“The most divine of all the commandments, which no prophet or any founder of religion ever thought to utter, was spoken by our Lord in an easy, clear, and natural way. His commandment was not just to love the enemy, or to love the whole world, but to love as I have loved. Christ’s love had two characteristics: first to love without limit or condition; second, to love until the end (Jn 13:1). This is awesome!” –Archbishop Joseph M. Raya (+ 2005)
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!
Wednesday: Emanate the Kindness
1st Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Our Lord
Scripture:
But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices
they had prepared and went to the tomb.
—Luke 24:1
Reflection:
For two days, the precious Body of Jesus laid on a cool slab of
stone, cold and lifeless Itself. Then all of a sudden on the third
day Jesus came to life again, with all the radiance of the sun.
Prayer:
Just as Christ rose and radiated the majesty of His Glorified
Body, so I am called to emanate the kindness of the Holy Spirit
within me. Dearest Holy Spirit, please shine Your love and joy
through me to everyone I meet. Amen.
Wednesday: Jesus Asked Me
2nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord
Scripture:
According to [the Lord’s] promise we await new heavens and a
new earth in which righteousness dwells.
—2 Peter 3:13
Reflection:
The apostles accompanied Jesus to His ascension, and watched
Him fade from their sight, with joy in their hearts. As the
radiance of His being continued to resonate inside of them,
they were in reverie, until angels came to remind them to keep
focused on the task at hand—that of proclaiming the gospel to
a broken world.
Prayer:
The angels sent the apostles back to the world, back to the cross
and back to their lives of hard work and rejection from the
powers-that-be. They understood that that was the path they
needed to walk, to receive their crowns of glory in heaven.
Heavenly Father, boost my confidence so that I, too, will be
able to do the challenging work of living as Jesus asked me to
live. Amen.
Wednesday: Enlighten Me
3rd Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles
Scripture:
And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak
in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
—Acts 2:4
Reflection:
To begin with, Jesus’s apostles were not men of superior
willpower, humility or intuition. But by the power of the
Holy Spirit, the weak became strong and courageous; the proud
became humble. And, the ones who didn’t quite comprehend
Jesus’s divine Sonship turned into those who were absolutely
convinced of it.
Prayer:
I am weak, sometimes proud and often don’t quite understand
the Christian mysteries either. Holy Spirit, enlighten me with
the gifts of Your strength, humility and knowledge. Give me
the right words to share with others that will inspire and benefit
them in their lives. Amen.
Wednesday: Be a Model
4th Glorious Mystery: The Assumption
of Our Blessed Mother
Scripture:
Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers, and observe
those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you
have in us.
—Philippians 3:17
Reflection:
The Blessed Virgin Mary was Jesus’s first and best disciple; she
survived the death of her Divine Child because she understood
that He was present to her with His love, always.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Throne of Wisdom, I pray that you will be a
model of sure faith for me, and that I will be able to survive
any trial or tribulation that might come my way through my
friendship and relationship with your Son. Amen.
Wednesday: Wash Their Feet
5th Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of our
Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Scripture:
Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he
has been proved he will receive the crown of life that [the Lord]
promised to those who love him.
—James 1:12
Reflection:
Jesus gave His disciples two important duties to perform just
before He went to the Cross. The first was to change bread
and wine into His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. The
second was to wash one another’s feet in humble service to one
another. He was modeling humility for us, since humility is the
path towards receiving a crown of glory in heaven.
Prayer:
Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven, Model of Humility and Service,
pray for me to be inspired to receive the Blessed Sacrament
often, and to act out of humility toward my neighbor—in
opposition to the world, which encourages me to act out of
pride and arrogance. I pray to become a star student of yours.
Amen.
