The Luminous Mysteries - The Way Through the Heart
The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
The Baptism in the Jordan became popular - people came from the immediate vicinity, but also from afar, even from the capital itself, although there was no shortage of attractions there. Why did St. John the Baptist become so famous? It might have aroused curiosity that the son of the priest Zechariah distanced himself from people, lived alone, and did unusual, strange things. However, people abandoned their duties and pleasures to go to him as to a prophet. John did not offer pleasures - one had to confess one's sins, that is, admit to one's own weaknesses, accept the need for one's own change, conversion, return to God - that is, admit that something was neglected, something important forgotten, that things were not right. The baptism received was to confirm this decision. Jesus and the disciples also come to John. Were they astonished that among the people who consider themselves sinners, their Master, whom they admired, unexpectedly stands? What did the Mother of God think about this? We do not know the answers to these questions, nor do we need to invent them - Jesus taught them and us not only with words, but also with deeds. The Immaculate Man with the Sweetest Heart stands among sinners, receiving John's baptism.
What humility, what consent to ordinariness, what a desire to participate in the religiosity of ordinary people! The covenant of two Hearts is visible - similarly, the Purest One, along with all mothers, once traditionally submitted to purification. The Virgin Mary intuitively sensed God's will, which recommends and praises ordinary, hidden life, respect for religious customs and forms of piety. Now the Son of God submits to the rite of baptism. John the Baptist senses whom he has before him - yet Jesus insists. The rite is crowned by the words of the Father's love and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
This is an important mystery for us. And to us, gestures, words, the setting of tradition, and religious rites may sometimes seem unnecessary or even as if not intended for us. Let us behave like Jesus and His Mother. The Holy Spirit will come to us through long-known signs of faith; nothing new or extraordinary is needed for the power of the extraordinary grace of God's love to come.
The Wedding at Cana
The Evangelist, describing the wedding, first mentions His Mother as better known; He was invited as Her Son. Usually, everyone in the neighborhood was invited and then the joint celebrations were recalled for a long time: what was there, how it was, and what could have been better or different. Mary asks her Son to remedy the trouble of the hosts and organizers - there is no wine, and thus the basic drink at a wedding. It would probably be shameful to serve ordinary water from the well at such an exceptional feast. Does the Mother know that the Son can perform such an astonishing miracle? Has she already seen something that allows Her to ask, or does she rather feel it with her Heart, or only assume it? It was certainly easier to ask the already known and admired miracle worker for another magnificent act of power.
It seems that we recognize here a glimpse of Mary's mystery. The Evangelists had noted several times already that she did not understand, wondered, treasured it in her Heart, trying to understand the Son's Heart, and here for the first time we learn that she directly expresses a request for intervention. The Most Holy Virgin thus slowly gets to know Jesus, just as every mother accompanies growth and spiritual development, yet the Son is Her Master and Teacher in a special and unique way. She has already reflected on many events, thought over Jesus' words, learned much about her Son, since she dares to ask for a matter that is by no means the most important. She also understands that the Son, although He could after all not require carrying such a large amount of water, does not want to perform a miracle without human cooperation, does not want to make them only passive spectators of divine power. Mary understands the Son's Heart, gracious and full of mercy, so she invites people to cooperate with grace, to make an effort and try, believing that this will bring even greater fruits.
Let us believe Mary - She advises well that we do whatever the Son of God tells us. Let us accept the need for our effort and striving, even if we do not understand them.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Jesus' life reaches the moment of beginning public activity. He leaves behind hidden domestic happiness, His Mother, loved ones, to begin a completely new stage of life. He may still meet acquaintances from childhood and early youth, He will still after all see the Most Holy Virgin, talk with Her, but everything will be completely different now, everything will take on the intensity of public commitment. Jesus, once focused on the family's needs, so open to His Mother, closest to Her Heart, will now be ”about His Father's business,” as He announced. Now His Heart, most patient, full of mercy, will spend most of its time with other people, constantly listening to new persons, answering various questions - thought-out and accidental, kind and tricky. Jesus is already busy with the matters of the kingdom of God, with His whole Sweetest Heart.
Let us learn from the Virgin Mary, for Her this was all especially difficult - She was also happy in the closeness of the Son, who was at the same time Her Child, the Son of God, Teacher and Master. We too would like tender, beautiful moments with Jesus; His very Presence heals and comforts, His Heart heals and soothes our wounds, it is the source of all comfort. However, following Him means going out to people, patience towards people, a heart open to people. Jesus does not want us to close ourselves off from the world in our favorite, hidden place with Him. He wants to take us with Him. If we follow Him, we cannot be scandalized by the people to whom the Heart of Jesus will lead us, we cannot take offense at them or avoid the unpleasant ones. Following Jesus, we will find ourselves among very diverse, often difficult events for us, and our comfort and strength will be His presence; His words will teach and guide us.
Perhaps we will see the transformation of many hearts, but Jesus counts above all on our transformation, on the covenant of our hearts with Him and His Mother. Will we agree, like Mary, to give our Heart to Jesus, to accompany Him wherever He goes and leads us? Will we open our hearts, often still poor, aching, tired, to healing in the covenant of the Sweetest Heart of Jesus? In Him are hidden all treasures and graces, in Him dwells all the fullness of the Deity. Let us ask Mary to lead us to her Son; this is precisely the desire of Her Immaculate Heart.
The Transfiguration
Did Mary see the Transfigured Son in glory during His lifetime, like the chosen Apostles? The Gospel tells us nothing about this. Various legends tell of many striking events from the hidden life, but St. John Paul II believed that she walked a dark pilgrimage of faith, relying more on the angel's announcement at the annunciation, on the behavior and words of Jesus, believing in Him even when there was no mention of great miracles and visions. The toil and effort of the Most Holy Virgin's faith was admired by many Church Fathers and saints. Down Her path of ordinary everyday life, close to the Heart of Jesus, with complete trust and humility, often in very monotonous and uneffective conditions, perseveringly and patiently walked many saints who, without mystical revelations, without great experiences and rapture into heaven, believed unfailingly in the Son of God. Jesus Himself speaks of the blessed, that is, happy ones, who did not see and yet believed.
The Master chooses few of the twelve Apostles to experience an astonishing meeting with Him on Mount Tabor. He evidently did not consider this wonderful experience to be necessary or essential, or even very helpful. His conviction proved true beneath the cross. We too can find ourselves in a situation where those whom we allowed into our secrets will be close to us with delight when things are going well, and then disappear. After coming down from Mount Tabor, the Apostles certainly told of their exceptional experiences, since the Gospel knows them. Other disciples and Apostles undoubtedly listened with excitement, asked questions, admired, perhaps even some envied, dreaming of similar experiences. How did they look later upon those chosen ones who spoke of great mystical experiences and then fled, betrayed, abandoned the Master? The greater the impression someone's piety and commitment make, the greater the astonishment and scandal after their fall.
Let us pray for those who lost faith, seeing our weakness as people of the Church. Let us not judge too harshly those who failed, even though they knew Jesus and Mary personally. A difficult time may also come for us, and we too may have to answer for our words, to which people listened attentively, believed, admired. Our covenant with God also proves itself not after coming down from Mount Tabor, but in everyday life, in times of temptation, in times of suffering - with Jesus and Mary.
The Institution of the Eucharist
Usually, what is most valuable, dearest, most delicate in us, we keep for the closest, most reliable people, perhaps even with certain reservations, perhaps with fear that we will not be used and will not lose something important. Most of us know disappointment when our open heart, effort, sacrificial work, perhaps even efforts beyond our strength were unappreciated, wasted, mocked... It is hard to be at the mercy of people... Jesus has no such fears - He leaves Himself irrevocably and ultimately.
The Heart left for us in the Blessed Sacrament is the tenderest Heart, our peace and reconciliation, the healing of our wounds, the source of joy, life, holiness; solace in weeping, strengthening of the weak. Jesus in the Eucharist wants to be the comfort of our heart, just as He is the joy of the angels and all the saints. This Heart of Jesus, in which the Father is well pleased, is now open to us to embrace us, bestow gifts upon us, and unite all hearts.
Yet the Blessed Sacrament too often remains an unaccepted present, a rejected gift, as if not desired by everyone, as if misunderstood, unnoticed.
This Sweetest Heart is sometimes disregarded, passed over, rejected... Let us pray for ourselves, that we may live by the treasure of the Eucharist, that we may approach the Heart of God with trust and the expectation of graces, that we may know how to accept His generosity. If we open ourselves to the covenant with the Heart of Jesus like Mary, like Her we will be able to lead everyone to Him.
The Covenant of Hearts to which Jesus invites is always possible. Let us think of the renewal of our baptismal promises, of our First Holy Communion. It is not true that we are to receive all subsequent Communions just like the first - after all, just like Mary, we are learning Jesus and want to receive Him with our whole heart, more and more maturely, more and more consciously. May our hearts, like a good Mother, prepare for Jesus, may they become the house of God, the temple of God Himself.