The Luminous Mysteries - Meditations by St. Josemaría Escrivá

The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan

And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:13,17)
Through baptism God, our Father, took possession of our lives, incorporated us into Christ, and sent us the Holy Spirit. The power and might of God illuminate the face of the earth. Let us set the world on fire with the flame you brought when coming to earth! Then, on the day without end, the light of Your truth, O our Jesus, will enlighten all minds.
My King, I hear you calling with a strong voice, still resounding: ignem veni mittere in terram, et quid volo nisi ut accendatur (I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled). And I answer-with my whole self-with all my senses and faculties: Ecce ego: quia vocasti me! (Here I am, for you called me!)
At holy baptism, the Lord imprinted an indelible seal upon your soul: you are a child of God. Child, does a desire to make everyone love Him not set you on fire?

The Wedding at Cana

Amidst so many guests at one of those bustling, country weddings, where people gathered from various places, Mary immediately notices that the wine is running out. She alone realizes it. How close to us are the scenes from the life of Christ! The greatness of God reveals itself in the midst of the ordinary, the commonplace. It is natural for a woman and an attentive housewife to notice an oversight, to take care of the small details that make a person's life pleasant: and that is exactly what Mary did.
“Do whatever he tells you. Fill the jars with water.” And the miracle takes place. With complete simplicity. Everything happens naturally. These men do what they are supposed to do. The water was within arm's reach. This is the first manifestation of the Lord's Divinity. When we have good will, when we do what God asks of us, the most ordinary changes into the extraordinary, the supernatural.
Lord, I wish to place all my affairs in Your hands. Our Mother-Your Mother!-will surely say to You at this moment, as she once said in Cana: “They have none!” If our faith is weak, let us turn to Mary. Thanks to the miracle that Christ performed at His Mother's request at the wedding in Cana, His disciples believed in Him. Our Mother always intercedes with her Son so that He may hear us and reveal Himself to us in such a way that we can confess: You are the Son of God.
-Grant me, O Jesus, this faith which I sincerely desire! My Mother and my Lady, Most Holy Virgin Mary, make me believe!

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” And all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. (Mk 1:15; 2:13)
Jesus notices the boats by the shore. He gets into one of them. He enters the boat of each of us with such great naturalness! Drawing close to Christ, you should remember that He is very close to you, that He dwells within you-the kingdom of God is in the midst of you (Lk 17:21). You will find Him in your heart.
Christ must reign above all in our soul. For Him to be able to reign in me, I need the abundance of His grace. Only in this way will every beat of my heart, my every breath, the most fleeting glance, the most ordinary word, the most commonplace feeling be transformed into a joyful hosanna to my King, Christ.
Duc in altum! (Launch out into the deep!) Rid yourself of this pessimism that makes a coward of you. Et laxate retia vestra in capturam (And let down your nets for a draught). We must therefore trust the words of the Lord: get into the boat, take up the oars, hoist the sails, and set out into the vastness of the world that Christ gives us as an inheritance.
Et regni eius non erit finis! (And of his kingdom there will be no end!) -Does working in the service of such a Kingdom not fill you with joy?

The Transfiguration

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. (Mt 17:2) Jesus, to look at You and speak with You! To remain in contemplation, marveling at the immensity of Your Beauty. And never, never to interrupt this contemplation. O Christ, who could behold You! Who could behold You and not be struck by Your Love!
And a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Mt 17:5). Our Lord, we are here to listen to everything You want to tell us. Speak to us! We want to listen attentively to Your voice in stillness. May your words, sinking into our soul, inflame our will to act fervently in complete obedience to Your will.
Vultum tuum, Domine, requiram (Thy face, O Lord, will I seek) (Ps 26:8). I close my eyes and rejoice at the thought that I shall behold You. This will happen when God wishes me to see Him no longer as in a glass, darkly... but face to face. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before the face of God? (Ps 41:3)

The Institution of the Eucharist

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (Jn 13:1)
Night was falling upon the world, because the old laws, the ancient signs of God's infinite mercy toward humanity, were about to be fulfilled, opening the way to the true dawn: the new Passover. The Eucharist was instituted at night, preparing in advance the morning of the Resurrection.
Jesus remained in the Eucharist out of love for you. -He remained knowing how people would receive Him... and how you would receive Him. -He remained so that you might consume Him, so that you might visit Him and talk to Him about your affairs. So that being near Him, before the Tabernacle and receiving the Blessed Sacrament, you might be inflamed from day to day with greater love and contribute to other souls-many souls!-following the same path.
Good child, look how lovers on this earth kiss flowers, letters, keepsakes from the person they love... And you? Can you ever forget that He is always at your side?! He Himself! How could you forget that you can consume Him?
Lord, may I fly no longer so low to the ground! May I always be illuminated by the rays of the Divine Sun-Christ in the Eucharist! May my upward flight not cease until I find rest in Your Heart!