The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)

⛪

I. The Baptism in the Jordan

Pietro Perugino「Baptism of Christ」

Matthew 3:16-17

16 So Jesus was baptized, and as he came straight up out of the water, suddenly heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting upon him. 17 And with that, a voice came from heaven, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 535 

Jesus' public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan. [Cf. Lk 3:23; Acts 1:22.] John preaches "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins". [Lk 3:3.] A crowd of sinners [Cf. Lk 3:10-14; Mt 3:7; 21:32.] - tax collectors and soldiers, Pharisees and Sadducees, and prostitutes- come to be baptized by him. "Then Jesus appears." The Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son." [Mt 3:13-17.] This is the manifestation ("Epiphany") of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God.

II. The Wedding Feast of Cana

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld「The Wedding Feast at Cana」

John 2:1-5

1 Two days afterwards, there was a wedding-feast at Cana, in Galilee; and Jesus’ mother was there. 2 Jesus himself, and his disciples, had also been invited to the wedding. 3 Here the supply of wine failed; whereupon Jesus’ mother said to him, They have no wine left. 4 Jesus answered her, Nay, woman, why dost thou trouble me with that? My time has not come yet. 5 And his mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1613

On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign - at his mother's request - during a wedding feast. [Cf. Jn 2:1-11.] The Church attaches great importance to Jesus' presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ's presence.

III. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Henrik Olrik「Altarpiece, Sankt Matthaeus Church, Copenhagen」

Mark 1:15

15 The appointed time has come, he said, and the kingdom of God is near at hand; repent, and believe the gospel.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 543 

Everyone is called to enter the kingdom. First announced to the children of Israel, this messianic kingdom is intended to accept men of all nations. [Cf. Mt 8:11 10:5-7; 28:19.] To enter it, one must first accept Jesus' word:

The word of the Lord is compared to a seed which is sown in a field; those who hear it with faith and are numbered among the little flock of Christ have truly received the kingdom. Then, by its own power, the seed sprouts and grows until the harvest. [LG 5; cf. Mk 4:14, 26-29; Lk 12:32.]

IV. The Transfiguration

James Tissot「La Transfiguration」

Matthew 17:1-2

1 Six days afterwards Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John with him, and led them up on to a high mountain where they were alone. 2 And he was transfigured in their presence, his face shining like the sun, and his garments becoming white as snow;

Catechism of the Catholic Church 555

For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to "enter into his glory". [Lk 24:26.] Moses and Elijah had seen God's glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah's sufferings. [Cf. Lk 24:27.] Christ's Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God's servant; [Cf. Isa 42:1.] the cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. "The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud." [St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 45, 4, ad 2.]

You were transfigured on the mountain, and your disciples, as much as they were capable of it, beheld your glory, O Christ our God, so that when they should see you crucified they would understand that your Passion was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that you truly are the splendor of the Father. [Byzantine Liturgy, Feast of the Transfiguration, Kontakion. you truly are the splendor of the Father.]

V. The Institution of the Eucharist

Jacopo Tintoretto「The Last Supper」

Matthew 26:26

26 And while they were still at table, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my body.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1340 

By celebrating the Last Supper with his apostles in the course of the Passover meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive meaning. Jesus' passing over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfills the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church in the glory of the kingdom.

Luminous Mysteries (English)

Luminous Mysteries (Latin)

⛪