Rearranging the Rosary: The Third Mysteries (Kingdom of God)

Previously:
Rearranging the Rosary: An Introduction
The First Mysteries
The Second Mysteries

Finding a clear theme for the Second Mysteries is not so easy, and perhaps you found the result a bit dubious. Today, however, is much clearer, I think.

The Third Joyful Mystery: The Birth of Our Lord

• Christ the King is born! He is recognised as such by the three wise men, who bring Him appropriate gifts.

The Third Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven

Sermon on the Mount

• At the Sermon on the Mount, Christ proclaims that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (because He is here and the redemption that He is going to bring about draws near)

The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns

• Jesus is mocked by the soldiers for claiming to be King, by dressing Him in purple and setting a crown of thorns on His head. They taunt Him, and spit on Him. Little did they know that they were deriding He who truly is King of the Universe. (Yikes)

The Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles

• The pouring out of the Holy Spirit marked the birth of the Church, which is the Kingdom of God. What was accomplished on Calvary and in the Resurrection, was manifested anew in the Church, to be the means for the perpetuation of these salvific realities for all time. 

Thus, at some point we begin our lives as disciples of Christ, which involves both becoming a part of and working towards the complete fulfilment of the Kingdom of God.

Next up: The Fourth Mysteries

+AMDG