Third Luminous Mystery

[turtle18]

What do you all think of when you pray this mystery of the rosary? It is the “proclamation of the kingdom” and supports the sacrament of Reconciliation. But what events in Jesus life do you meditate on? I have a hard time with this mystery.

 

[ricmat]

This mystery is usually stated as “Jesus announces that the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Some thoughts:

The Kingdom of God is actually Jesus. It is our destiny as Christians to choose to commune with Jesus (literally via the Eucharist), to be like Jesus, to copy Jesus, to have the mind of Christ.

The Kingdom of God is “at hand.” Make the decision to reach out and take it into your own grasp. See the face of Jesus in all our brothers and sisters. Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick. Pray to Our Father. Give glory to God and his creation. etc.

 

[johnco]

hi,

i like to think about the sermon on the mount, matt. chap. 5, 6, and 7.

God bless,

johnco

 

[LilyM]

Because I like to base my Rosary meditations on different scripture passages, I do two things. Firstly I think of a few different places where Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven. Things like:

a) the comparison with the mustard seed - smallest of all seeds but grows into a huge tree that birds shelter in. I pray for the ‘faith as small as a mustard seed’ of which Christ spoke.

b) the comparisons with the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great price - with the request to sell all you own to possess these heavenly treasures. I pray for the virtue of detachment from worldly goods and possessions.

c) that one must accept the Kingdom with the faith of a child, and be born again of water and the spirit, to enter into it. I pray at that point for wholehearted conversion to Christ.

Then I think of the Beatitudes as well.

 

[BeeSweet]

Conversion and repentance.

Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

 

[MSParrott]

hi,

i like to think about the sermon on the mount, matt. chap. 5, 6, and 7.

God bless,

johnco

Same here. I have a hard time on how to meditate on this mystery and the Transfiguration - so I just pretend that I am there, watching these things as they happen.

 

[jmm08]

I think this mystery is a bit of a wild card and it permits a variety of meditation.

• As others said – pick any of the Beatitudes.
• Any aspect of the sermon on the mount.
• Pick any parable of Jesus.
• Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well.
• Jesus telling Nicodemus that he must be born again.
  Of course it is best not to think of all these things during only one decade. I think it is best to consider only one of the above. Be specific and turn on your imagination. In your mind, put yourself nearby so you can see and hear a bit of what is going on.

Frankly, I set down to pray the Rosary (usually five decades at a time) but I am hardly able to really turn on my imagination for more than one decade (one mystery). It takes effort and it is worth while, but then I am a bit tired of using my mind so much. If I get one good mystery meditation out of saying five decades of the Rosary I count myself fortunate. And if it is really a memorable meditation that is a rare blessing indeed.

Thanks for asking the question. Because there are a few that I also don’t meditate on sufficiently.

jmm08

 

[puzzleannie]

What do you all think of when you pray this mystery of the rosary? It is the “proclamation of the kingdom” and supports the sacrament of Reconciliation. But what events in Jesus life do you meditate on? I have a hard time with this mystery.

Jesus enters the synagogue and proclaims that the prophecy of Isaiah has been fulfilled and in effect claims to be the Messiah and Mark’s gospel says he proclaimed coming of the Kingdom and call to continuing conversion… read all 4 gospels for the sections immediately following the Baptism of the Lord and temptation in the desert, when He begins his public life.

other fruitful gospel meditations for this mystery would be the various kingdom parables, esp. in Luke but there are some in all gospels: mustard seed, wedding banquet, wise and foolish builders, wise and foolish virgins etc.

for the Transfiguration I sometimes find myself meditating on the inappropriate and goofy behavior of Peter at this and so many other dramatic moments, and how even in his weakness Peter is given strength to lead, so maybe there is hope for the rest of us

 

[turtle18]

I think there can be some “humour” found in the Transfiguration. If you look at what was going on, Jesus tells James, John & Peter he wants to go for a walk to the top of a mountain. So the apostles think it’s probably just like any other walk but Jesus knows what is going to happen at the top. Then after God reveals Him (again) as Son with Whom He is well pleased…Jesus orders them not to tell anyone. So they walk down the mountain and are doing what–how exactly would you hide that from Andrew, Matthew, Thomas, and all the others?

But on a more serious note, I think you can draw a parallel to Jesus carrying His Cross up the Hill at the time of the Crucifixtion. I always like to compare this climbing of the “Transfiguration Hill”, to the Way of the Cross, how different they were–at the Transfiguration Jesus walk is easy, he is supported by his friends and at the top of the mountain His glory & the Glory of God is revealed in a divine way. At Calvary, His glory is revealed in a human, sacrificial way.

 

[Andruschak]

What do you all think of when you pray this mystery of the rosary? It is the “proclamation of the kingdom” and supports the sacrament of Reconciliation. But what events in Jesus life do you meditate on? I have a hard time with this mystery.

“Whose sins you forgive, THEY ARE FORGIVEN.” I meditate on Christ’s mercy, and his willingness, his DESIRE, to forgive our sins if we are truly repentent. Because he loves us

 

[MSParrott]

I think there can be some “humour” found in the Transfiguration. If you look at what was going on, Jesus tells James, John & Peter he wants to go for a walk to the top of a mountain. So the apostles think it’s probably just like any other walk but Jesus knows what is going to happen at the top. Then after God reveals Him (again) as Son with Whom He is well pleased…Jesus orders them not to tell anyone. So they walk down the mountain and are doing what–how exactly would you hide that from Andrew, Matthew, Thomas, and all the others?

But on a more serious note, I think you can draw a parallel to Jesus carrying His Cross up the Hill at the time of the Crucifixtion. I always like to compare this climbing of the “Transfiguration Hill”, to the Way of the Cross, how different they were–at the Transfiguration Jesus walk is easy, he is supported by his friends and at the top of the mountain His glory & the Glory of God is revealed in a divine way. At Calvary, His glory is revealed in a human, sacrificial way.

Wow, that makes perfect sense to me! I think I will meditate on this tonight when I say my Rosary. Thanks Turtle18!!!

 

[Archerette74]

Because I like to base my Rosary meditations on different scripture passages, I do two things. Firstly I think of a few different places where Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven. Things like:

a) the comparison with the mustard seed …
b) the comparisons with the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great price …
c) that one must accept the Kingdom with the faith of a child…

Ditto to that. There are so many passages to think about, let the Spirit lead you!

Funny you should bring it up - the priest did his homily in part on this topic at mass yesterday! He basically said that there is no clear beginning middle and end to this mystery. There are a great many of passages in scripture you can find to meditate on when praying this mystery!