Rearranging the Rosary: The Fourth Mysteries (Pilgrimage)

Previously:
Rearranging the Rosary: An Introduction
The First Mysteries (In the Beginning)
The Second Mysteries (Discipleship)
The Third Mysteries (Kingdom of God)

So far, we have seen that as we go through each set of Mysteries in the Rosary, we see the Christian life cyclically reflected in the specific part of salvation history pertaining to Christ's life. (Of course it is also reflected this way throughout all of salvation history.)

Today we're gonna take a squiz at the Fourth Mysteries, which suggest the idea of pilgrimage.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple

• the Holy Family's journey to the Temple in Jerusalem is a pilgrimage. Further to this, when we consider that the Temple is essentially modelled on God's heavenly court, and is a microcosm of the New Eden, travelling to Jerusalem is like both the Jewish exodus to the Promised Land, and our journey to our true Promised Land, Heaven

The Fourth Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration of Our Lord

• In the account of the Transfiguration in Luke, we read:

"And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli'jah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem." (Lk. 9:30-31)

The greek word used for departure here is actually exodos. Jesus is depicted as the New Moses, and so when we put all this together, in the redemption He accomplished at Jerusalem, Christ, the New Moses, instituted the New Exodus of the New People of God, the Church, as they journey to the New Promised Land (as we'll see tomorrow, there's a New Manna too! Also New Law, New Covenant, etc, you get the idea)

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross

• Jesus instructs those who would be His disciples that they must "take up their cross daily, and follow Him."

The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven

The Assumption

• Our Lady completes the last leg of her pilgrimage to Heaven (and this is tomorrow's feast day, incidentally! And a holy day of obligation, don't forget.)

Putting it all together: we begin our lives as disciples of Christ, becoming a part of and working towards the complete fulfilment of the Kingdom of God whilst on our pilgrimage to Heaven.

Next up: The Fifth Mysteries (Consummation)

+AMDG