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Jesus in the Mysteries of the Rosary

  1. Glorious Mysteries
    1. The Resurrection of of Jesus Christ
      1. «You are my Lord and my God!»

4th) «They [the women] announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others (...).but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them» (Lk 24:9-11). There are the "scientists"! They are willing to accept only what they can touch. And, in fact, when the doors were closed (Jesus Christ Resurrected no longer needs the doors to be opened), Jesus stood in their midst: «Peace be with you» (Lk 24:36). Unlike the saintly women, Jesus Christ had to make an effort so they could to "see" him: he showed them the main signs of his identity - hands and feet pierced -. Even more: «Touch me and see» (Lk 24:39). And even more: he ate in front of them (He no longer needs to eat, but he can do it because his resurrected body is a real body).

The women had set out -though they did not foresee finding a Resurrected-; they stayed closed at home (as a sort of funereal encounter): very different attitudes with very different results too! The women "see him" right away; they don’t "see him", before Jesus offered them many proofs (Read more: «Mary of Magdala went and reported the news to his followers, but they would not believe»).

 

5th) «Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe» (Jn 20,25). Words of Thomas, who «was not with them when Jesus came» (Jn 20:24) and he was told that they had seen the Lord. Hard words, those of the "scientist"! Did Jesus-Resurrected deserve those words? Is this the way to "see" Jesus Christ Resurrected?

God’s patience is tireless ... After eight days they were all together, and with Thomas! Again, with the doors closed (the Gospel emphasizes that), Jesus appears in their midst. After wishing them peace, «He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe”» (Jn 20:27). We do not know if Thomas dared to "touch" the Jesus-Resurrected; In any case, his reaction has imbued many believing hearts of all ages: «My Lord and my God!» (Jn 20:28) (Read more: The faith).

 

6th) «Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed» (Jn 20:29). There clearly appears "how" to see Jesus Christ Resurrected: with a "believing" attitude. To some people that sounds insufficient. But could it be otherwise? Let's think about it: who and what is Jesus Christ? He is God and is Resurrected Man (Read more: Jesus has entered upon a new and different life).

Like God: are we going to pretend that - infinitely superior to us – will act like an actress calling attention and like a politician demonstrating that he is there to win? The "scientific" approach to God supposes the pretense of lowering God to the level of any material being (with weight and dimensions). Is that the God we want?

And as a Resurrected Man, do we take responsibility of what "resurrected" means? His body has been "glorified." The resurrection of Jesus is more "noble" than the "resurrection" of Lazarus. We could say that Lazarus was "re-animated" (by God's power): in fact, Jesus ordered that Lazarus be released so that he could walk (he was bound, shrouded and that prevented him from moving). In the case of Jesus Christ, it happen just the opposite: what tied him (the shroud) has remained there intact, but with nothing. St. John -when he went to the tomb- had a look there, «saw and believed» (Jn 20:8). What did he see? Not Jesus! (at that moment), he saw the shroud untouched but, at the same time, without the "content" (without the "body"). To steal it, they should have taken it all, or at least cut or undo the shroud. But no, there was the entire continent intact (the shroud) but the content was not there. «He saw and believed» (Read more: Jesus’ Resurrection: a type of life utterly new).

John occupies precisely a special place among the Apostles: he is «the disciple whom Jesus loved» (John is mentioned like that up to 7 times); he had been - accompanying the women - on mount Calvary; he ran from the cenacle to the tomb when he heard the testimony of the women ... Surprising parallelism between John and the women! : they move and "see" Jesus; John moves and "sees" Jesus ...