The Incarnation and the Luminous Mysteries

1. The Incarnation and the Luminous Mysteries

2. Why come to Earth? Why leave Heaven for a world full of pain? Why not just speak through prophets and hope they get the message across?

3. Reconciliation Jesus’ first message was about repentance: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mk. 1:15)

4. To Demonstrate God’s Love “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends…This I command you, to love one another.” (Jn. 15:13,17)

5. To be Our Model of Holiness • “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jn. 13:34-35)

6. To Make us Partakers of the Divine Nature “He [the Son of God] became man so that we might be made God…He endured the insolence of men, so that we might receive the inheritance of immortality.” St. Athanasius

7. To Destroy the Power of Satan Jesus shows us the power of God, that death can be overcome, and in doing so, Satan loses his power over us.

8. Titles • Jesus - means “God Saves” (Gabriel told them to name Jesus this) • Christ – Messiah/Anointed (to inherit David’s throne) • Son of God – title showing closeness to God (unique in how it is used for Jesus) • Lord – title of respect, used in OT to replace the unspeakable “Yahweh”

9. Luminous Mysteries • Rosary always had 15 decades (5 joyful, 5 sorrowful, and 5 glorious), 150 Hail Mary’s, as a way for uneducated Christians to imitate monks (who said the 150 psalms each week) • In 2002, John Paul added 5 Luminous Mysteries

10. The Baptism in the Jordan • Baptism HAD been done as a sign of repentance. • Jesus does it to show He identifies with the human condition. • The Trinity is revealed at it: Holy Spirit descends “like a dove”, Father says “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” • Jesus will tell people to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

11. The Wedding at Cana • This is the first of the seven signs in John’s Gospel. • People are running out of wine at a wedding (VERY embarrassing), so Jesus changes 6 huge jars from water into wine. • The signs are the evidence of Jesus’ power.

12. The Proclamation of the Kingdom(i.e. Lk. 4:16-21) • The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth • 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,   because he has anointed me     to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives   and recovery of sight to the blind,     to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ • Good news for poor, challenge for the wealthy • Life of unconditional love and forgiveness • Preaches against hate, revenge, violence, greed • Heals blind, lame, deaf, etc. • Brings freedom to those captive by demons, disease, sin, death

13. The Transfiguration • Miraculous vision for Peter, James, and John • Jesus is shown to be the fulfillment of the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah) • “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

14. The Institution of the Eucharist • At a Passover meal, Jesus gives them bread and wine, says it is His Body and Blood, tells them to “do this in memory of Me.” • This is the center of Christian worship, shows the closeness between Christ and His followers.