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JOYFUL MYSTERIES
The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin
Mary
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town
in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord
is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered
what sort of greeting this might be.
Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be
with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her
(Lk 1:26-29, 38).
Mary completely opened her life to the plan of God for her and
for God's people. In prayer, we also listen to the voice of God
speaking to us today so that we, like her, might receive Jesus
as Gift and as Life.
Our Father, Hail Marys, Glory Be..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, help us grow in humility.
The Visitation of Mary to Her Cousin Elizabeth
Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with
a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit
of your womb" (Lk 1:40-42).
Mary brought the presence of Jesus to her cousin. John recognized
his Savior and jumped for joy in his mother's womb. When we show
concern and compassion for others, we bring joy and share with
them the loving presence of Jesus.
Our Father...
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, teach us to love others.
The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem
The time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid
him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn
(Lk 2:6-7).
Imagine Mary's joy at the birth of Jesus. God desires our happiness
and he wants us to rejoice in his gift that is beyond our imagining,
the gift of his Son, Jesus. "For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son" (Jn 3:16).
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, give us the gift of joy.
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
When the time came for their purification according to the law
of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the
Lord. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This
child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts
of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul
too" (Lk 2:22, 34, 35).
Mary obeyed the law of purification and heard the prophecy of
Simeon. She pondered his words and without knowing the future she
trusted in God's plan. Following God's designs for our lives as
best we can, we journey into the future with courage and faith.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, help us grow in fortitude.
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the
Temple
And when he [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up as usual
for the festival.
When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know
it.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Lk 2:42-43,
46).
Already as a child, Jesus understood his vocation. Vocation is
a dynamic response to God's dream for us as it unfolds throughout
our life. God calls us to love. To love is our vocation, which
shapes not just what we do but everything we are.
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, make us live God's dream.
LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
John Baptizes Jesus in the Jordan
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the
water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice
from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am
well pleased" (Mt 3:16-17).
Jesus' baptism was the transition into his public ministry. We
all experience transitions in our lives. Some are full of expectations,
others are painful, but all require of us a letting go. As God's
beloved, we trust that God will guide us along our journey of life.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, give us the gift of perseverance.
Jesus Reveals His Glory at the Wedding
of Cana
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the
mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been
invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus
said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman,
what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His
mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
When the steward tasted the water that had become wine. [he said] "you
have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of
his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his
disciples believed in him (Jn 2:1-5, 9-11).
Jesus revealed who he really is at the wedding in Cana. The magnetic
force of his person had already attracted the disciples, but now
they saw the glory of God working through him. As we grow in intimacy
with Jesus, our lives radiate his glory and we become witnesses
to the kingdom.
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, fill us with the power of your
grace.
Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom of God and
Calls Us to Conversion
Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent,
and believe in the good news" (Mk 1:14-15).
Jesus calls everyone to conversion. It is a process by which we
gradually turn our hearts to God through repentance of our sins.
Conversion is a daily struggle to become more Christ-like in our
attitudes with others, in our thoughts, desires and choices.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, help us live in continual conversion.
The Transfiguration of Jesus
Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up
a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before
them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on
earth could bleach them.
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came
a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly
when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but
only Jesus (Mk 9:2-3, 7).
The glory of Jesus shines on all those who seek him. Like the
disciples, we journey through life uncertain, afraid and searching
for the light. Jesus is the Light. May the light of God shine in
our hearts so that we might reflect to the world the glory shining
on the face of Christ.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, fill our lives with light.
Jesus Gives Us the Eucharist
While they were eating, he [Jesus] took a loaf of bread, and after
blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this
is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave
it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, "This
is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly
I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until
that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God" (Mk 14:22-25).
Jesus, the Bread of Life, intimately offers himself to us. His
Eucharistic presence is Love itself, waiting to be received and
adored by us. When we do so, we are transformed by this love and
we build up a communion of love among all people.
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, teach us to be a source of
unity and communion.
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he [Jesus] said to
his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and
prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove
this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want" (Mk
14:32, 35-36).
Jesus suffers anxiety to the point of sweating blood, and yet
he trusts in the Father's plan for our salvation. Situations in
our life can fill our hearts with trepidation. When these fears
seek to overwhelm us, we can look to Jesus who said, "Fear is useless,
what is needed is trust."
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, help us trust in you.
Jesus Is Scourged
So he [Pilate] released Barabbas for them; and after flogging
Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified (Mt 27:26).
In this mystery, we consider Jesus being scourged. Sometimes we
take a beating from others' hurtful remarks and emotional outbursts.
Looking at Jesus, silent before his persecutors, we move beyond
our resentment and anger and embrace forgiveness.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, help us grow in forgiveness.
Jesus Is Crowned with Thorns
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting
some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed
in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail,
King of the Jews!" They spat on him, and took the reed and struck
him on the head (Mt 27:28-30).
Here the King of the Universe is mocked and humiliated. Many times
we make ourselves more important than we are. Ambitions lead us
to seek power, prestige, recognition. Jesus, instead, leads us
to pursue fulfilment through love and service.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, help us grow in meekness.
Jesus Carries the Cross to Calvary
Carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The
Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha (Jn 19:17).
Jesus bears the weight of his cross as he is led to his execution.
We sometimes feel the burdens of life weighing heavily upon us-a
sick loved one, financial concerns, misunderstandings in relationships,
the weight of sin. Seeing Jesus' perseverance helps us believe
in the provident care of a loving God who never abandons us even
in the darkest moments.
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, give us faith in times of suffering.
Jesus Is Crucified
Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus
saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her,
he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said
to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the
disciple took her into his own home (Jn 19:25-27).
On the cross we contemplate Jesus' complete vulnerability. We
pray for all those who are vulnerable in the world: for the marginalized
and the poor, for all those whose lives have been damaged through
the sins of others, for the victims of violence and of war.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, heal us.
The Glorious Mysteries
Jesus Rises from the Dead
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the
tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared.
The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground,
but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among
the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you,
while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed
over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again" (Lk
24:1, 4-7).
The Risen Jesus shows us that after every night of suffering there
is a resurrection. Faith gives us the courage to believe in the
faithfulness of God when all seems lost. This faith offers new
life and new hope.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, show us the faithfulness of
God.
Jesus Ascends into Heaven
When he [Jesus] had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted
up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going
and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white
robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand
looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from
you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into
heaven" (Acts 1:9-11).
Like the disciples, we can fix our gaze on Jesus who prepares
a place for us in heaven. We are not made for this world alone.
Our hearts will be restless until they are with him forever. In
our life-plans we seek to keep heaven as our ultimate goal.
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, make hope in heaven.
The Holy Spirit Descends on the Apostles
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in
one place.
And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a
violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue
rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them
ability (Acts 2:1-4).
The apostles received the Holy Spirit and went out to preach the
Good News to the whole world. We also are filled with the Holy
Spirit. The Spirit shapes our entire existence, making us like
Jesus, so that together we become a "force field" of God's saving
work in our world.
Our Father.
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, fill us with your Spirit.
Mary Is Assumed into Heaven
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will
take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also (Jn
14:3).
Jesus receives his mother into heavenly glory. Mary is our example
of the disciple who persevered through the joys, sufferings, and
loneliness of life, trusting in God and living with gratitude for
God's goodness.
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, help us grow in gratefulness.
Mary Is Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth
A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve
stars (Rev 12:1).
We give glory to the Holy Trinity by a life of continual praise
and thanksgiving. Mary shows us this kind of life. The glory of
heaven is our reward, and the narrow way is one of praise to God
even amid the trials of life. We open our hearts to praise our
God and sing songs to worship His Name.
Our Father..
Jesus, our Master and Shepherd, we praise your name
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