“Love, that’s the starting point of the Christian life; it’s the place of departure of God towards his creature, of Jesus Christ towards man; and nothing is more just than it becoming the starting point of man towards God. But before becoming a point of departure, the love of Jesus must be a point of rallying and recollection of all the faculties of man; a school where we learn to know Jesus Christ; an academy where the mind studies and copies its divine model, where the imagination even shows him in all the goodness and beauty of his heart and of his works.” Saint Peter Julian Eymard (+ 1868)
Intention: Lord, please bless all the Jews and Christians in the world, and keep them safe. God bless Jerusalem, and all of Israel! I pray for peace for Jerusalem!
Saturday: Jesus’s Love for Us
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no
relations with a man?”
—Luke 1:34
Reflection:
Mary said “yes” to the angel. Like her, we must say “yes” to
Jesus: “yes” to becoming His disciple, “yes” to allowing Him
to come into our hearts through prayer and the Sacraments and
“yes” to His purification of every part of us that is not like God.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, You come to me as God, and yet You also come
to me in the wee, non-threatening face of a Babe. It’s as if You
longed to show Your love for me, because of how vulnerable
You made Yourself as a Baby, and also made Yourself as a lonely
Man on a Cross. Help me to take in the reality of how much
You love me. Amen.
Saturday: Mysterious Life
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in
her womb.
—Luke 1:41
Reflection:
Two meek women who were cousins met and greeted each
other, with the joy of knowing that God was working something
mighty in their lives; they entrusted themselves to God’s will. It
was such a mystery. Perhaps that is how we should live our lives:
to believe that God is working something mighty—though
what, we do not yet comprehend—and just let the mystery be.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, pour out Your Spirit of true charity, true
hospitality and true generosity through me, for my neighbors.
Remind me of the godly and mysterious nature of their lives
also! Amen.
Saturday: Following Jesus, My Star
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King
Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the new-born king of the Jews? We saw his star at its
rising and have come to do him homage.”
—Matthew 2:1–2
Reflection:
The Magi were led by a star, to find the Christ Child. What star
do we allow ourselves to be led by? Is it the star of “keeping up
with the Jones’s?” Is it the star of being the most beautiful one
in the room? Of having the most money? Of having the most
popularity? Of attaining the most impressive accomplishments?
Or, is it the North Star of following in the footprints of Jesus
Christ, our Savior?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I kneel at Your manger in breathtaking wonder of
how the Word was made flesh. Elevate my mind and heart, so
that I follow God’s will. Help me to follow You, my North Star,
all the way to heaven. Amen.
Saturday: Reverence for Church
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel,
of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived
seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as
a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple,
but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. And
coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and
spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption
of Jerusalem.
—Luke 2:36–38
Reflection:
This mystery demonstrates to us Joseph’s and Mary’s dedication
to fulfilling the laws and customs regarding God. We are living
their example when we go to Mass on Sundays, when we have
reverence toward the Blessed Sacrament and when we make our
homes places of prayer and gratitude.
Prayer:
Heart of Jesus, Our Life and our Resurrection, grant me the
discipline of going to Mass every Sunday, unless it is impossible
to do so. Let it not be a duty but a joy! Amen.
Saturday: No Difficulty-Free Lives
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but
not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
—Luke 2:44–45
Reflection:
St. Joseph and Mary were overjoyed upon finding Jesus in
the temple. However, the three days prior were fraught with
worry and dread, loss and guilt. Certainly, the parents of Jesus
were not given a worry-free life as they raised Our Lord and
Savior. Why should we think that we will be spared worry and
difficulty in our lives?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, You said that You would be with me always.
Please assist me in handling the difficulties in my life more
easily because of Your presence within me, as I walk along the
road of life. Amen.
