Christian Mysteries of Light

Evangelizing Catholic Culture with Father David Tickerhoof

The Luminous Mysteries: Christian Mysteries of Light ~ Episode 32

What are the Christian mysteries of light? No, this isn’t some new-age ideal. This is actually meditation of the active life and ministries of Jesus Christ. It allows us to think about and contemplate the Lord’s work on earth.

This inspiring book by Father David Tickerhoof, Third Order Regular (TOR), on the role of Merciful Penitents in the Renewal and Reform of the Church

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Some spiritual writers identify the Mysteries of the Rosary as the compendium of the Gospel. Pope John Paul II identified five special events in the public ministry of Jesus as unique mysteries that involved Jesus as the light. He wrote an Apostolic Letter proclaiming these five events as additional mysteries of the Rosary. He believed these five mysteries called the Luminous Mysteries gave monumental evidence of Jesus as the light of the world, focusing on the active ministry of Jesus. Adding the luminous ministries would complete the other three sets or categories of the Rosary, which would then present all four as a unique completion of the full Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christian Ministries of Light

The four sets of the mysteries of the Rosary are:

The Joyful, the Sorrowful, the Luminous, and the Glorious Mysteries. The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary are called “mysterious of light” because they shed light on who Jesus Christ is. He brings light into the world and into each soul who believes. Christians understand the whole person of Jesus as light and the fulness of spiritual life; his mission one of light and life. Being light in the world Jesus brings us true freedom through spiritual transformation. Each of these Luminous mysteries emphasizes the unique aspect of the truth of who Jesus is during his public ministry. Each mystery reveals the Kingdom of God present in the person of Jesus who proclaims a call to conversion, and an invitation to enter the Kingdom of God.

I will present in this podcast each individual mystery of light and a brief reflection on each one. The first Luminous Mystery is the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. Jesus in and of himself did not need to go through the baptism of water for his salvation. However, he submitted to the baptism of John receiving the Holy Spirit for the sake of doing his mission. In another place, Jesus tells Nicodemus unless a person is baptized in water and the Holy Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God This fact is confirmed by the Father when a voice called out “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” John and those around saw the Spirit of God like a dove come down and enter Jesus.

The second Mystery is the changing of the water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, realized the great embarrassment of the young bride and groom because they had run out of wine, she mentioned it to Jesus. He immediately put the whole event into a much greater context. That is the moment of inaugurating his divine mission! Mary told the servants to be obedient to what Jesus would tell them. Then Jesus told them to fill six water jars with water. He blessed them and the water was changed into wine. The head steward commended the couple because they had held the best wine until last. In this event, Jesus began his mission by revealing his divine nature and power, and his disciples began to believe in Him. We also might understand this event as the initial revelation of the mystery of the Eucharist.

The third luminous mystery is the Proclamation and Establishment of the Kingdom of God by signs and wonders. This mystery entails all that Jesus said and did in his active ministry. He taught the message of salvation by announcing the teaching of the Gospel, and he confirmed his power and authority by signs and wonders and his victory over Satan and the kingdom of darkness, which he would ratify by his own death and resurrection, and with the Father sending the Holy Spirit for all believers, calling them to life-giving repentance and conversion in order to experience the fulfillment of the life of the Kingdom.

The fourth luminous mystery is the event of the Transfiguration on Mt Tabor. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the high mountain, and there the Transfiguration of Jesus occurred. He shined with tremendous divine splendor and his garments became as white as snow. Moses representing the law of the Covenant and Elijah representing the prophetic tradition appeared in conversation with Jesus about his death and resurrection. This prophetic experience highlighted par excellence the mystery of the glorious resurrection of Jesus. It announces Christ’s Resurrection, the final magnanimous victory of light over darkness, life over death, and the glorious promise of our own resurrection and the gift of eternal life. Again, at the conclusion the Father spoke in confirmation of the truth, “this is my beloved Son, listen to him.”

The fifth luminous mystery is the institution of the Eucharist. This mystery reveals the permanence and fidelity of God’s love for all of humanity, but especially all believers. Christ, in sacrificial love offers his body and blood, testifying his eternal love for all. The sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery is a “now” revelation of the Kingdom present in the person of Jesus. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven…whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn. 6:54-59)

In conclusion, the adding of the Luminous Mysteries to the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries makes the corpus of the major mysteries of Christ found in the Gospel more complete. In praying all four sets of the Rosary one opens their heart in order to experience the transforming graces of the major mysteries of Christ in the Gospel. The fruitful result which occurs is a very real and powerful transition from a good normative Christian life to a deep rich mystical union in the grace that loving reveals its own reward in living in union with Jesus through Mary.

May we pray!

We most humbly and graciously thank you Father for the deep heart-felt life of grace you have bestowed on us in living out our life in devotion and love for the spiritual gifts of grace and love which you genero32usly pour out on your beloved sons and daughters. May these precious rewards lead us to share willingly these possibilities with our brothers and sisters. We pray this prayer through the gentle heart of Mary in a grateful relationship to you our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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