewish purification, not for ritual washings but for something far better - the wine that calls to mind his later gift of the Eucharist.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The Prophet Amos tells us that when the Messiah takes up his reign: "Behold the days are coming...and the mountains shall drip new wine" (Amos 9:13).

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The guests have drunk freely, but Jesus extends the feast with a seemingly unreasonable amount of high quality wine. Where Jesus is welcomed as inner guest, there is delight!

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Jesus isn't rude but addresses His Mother formally, calling her Woman. She is the New Eve - the new Mother of all who would follow her Son. She instructs us to learn from Him.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Mary doesn't make a specific request of Jesus, rather she states the problem, "They have no more wine." Jesus always responds to faith.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Jesus knows that if He performs a sign His enemies will gather and begin to scheme against Him. That hour of His glorification has not yet come. But when it does, Mary will be there too, standing resolutely beneath the cross as first disciple.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

The wine represents the wise teachings of Jesus. But a jar is missing; there would never be six, but seven, the number representing totality and fullness. Jesus is  the missing jar of wisdom.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

Glory be to the Father...

  

Night-grotto at Lourdes, France