THE LUMINIOUS MYSTERIES AND THE SACRAMENTS (B)
The Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification. This was solemnly defined by the Council of Trent (1545-1563) that there are seven sacraments. The church celebrates these seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Penance & Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.
There are five decades of a rosary and there are seven sacraments in the Church. These are perfect numbers. Hence it is plausible to say, the rosary and the sacraments are ordered for our sanctification and perfection. These mysteries are not merely five important events during Christ's Ministry. The five Luminous Mysteries have meaning as individual events in Christ's Life. But they also have a special meaning when taken as a whole. The five Luminous Mysteries, with the changes instituted by the Saint Pope John Paul II under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, now comprise the Seven Sacraments established by Christ during His Ministry on earth.
First Luminous Mystery is the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (Luke 3:21-22). Here we see the Sacrament of Baptism at play.
The Baptism in the Jordan is first of all a mystery of light. Here, as Christ descends into the waters, the innocent one who became "sin" for our sake (cf. 2 Cor 5:21), the heavens open wide and the voice of the Father declares him the beloved Son (cf. Mt 3:17), while the Spirit descends on him to invest him with the mission which he is to carry out. Does Jesus need baptism?
Jesus did not need Baptism in order to receive sanctifying grace in his human nature, because he was not conceived with original sin. He had the fullness of sanctifying grace from conception. Nevertheless, it was fitting for him to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, as a way for Baptism to enter into the human race as a formal Sacrament. Jesus was fittingly baptized because the Sacraments can only come to the world through him, and because Baptism is the foundation of the other Sacraments.
Second Luminous Mystery is the self- manifestation of Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana. Here we can envisage the Sacrament of Marriage.
A section of the Gospel of Saint John is accorded the name the “Book of Signs” (1:19-12:50). They are called the Book of Signs because it is where “the Word reveals himself to the world and to his own…” these signs could also mean miracles. Unlike the Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke, John does not record many miracles of Jesus. There are only seven listed in John. The reasons for not many signs is captured in the epilogue of the Gospel of John which states: ‘therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name’ (John 20:30-31).
First of the seven signs was given at Cana (cf. Jn 2:1- 12), when Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers. At the wedding at Cana, Jesus changed the water of the Old Testament marriage into the wine of the New Testament Sacrament of Marriage. The Old Testament marriage is a natural marriage, but the New Testament marriage is supernatural. The wedding at Cana was the beginning of the first true Sacrament of Marriage.
The Virgin Mary noticed that the wedding had water, but no wine. By the grace of God, Mary then understood that the marriage of the Old Testament was like water, and that it could become like wine, if the presence of Christ was brought within the marriage union. Christ's grace inspired the Virgin Mary to understand this truth and to ask for Christ's help. And then Christ responded by making this wedding the first true Sacrament of Marriage and by signifying that invisible miracle with the visible and symbolic miracle of changing water into wine.
To Be Continued…
Mary, Mother of Our Redeemer,
Pray for us!!
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