Archives
April 26, 2010
The Mysteries of Joy
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Birth of our Lord
The Presentation in the Temple
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
SIN
Our Lady will give us a deeper understanding of sin through the five Mysteries of Joy.
”He was bearing our faults in His own body on the cross, so that we might die to our faults and live for holiness; through His wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24-25
“WHAT delicacy on the part of God is Gabriel’s message to Mary! This was the first day of the world’s “second Spring.” Gabriel’s “greeting of the season” brought unalloyed joy to Mary: “Full of grace! Mother of God by God’s overshadowing! The Son of the Most High is come! David’s Lord, King of the world without end!” The birth of Jesus - the Alpha and Omega of redemption. But not a syllable was uttered about that grim, gray thing - the crucifying of the Good-man - Salvation from all sin through the cross.
Savior - Gabriel did not mention that! But Jesus became incarnate to undo the world’s sins and to help me repent of mine.
II. THE VISITATION
”For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.”
Luke 1:44
THE mysteries of the divine babyhood are rightly called joyful. Adam’s sin had begotten our weakness; weakness and pride sired worldwide sin; from personal sin came the world’s collective gloom. Hope held one pinched foot at the threshold of heaven - God had promised a Savior. God would act in Jesus. God would reawaken in us our absolute dependence on Him. God would accept us as sinners and love us anyway. How great is the mercy of God!
Mary teach me to leap for joy as John did in the womb of his mother Elizabeth. Jesus came to bring abundant life. Alleluia!
III. THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD
”For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.”
Luke 2:11
JESUS was going to win pardon for the world in a very remarkable way. Those He came to save would turn upon Him. Their hatred would crucify Him. Then it was done - the world was saved. He could have saved the world in any other way. But no, there should be no redemption until we had rejected the Redeemer. Of this, the manner of His birth was a quiet prophecy. He must be born at Bethlehem; yet in Bethlehem there was no room; and He was born, as He would die, “outside the walls,” where Bethlehem’s shepherd found Him.
Jesus had been rejected enough. I should reject sin by keeping away from temptation.
IV. THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
”And a sword will pierce your own soul, too …”
Luke 2:35
FORTY days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to His Father in the Temple. Joseph gave the priest two turtledoves, and Jesus was brought back - “redeemed.” It was a striking preparation for what was to follow; this was the day of two redemptions: one of fulfillment and one of prophecy. The Holy Family approached the Temple gate. An old man stopped them and asked for the Child, then filled their ears with prophecy. This Child would redeem the world, but not by offering turtledoves. He was set for contradiction, and Mary was set for a sword.
Sin put a lance through the side of Jesus, and a sword through Mary’s soul. At Fatima Mary asked for my daily Rosary in reparation for sin.
V. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
”Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
Luke 2:48
SIN causes deep discontent of the soul - always. We cannot tell ourselves otherwise. But not all sorrow comes from personal sin. Trials are not always punishments; Mary’s certainly was not. Inner conflict does not always signify estrangement from God; Mary never offended Him. Mary’s faith, her love for God, fed upon sorrow; she pleased God as much in her three-day agony as she had in her joy at His birth.
To give up, to lose confidence in God when things go wrong - what a temptation! Mary didn’t. I shouldn’t.