One of the many titles that Jesus attributed to Himself was LIGHT. He declared: “I am the LIGHT of the world.” (Jn. 8:12) He also stated, referring to us: “You are the Light of the world.” (Mt. 5:14) Judas left Jesus at the Last Supper and entered into darkness. It should be our most ardent desire and longing to enter into the light, be enamored by light, and have an ardent desire to transmit light in a world where so much darkness reigns. The Christopher movement coined a short, pithy saying worthy of our topic: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
One of the most prominent ways to absorb light is to meditate upon the Life of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel message. Thanks be to God and His divine and providential care that the great Pope, Saint Pope John Paul II wrote a relatively short but powerful message (An Apostolic Letter) on the most Holy Rosary, with the title “The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary.” (October 2002)
In this encouraging spiritual masterpiece, this Pope created a new series in the scheme of the Rosary—the Luminous Mysteries, also known as the Mysteries of Light. If taken seriously and contemplated, these five mysteries, spiritual gems, can serve as a spiritual trampoline to catapult us into a different realm of light in our spiritual lives. They can help us dispel the dark corners in our interior castle and let the light shine.
We will present these contemplative gems and offer a few ideas to help us, with the aid of God’s grace, to plumb the depths of these Mysteries of life. These five mysteries are splendid and enlightening scenes in the short Public Life of Jesus, the Light of the world. Indeed, His Words are light, spirit, and truth.
The Five Mysteries of Light—the Luminous Mysteries of Jesus, the Light of the World:
1. BAPTISM OF JESUS IN THE JORDAN RIVER.
2. THE WEDDING FEAST OF CANA.
3. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM/CALL TO CONVERSION.
4. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
5. THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST AND THE PRIESTHOOD
FRUITS/BLESSINGS FROM EACH OF THE FIVE MYSTERIES.
Each one of these five Luminous Mysteries is indeed a goldmine of spiritual gems and diamonds. Once we come in contact with Jesus, the Light of the World and the Way, Truth, and Life, we enter into an immense depth of holiness and knowledge that goes beyond both human experience and human expression. At the same time, the love that one has for Jesus has to be expressed in the most noble words that can be crafted. May the Holy Spirit come to our assistance in our striving to plumb the depths of the Mystery of Jesus and the Light that the Holy Spirit so ardently desires to communicate to each and every one of us. Come, Holy Spirit, and enlighten our mind’s eye to penetrate your truth.
1. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. (Jn. 1: 29-34) Among the many sublime messages that emanate from the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River at the age of 30, from His cousin, Saint John the Baptist, are the following:
(a) THE TRINITY. A Trinitarian Epiphany becomes evident. The voice of the Father can be heard from the heavens. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, descends into the waters. The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove.
(b) OUR OWN BAPTISM. The Baptism of Jesus sanctified all of the waters that would be used to baptize going forward, and it is a constant reminder of our own baptism and our commitment to renounce sin and pursue a life of holiness.
(c) APOSTOLIC COMMITMENT. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus told His disciples (and that includes us) to teach and to baptize all! Millions upon millions do not know Jesus and are not baptized. Our mission is upon us. Let us accept the challenge.
2. THE WEDDING AT CANA. (Jn. 2: 1-12) Jesus accomplishes His first public miracle, turning water into wine, due to the request made by His Mother at the Wedding Feast of Cana. The disciples saw and believed in Jesus.
(a) JESUS’ PRESENCE. By His Presence at this Wedding Banquet, Jesus was and still is blessing couples, husbands and wives, who marry in the context of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. May Jesus bless us and our families.
(b) MARY AS MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES. Mary interceded in this Wedding Banquet. Mary’s power of intercession is almost infinite in power. All graces come to us from God, but through the channel of Mary. Indeed, she is the Mediatrix of all graces.
(c) MARY’S ADVICE—BEST ADVICE IN THE WORLD. The last recorded words of Mary in Sacred Scripture are found in the context of the Wedding Feast of Cana. Her words? “Do whatever He tells you.” (Jn. 2:5) What excellent advice! If the world would simply obey these words, there would be no wars, only peace, joy, harmony and salvation.
3. PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM / CALL TO CONVERSION. (Mk. 1:15/Mt. Chapters 5 thru 7). In the Public life of Jesus, that lasted about three short years, He carried out three basic activities. 1) Miracles to prove that He was God. 2) Preaching and teaching in abundance (Mt. Chapters 5 thru 7—the Sermon on the Mount). 3) Exorcisms—casting out demons.
(a) HUNGER FOR THE WORD OF GOD. We should cultivate within the depths of our hearts an ardent yearning and longing for the Word of God. May the words of the Psalmist resonate in the depths of our soul in our longing for His Word: “As the deer yearns for the running streams, so may I long for you, O Lord my God.” (Psalm 41:1)
(b) CONVERSION. Jesus calls all of us to be converted until we pass from this life to the next. “Be converted because the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk. 1:15)
(c) CONFESSION AND CONVERSION. Pope Saint John Paul II in the Apostolic Letter on the Rosary (BVMR) relates our conversion to the reception of the Sacrament of Confession—this is indeed the most efficacious tool at our disposal for true and ongoing conversion.
4. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS. (Mt. 17). Jesus ascends the mountain of Tabor. He invites three to accompany Him—Peter, James and John. They climb with Jesus and then witness Jesus being transfigured in light—His clothes as bright as the sun. This experience prepared them for the scandal of the cross.
(a) FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS. Jesus chose friends to be with Him in His short stay on earth. These were the 12 Apostles. But there was an inner circle of His best Friends. They were Peter, James and John.
(b) YOU ARE CALLED TO BE HIS FRIEND. At the Last Supper, Jesus called the Apostles His Friends. By extension, you were meant to be there at the Last Supper and Jesus wants you to be among His Best Friends. Do you long for this? What is your major obstacle? How can you grow in Friendship with Jesus? Why not start now?
(c) LISTEN TO HIM. The voice of God the Father could be heard—listen to Him. Let us open our ears to listen attentively to Jesus when He speaks to us. How does He speak to you? Do you respond?
5. THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST AND THE PRIESTHOOD. In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus instituted two Sacraments simultaneously: the Eucharist and the Priesthood. What two sublime Gifts from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. How grateful we should really be!
(1) AN ATTITUDE OF PROFOUND GRATITUDE. Let us never weary in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Jesus for His numerous Gifts to all of humanity, as well as to you and me. But most especially may we praise and thank Jesus for the Gift of the Eucharist. Actually, EUCHARIST means thanksgiving. May the words of the Psalmist echo the desires of our hearts: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” (Ps. 136:1)
(2) DAILY MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION. May we accept the challenge to attend frequent Mass and Holy Communion as often as it is possible within the context of our vocation. In fact, one Holy Communion is worth more than the whole created universe!
(3) THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD. Let us pray for priests; offer Masses, prayers and sacrifices for these minsters of God. Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood because in the words of Jesus, the Supreme and High priest, “The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few.” (Lk. 10: 2) May God send us many priests and holy priests to reap an abundant harvest of souls for all eternity.
Jesus is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Also, the Lord Jesus is the true LIGHT OF THE WORLD. He desires to cast fire on the earth and He is not at peace until this fire be enkindled. By contemplating the Mysteries of Light may we be ignited with both Light and Fire to set the world ablaze with the love of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May we be a fiery arrow in the hands of Christ the King, Christ the Light of the World.
