Mysteries of Waiting

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Jeffrey May
5 years ago
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I have waited expectantly for the Lord, and he was attentive to me. And he heard my prayers and he led me out of the pit of misery and the quagmire.

(Psalm 40:2-4) David waits in filial fear of the Lord. Filial fear is the highest order of love where a person knowing in weakness they might displease or betray the one who is loved.

Notice in third verse of the Psalm David switches from talking about himself to Many will see, and they will fear; and they will hope in the Lord.

1 I have waited expectantly for the Lord, and he was attentive to me. And he heard my prayers and he led me out of the pit of misery and the quagmire. And he stationed my feet upon a rock, and he directed my steps. And he sent a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many will see, and they will fear; and they will hope in the Lord. (Psalm 40:2-4) David waits in filial fear of the Lord. Filial fear is the highest order of love where a person knowing in weakness they might displease or betray the one who is loved. David has entered a state of not knowing when God is David Praying in the Night going to be available again, begging in desperation. Notice in third verse of the Psalm David switches from talking about himself to Many will see, and they will fear; and they will hope in the Lord. David is speaking to us, wanting us to know that this wait which can test our faith to the limits is worth it. The gift of filial fear goes beyond divine as it also has a human nature. It allows us to not only to give up on ourselves but also on the ones we love, especially if we are waiting on them to respond to us or to God. In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Apostle's Creed: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day, he rose again, He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand God, the Father almighty. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen at the hour of our death. Amen. 78

First Mystery: The Burial of Jesus Then, when evening had arrived, a certain wealthy man from Arimathea, named Joseph, arrived, who himself was also a disciple of Jesus.

2 First Mystery: The Burial of Jesus Then, when evening had arrived, a certain wealthy man from Arimathea, named Joseph, arrived, who himself was also a disciple of Jesus. This man approached Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered the body to be released. And Joseph, taking the body, wrapped it in a clean finely-woven linen cloth, and he placed it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and he went away. Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulcher. (Matthew 27:57-61) Unlike those near the unrisen Lord we know the fate of Jesus so our wait is only as long as it takes to remember the rest of the story. We all have gone to visit, Jesus in the Sepulchre pray, and to silently sit with a loved at their gravesite. Are we not like Joseph and Mary and others wondering how our own loved one is doing but also remembering their life with us in the present time? For me this silent sitting and remembering of those I love who have died can happen any time, with even a subtle reminder. I believe this is Jesus s touch, making me aware of divinities presence in the here and now and for a brief moment I do not have to wait to know there are. 79

Angels Holding a Dial Indicating the Different Hours of the Acts of the Passion Second Mystery: Awareness of the End of Time And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from

3 Angels Holding a Dial Indicating the Different Hours of the Acts of the Passion Second Mystery: Awareness of the End of Time And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from sleep. For already our salvation is closer than when we first believed. The night has passed, and the day draws near. Therefore, let us cast aside the works of darkness, and be clothed with the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and sexual immorality, not in contention and envy. Instead, be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in its desires. (Romans 13:11-14) St. Paul s sleep and walking, dark and night, light and day takes away any sense of gray. We must be awake in the light of day, but obviously he is not talking about physical sleep, dark or even the day but rather the spiritual. Our armor against the broad playing field of evil is to stay in the virtuous clothing light of Jesus. To say this is easy would be an understatement but we know in our hearts St. Paul is right. It is always time to see if the hour we are in is dark but not always easy to recognize. I am still surprised that when I find myself there. I seem to recognize which hour in acts of the passion it might correspond to. For me just about all darkness can be placed into one of those hours. 80

4 Third Mystery: The Unknown Day and Hour But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the Angels of the heavens, but only the Father. And just as in the days of Noah, so also will be the advent of the Son of man. For it will be just as it was in the days before the flood: eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, even until that day when Noah entered into the ark. And they did not realize it, until the flood came and took them all away. So also will the advent of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:36-39) Building the Ark What is interesting for me in the Noah story is that he did warn others but no one believed. Everyone could have built their own ark and been saved. I look at the Noah story as more of a metaphor that I have been warned, now what am I going to do about it? Jesus is repeating the story all over again. I have been given another warning, my wait is over. Either I am prepared or I am not. If I am a believer, how can I not realize it? It sort of keeps me honest with myself, as the list grows long. I am either righteous or I am not, I either love everyone or only certain others, I am.. 81

5 The Fourth Mystery: The Day of the Son of Man According to these things, so shall it be in the day when the Son of man will be revealed. In that hour, whoever will be on the rooftop, with his goods in the house, let him not descend to take them. And whoever will be in the field, similarly, let him not turn back. Remember Lot s wife. Whoever has sought to save his life, will lose it; and whoever has lost it, will bring it back to life. I say to you, in that night, there will be two in one bed. One will be taken up, and the other will be left behind. Two will be at the grindstone together. One will be taken up, and the other The Two Women at the Mill will be left behind. Two will be in the field. One will be taken up, and the other will be left behind. Responding, they said to him, Where, Lord? And he said to them, Wherever the body will be, in that place also, the eagles shall be gathered together. (Luke 17:30-37) In that day, hour, in that fraction of a second, or rather is it really in God s sense of moment when my wait will end? Will my mouth be open speaking to someone like the woman at the stone and suddenly I will not be there anymore? If you do not know it eagles and lot of other birds of prey also eat the easier to find dead left behind food. To the where Lord, Jesus is quite clear: I will be raised up or I will be food for the eagles. To be honest, I don t like the imagery and it may not be a bad reason to think this way. is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 82

6 The Fifth Mystery: Dependence on God And he said: This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And into these, I will gather all the things that have been grown for me, as well as my goods. So it is with him who stores up for himself, and is not wealthy with God. Sell what you possess, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that will not wear out, a treasure that will not fall short, in heaven, where no thief approaches, and no moth corrupts. And let you yourselves be like men awaiting their lord, when he will return from the wedding; so that, when he arrives and knocks, they may open to him promptly. (Luke 12:18-19,21-22,32,36) It is very hard thinking about my possesions as having no value. After all I am also here for my family and friends and they expect certain things from me. There is no way I can give away everything and walk away or they will disown me. But is this what Jesus is really talking about, of course not. What he is talking about is to be reasonable during the wait as it might last to an old age or it might also end in the next second. I have to be able to say right now, are my The Man Who Hoards family and friends happy with me in the last second I just had? Maybe if I had just read them this reflection, but what if I was doing something less honorable like buying another fishing pole because it was the latest and greatest when they know I already have enough. is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 83

And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

7 Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen. The Magnificat Let us pray. O GOD, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. Jesus Appears to the Holy Women In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen 84

Memorial Service. At The Wake Of A. Knight of Columbus

Memorial Service. At The Wake Of A. Knight of Columbus Memorial Service At The Wake Of A Knight of Columbus After the guests are assembled, the Grand Knight or Faithful Navigator begins the memorial service. If he is not present, another officer or selected