Luminous Mystery Research Paper

The elements of this practice equip the individual to perform this ritual in a successful manner and allow adherents to be disciples of the Lord in the Christian community. The use of water signifies the spiritual cleansing of the individual and reflects the discussion of rebirth through water in the Gospel of John - “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water” (3:5). The use of water also unifies the individual with the ministry of Christ as we take part in the same ceremony as him. The bible highlights the eternal connection established with the Christian community as the word stresses the importance of this practice. Furthermore, the white garment symbolises the pure and virtuous nature of this ritual and signifies the releasing from the chains of sin and being reborn into a new life with Christ. Pope Francis’ statement that the “people of God have become missionary disciples” highlights the communal aspect of baptism and its contribution to Christianity as a living tradition as it is the individuals moral duty to baptise non-believers and unite them with the Christian community. The Gospel of John reinforces this obligation and the importance of baptism for the individual and the community as a whole in “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mttw

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John, which marked the commencement of Jesus’ ministry (Matt. 3:13, Luke 3:3). John’s ministry began in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius between August 19, 28 and December 31, 29, which was within a year or shortly after the commencement of the ministry of Christ. Therefore, John’s ministry lasted months before Herod arrested and killed him (Luke

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

This was Jesus first miracle that he did in Cana of Galilee and he was thirty years

John starts his anecdote by introducing a straightforward conversation between Jews and Jesus regarding Abraham and freedom. This interaction extends for various paragraphs and shows a clear lack of exacerbated emotional response from the Jewish community. The Jews in this passage simply aspire to learn more about Jesus’s ideology and thoughts instead of threatening him with death. This short interaction is crucial to the humanization of the Jewish community in the reader’s eyes. Contrasting the emphasis on hate and anger that Matthew portrays on the Jew population, John depicts them as people who are simply obeying the law. When asked if they desire to crucify the King of Jews, the Jews answer with “We have no king but the emperor.” This small, yet powerful line, demonstrates that the Jewish community was not furious due to the claims performed by Jesus, but rather by the threat to the social status that had been established in the era. Many philosophers believe that Jews had strong connections to the head of the government and they might have believed that if Jesus was to become the new king, their advantages and benefits would suddenly

In viewing John’s devout disposition and unwavering obedience, it is understandable that Jesus would have this man, a priest, as His personal forerunner.

23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." 27 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less. 31 "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on

Through Baptism our souls are replenished with divine grace, by which we are rendered just and children of God and are made heirs to eternal

The miracle of curing a blind man gives shows the skepticism of the masses towards the new religion that was being founded. This miracle takes multiple attempts and when completed gives the man complete vision. However; Jesus tells the man to not return to the village that he had come. The texts surrounding these verses have this similar theme of ‘silent’ miracles. The part that sparks my interest is showing what people thought about Jesus at this time. I think showing that the miracle took two attempts shows that people were skeptical about this

New Beginnings promise will be presented. Following this, I shall then relate the oracles of Amos and Hosea to the Mosaic revelation in order to demonstrate that their messages were true to the Mosaic revelation.

Nevertheless, Baptism puts us on the path of salvation and new life but does not guarantee that we will arrive at the end of this path. Therefore, we must look for, encounter, and walk with Christ Jesus daily on this earth-to-heaven journey. He is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life that will guide, enlighten, and empower us. Certainly, the Second Person of the Trinity became man for our salvation and offers us new life through the sacraments, with the help of His Spirit, and in Him who is the True Vine. (Jn

Jesus, Mary and his disciples are all at a wedding for an unnamed couple when the wedding feast runs out of wine. Jesus is called by Mary to perform a miracle. Even though Jesus says “My hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4), he still is obedient to her. Jesus tells the servants to fetch stone jars which were used for Jewish rites of purification (Jn 2:6) and fill them with water. After the servants fetched the water, they gave some to the steward to taste. At the moment he tasted it the water turned into wine.

After Jesus’ miracle at the mountain feeding the masses, He went further up the mountain to pray realizing that the masses were about to try to take Him by force to make Him their king. When evening came, the disciples left on a boat without Jesus to go back to

sermonizing about God’s realm to all of the priests. Years later, Jesus was baptized by

It is a blessing to see each of you again as we begin another exciting week of breaking down the letter written to the church in Laodicea, found in Revelation 3:14-22. Let us take a moment to reflect on how far we have come since we began this journey. We have walked each other through the first three steps of interpreting scripture which is found in the text of Grasping God’s Word: Grasping the Text in Their Town, Measuring the Width of the River to Cross, and Crossing the Principlizing Bridge.