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Mysteries of The Rosary (Part IV-a)

by Lois Donahue

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

These five mysteries are truly 'glorious' in that they fit perfectly with words used to define the word glorious - celebrated, majestic, impressive, outstanding etc. Also, they are, without a doubt, 'mysteries' in that they certainly test our faith - sometimes even beyond our human imagination. However, just as we don't need to fully understand to believe, so, too, we don't need to fully understand to be able to meditate or think about what we learn to be true from both the inspired words of the Bible and the voice of the Church Jesus founded.

THE RESURRECTION

As we read what each one of the Evangelists tells us about the Resurrection, we will see that there are minor variations regarding certain events. We must keep in mind that this is to be expected since information having to do with what happened did not come to each of them from the same source. One thing they do have in common is that they each tell us first about' the empty tomb' as we see from the following ---

In Matt 28:l-6 we are told that after the Sabbath, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and another woman identified as 'the other Mary' came to the tomb. There was a great earthquake, an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone and sat upon it." He told them that "Jesus the crucified" is "not here" - obviously an empty tomb. In Mark l6:l-6 we find a similar story about the empty tomb. Here Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bring spices to the bomb to anoint Jesus. They, too, find the stone rolled back and a "young man" "clothed in a white robe" who told them that Jesus "is not here". St. Luke in 23:55 and 24:l-3 says "the women who had come from Galilee" with Jesus found the tomb empty. St. John in 20:5-6 tells of Peter and John finding only "burial clothes" in the tomb and in verse l3 Mary of Magdala says "They have taken my Lord."

While a great deal is written about "the empty tomb" the fact that the tomb in which the 'dead' Jesus was placed after the crucifixion was discovered to be empty was not, in itself, immediate proof that Jesus had risen from the dead. In fact, we learn from St. Matthew in 28:ll-l5 that when word got out that the tomb was empty "some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.' And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble." The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed." St. Matthew adds that this story has circulated "to the present (day)". Therefore we know there were people then who did not believe Jesus rose from the dead just as there are people today with the same disbelief.

However, the first three times we read about someone finding Jesus gone from the tomb they were each told that Jesus "has been raised". (Matt 28:6, Mark l6:6, Luke 24:6) and in the fourth instance Jesus makes it obvious that he had "been raised" by personally appearing to Mary (Mk l6:9 & Jn 20:l6); but Mary wasn't the only one to whom He appeared.

The resurrected Jesus appeared to the women we met in Matthew 28:9 as they "ran to announce" to the disciples that Jesus has been raised. St. Matthew also tells us about Jesus appearing to "the eleven" on the mountain in verse l6 and St. Mark tells us about Him, apparently on another occasion, appearing to "the eleven" when they were "at table" in l6-l4. Jesus also walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. (Mk l6:l2 and Lk 24:l3) St. John tells us in 20:l9-20 that, in spite of the fact that the disciples were hiding in fear behind locked doors, Jesus came and stood in their midst and showed them his hands and his side. St.Thomas was not there but a week later he was with them and he, too, saw the risen Jesus. (Jn 20:26) After that, according to St. John in 2l:l Jesus again appeared, this time to seven disciples, on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. There is probably no way of knowing exactly how many did see him between the Resurrection and the Ascension (and, personally, I have no doubt whatsoever that one of them was His mother) but I'm sure it was something that none of them ever forgot. All I can say in closing is that no matter what our thoughts are as we meditate on this Mystery, we must never underestimate its importance and likewise we must never forget that the Resurrection is a mystery and consequently the 'proof' of it actually happening lies in the faith of those who believe. St. Paul puts it so well in l Cor. l5:l4 "And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith."

THE ASCENSION

Of course we learn about Jesus' Ascension from the Bible - from St. Mark in l6:l9 who tells us - "So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God." In Luke 24:5l we read - "As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven." St. John quotes Jesus, who in Jn 20:l7, said to Mary Magdalene, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father." Then St. Luke speaks of the Ascension again in Acts l:9 "…as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight". For some unknown reason to me, there seems to be no mention of the Ascension from St. Matthew.

Although there may be far fewer inspired words recorded about Jesus' Ascension, there is so very much to think about as we pray this Mystery. However, again this reminder - because the Ascension is a mystery, our meditation stems from our knowing and believing in faith that Jesus truly ascended into heaven and sits "at the right hand of God' --- that then and now and for all time, He is there - loving us, caring for us, listening to us, willing and able to help us and to forgive us. In return He asks that we do our very best to believe in Him and to love Him in return. He knows that at times it will be very difficult, bordering on what seems impossible, for us to obey his commands …to accept the fact that what He asks of us, what He permits to happen in our own lives will eventually prove to be for the best in some way or other. Unfortunately, believing without understanding isn't always easy.

In case it might be of help, let me share with you something which, at times, does make believing in the Ascension without understanding it a little easier for me. When trying to meditate, when thinking about Jesus and things I DON'T UNDERSTAND about Him, I take great consolation in knowing that He, having lived as a human, DOES UNDERSTAND everything about me. He understands happiness and sorrow- laughter and tears - pain and loneliness - being misunderstood and being betrayed - having friends and family - losing a loved one and being reprimanded by one - being accused wrongly - being embarrassed- going out on your own - socializing -- helping people -- being impatient-- being gentle - believing in God - praying for help -- knowing what it is to live and knowing what it is to die. Think of Jesus Ascending into Heaven may be mysterious but thinking of Him being in Heaven is so comforting.

THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

There are so many references to the Spirit and 'His Coming' made in the Bible that I couldn't possibly list them here. What comes to my mind in thinking of the promise of His coming, is Jesus telling the Apostles at the Last Supper that the Father would give them "the spirit". As to the actual "Descent of the Holy Spirit", I like what St. Luke tells us in Acts 2:l-4 as to what happened when the Apostles were all together on that first Pentecost - "…suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind…then appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit".

That pretty much sums up what I know of the actual Descent of the Holy Spirit and I have to admit that for me, meditating on the Holy Spirit, the third 'person' of the Blessed Trinity, is a bit difficult probably because I have trouble thinking of Him as a PERSON. With comparative ease I can think of the other two persons as that - PERSONS. First of all, when it comes to God the Son, I doubt if any of us have a problem thinking of Jesus as a person. After all - Jesus became human and it is as a 'person' that we know Him best. Then, with God the Father, I can at least identify Him with 'person' because, for me, He is the "person" responsible for all of creation -- the someone/person who spoke (as persons do) to Mosses from a burning bush - (Acts 7:3l-32) and who, as I've come to know from the Bible and the Church is, without doubt, a "father-figure", person.

However, thinking of the third person of the Blessed Trinity as a 'person' is definitely more difficult for me because I seem to have no concept of 'spirit'. I have tried and gotten nowhere. I finally came to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit is saying to me --- "Give it up - you KNOW I'm here - don't try making me into something I'm not". From that point on He gradually became 'real' to me - not as a person like the Father or like Jesus but more like a mysterious someone I will someday have the joy of meeting - of knowing Him as He wants me to know Him in a life beyond this one. As to now, He is a very powerful someone, ever present in my life, who cares for me deeply. Despite my knowing that right from the very beginning the Holy Spirit was part of the Divine Plan for our salvation, I'm inclined to think of each of the three as being highlighted at a certain time for a certain purpose. In the simplicity of my faith, my thinking is that first the Father created us and for us - then the Son died for us -- and now the Holy Spirit will guide and help us the rest of the way. He is there to offer Sacramental help whenever I seek it - to encourage me to 'hang in there' when I wonder -to strengthen my faith in my Church when the human element within it shows weakness-but more importantly, He is there in prayer and that is what shapes my meditations on this Mystery.

To close I am just going to offer you a thought which I remember hearing in an opening prayer at Mass -- "Father…you sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy".

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"Nothing should
frighten or grieve you.
Let not your heart be troubled. Am I, your Mother,
not here with you?"

"Nothing should
frighten or grieve you.
Let not your heart be troubled. Am I, your Mother,
not here with you?"

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