New mysteries in the Holy Rosary

BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

LUMINOUS MYSTERIES START WITH BAPTISM OF JESUS: After the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians, the Mysteries of Light, or the so-called Luminous Mysteries, come next, to narrate another aspect of the life of Jesus Christ starting from His baptism to the Institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. 

Significantly, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all contain an account of the baptism of Jesus Christ. In Matthew, we find the story in its Chapter 3, verses 13 to 17. In Mark, we find it in its Chapter 1, verses 9 to 13, while in Luke, the event is narrated in its Chapter 3, verses 21 to 22.

In John, the story is found in its Chapter 1, verses 29 to 34, although this account is not as specific about baptism as was written in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Be that as it may, the baptism of Jesus, performed by His cousin, John the Baptist at the Jordan River, continues to be a confirmation of Jesus’ divinity, and of His status as the Son of God.

In all the Gospels, the story is told that after He was baptized, the heavens parted and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove and lightning, with a voice from heaven saying “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Surely, in all history, there is no other person or being in this world whom God called as His Son, whom He loves and with whom He is well pleased except Jesus.

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WEDDING AT CANA, AND MARY’S ROLE AS MEDIATOR BETWEEN MAN AND JESUS: The Bible’s account of the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine as narrated in John 2:1-11, now forms part of the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians as its Second Luminous Mystery (or Second Mystery of Light).

Among many Christian believers, this part of Jesus’s life is often unknown or is little heard of, although it should occupy a place of importance because, as the Bible itself in John 2:11says: “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana, in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”

Being the very first miracle of Jesus, it is significant to note that the Bible appears to have portrayed Him as a little hesitant in performing it, considering His refusal to do anything when Mary, His mother, first approached Him when wine had run out during the wedding banquet. Jesus told Mary: “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.”

But it was only because of Mary’s persistence---she told the servants, “do as He says” even when she was already rebuffed by her Son---that Jesus relented and, as the Bible itself emphasizes, this became His first ever recorded miracle, the very first revelation of His glory.


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Bagong misterio sa Banal na Rosario


MISTERIO SA ILAW NAG-UUMPISA SA BINYAG NI JESUS: Pagkatapos ng mga Misterio sa Tuwa sa Banal na Rosaryo ng mga Kristiyanong Romano Katoliko, sumusunod naman ang mga Misterio sa Ilaw upang isalarawan ang isa pang aspeto ng buhay ni Jesus mula sa kanyang pagbibinyag o bautismo hanggang sa Huling Hapunan.

Kung ating papansinin, ang lahat ng mga Evangelio nina Mateo, Marcos, Lucas at Juan ay naglalaman ng kuwento ng binyag o bautismo ni Jesus. Sa Mateo, makikita natin ito sa Capitulo 3, bersikulo 13 hanggang 17. 

Sa Marcos naman, mababasa natin ito sa Capitulo 1, bersikulo 9 hanggang 13, samantalang sa Lucas, ang kuwento ay matatagpuan sa  Capitulo 3, bersikulo 21 hanggang 22.

Sa Juan, makikita natin ang kuwentong ito sa Capitulo 1, bersikulo 29 hanggang 34, bagamat hindi kasing-liwanag ang kuwento ni Juan ukol dito kumpara sa mga naunang mga kuwento.

Magkaganunman, ang bautismo o binyag ni Jesus, na isinakatuparan ng Kanyang pinsang si Juan Bautista sa Ilog ng Jordan, ay nagpapatuloy sa pagpapatotoo sa pagiging maka-langit ni Jesus, at sa kanyang katayuan bilang Anak ng Diyos.

Sa lahat ng mga Evangeliong ito, ikinukuwento doon na matapos mabinyagan si Jesus, nagbukas ang langit at ang Espiritu Santo ay bumaba sa Kanya sa anyo ng kalapati at kidlat, kasabay ng isang tinig mula sa langit na nagsasabing “Ito ang aking Anak, na minamahal Ko. Sa Kanya, Ako ay lubos na nalulugod.”

Kung ating wawariin ang buong kasaysayan ng mundo, makikita nating walang iba pang tinawag ang Diyos bilang Kanyang Anak, na Kanyang minamahal at kinalulugdan, maliban kay Jesus.

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SI MARIA AT ANG KASALAN SA CANAAN: Ang kuwento ng Bibliya ukol sa kasalan sa Canaan, kung saan ginawa ni Jesus na alak ang tubig kagaya ng isinasalarawan ng Juan 2:1-11, ay kasama na ngayon bilang Ikalawang Misterio sa Ilaw ng Banal na Rosaryo ng mga Kristiyanong Romano Katoliko.

Sa maraming mananampalatayang Kristiyano, ang bahaging ito ng buhay ni Jesus ay kadalasang hindi nila nalalaman o di kaya ay hindi napagtutuunan ng pansin bagamat kailangang malaman nila ito sapagkat, katulad ng sabi ng Bibliya sa Juan 2:11: “Ito ang unang milagro ni Jesus na ginawa niya sa Canaan, sa Galilea. Dito inilabas Niya ang Kanyang kaluwalhatian, at dahil dito ay naniwala ang mga disipulo sa Kanya.”

Sa unang milagrong ito ni Jesus, magandang tandaan ng lahat na isinasalarawan ng Bibliya ang pagiging bantulot ni Kristo na gampanan ito, lalo’t ipinakita sa kuwento ang pagtutol Niya na kumilos noong una siyang lapitan ni Maria, ang Kanyang ina.

Subalit dahil sa hindi nawalan ng pag-asa si Maria---sinabihan niya ang mga katulong na gawin nila ang ipagagawa ni Jesus sa kanila kahit tinanggihan na siya noong una---kitang-kita na nagbago ng isip si Jesus at ginawa niyang alak ang tubig, bilang Kanyang naitalang unang milagro.


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