Saturday 8th. September
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Night Office: First Reading. From the book of Genesis (3:9-20).
There is a selection of commentaries on Genesis, and on the Gospel of Matthew 1.
However, the passage from Genesis on Adam and Eve shadows and dark dawn out to the New Adam and New Eve.
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1. The
Luminous Mysteries – Part One
SUMMARY
1. The proper perspective
within which we ought to read the account of Gen. 1-3 is from the standpoint of
Moses. We must stand with Moses on Mount Sinai and be wrapped in a vision
of Paradise. We must see paradise with our own eyes and experience the
drama which unfolds upon that sacred ground. This perspective, which
involves the reader in the story of creation, will be important as we journey
with our Lord through each Luminous Mystery.
2. The first image of Eden
is that of light and darkness. This contrast will come to full stature
with the revelation of the Light of the world, the Son of God, who stands
against the powers of darkness. This image will be first encountered
throughout the Luminous Mysteries, as Christ our God confronts the evil of sin
and death.
3. The second image of Eden
is that of the Waters which have three characteristics: death, life, and the
Spirit. This image will be most prevalent in the first Luminous Mystery,
the Baptism of Christ.
4. The third image is that
of sonship. Adam is made in the image and likeness of God and is called
to act out that reality in his relation to the world as king and marital
companion. The fulfillment of his vocation will confirm upon Adam the
permanent supernatural status as a son of God bound to the Father by a
covenantal union. We will encounter this image throughout the Luminous
Mysteries as Christ restores man to his proper relationship with the
Father. With the raising of fallen man in the Jordan River, the
Proclamation of the Kingdom, and the Transfiguration we will begin to see the
restoration of man as a son of God.
5. The forth image is that
of the Fall. Adam and Eve are called to union with each other and with
God but instead of the divine covenantal union, God’s children seek life apart
from God on the seventh day. With the Fall, Adam and Eve lose their royal
inheritance and their royal robes, clothed now in the image of the
animals. At the wedding at Cana, we will encounter the restoration of the
fallen Eve in the person of Mary.
6. The fifth image of Eden
is the merciful Father who seeks the restoration of His creation and the
reunion with his prodigal children. In each of the Mysteries of Light, the
forth and fifth images will be brought forth. As Christ condescends to
become a partaker in our plight we will again and again see our Lord touch the
fallen Adam and bring him back to life, uniting him to the heavenly Father who
seeks union with his creation.
7. The sixth image is the
reason for exile, the Tree of Life. Man is cast forth from the Garden and
the Cherubim are placed at the gate of Paradise. At the table of the
Eucharistic banquet we will receive from the hand of Christ the fruit of the
Tree of Life which will be for the life of the world.
8. The final image of Paradise
necessary to begin our journey through the Luminous Mysteries is that of
location. The Jews believed that Jerusalem was the location of the Garden
of Eden. As Christ comes forth from the Jordan, we will walk with him
toward Jerusalem and see in his footsteps and actions the restoration of
Paradise.
9. The hope that burned in
the hearts of the Jewish people at the time of Christ was that God would wash
them from their sin, restore them to their ancient Paradise, and once again
dwell with his children in a covenant union. This hope would not be in
vain, for as Christ transfigures our human nature by his actions of grace, we
are introduced to the restoration of mankind.
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