The Joyful Mysteries - Meditations with St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

The Annunciation

The most magnificent stage in the history of Redemption began in such a simple way. God did not send Gabriel to the palace of a ruler, but to a young girl, Mary, living in a humble cottage in Nazareth. When the angel announced to Her that She would become the Mother of the Savior, She asked him only one thing: ”How will this be?”. And when he explained it, She, full of grace, surrendered Herself to the Lord as His handmaid. She allowed God to fill Her to the brim. Mary in the mystery of the Annunciation gives us a wonderful example of how we ought to live, for She received Jesus with love and faith. Mary spoke Her ”yes” with Her lips and Her heart.

The Visitation

The most beautiful moment of Mary's life was the moment She agreed to become the Mother of Jesus. She hurried in Her admirable humility, in a true act of love, to fulfill the role of a servant toward Elizabeth. We know what this humility proved to be for Elizabeth's unborn child: he leaped in his mother's womb. This was the first human being to recognize the coming of Christ. Then the Mother of the Lord sang the Magnificat with joy, thanksgiving, and praise. Mary is an example for us of how we should live. What She received as a gift Herself, She wanted to share with others.

The Nativity of Jesus

Jesus came into the world to save man – to teach us the love of His Father. We thank God for offering us His Son Jesus, to be born among us and to be like us in all things, except sin. God, by becoming man, emphasized the greatness and beauty of human life. He desires to offer Himself to our hearts with joy and peace. He desires that His coming might bring peace and joy to each of us. Let us pray to receive this grace for our hearts.

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Our Lady, presenting Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, gives thanks to the eternal Father on behalf of all people and offers Him to Him. So ought we to do in our lives: to thank God endlessly for the gift of life and faith, to offer our lives for the salvation of the world. When we have nothing to offer, let us give this nothingness to God. Let us all remain as empty as possible so that God can fill us. Even God cannot fill what is already full. God does not want to force us into anything. It is you yourself who fill the world with the love He gives you.

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

However, when His parents found Him, He went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. We too should search for God when we have lost our way or moved away from Him. In what way? Just as Mary did: She found Him in the temple. Let us search for Him in silence, in prayer, on our knees, in the Eucharist, in the suffering. We should search for our children just as Mary did when Jesus was lost. We should concern ourselves with the thought of where our children are. A home without children is not a home.