Meditating on the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary last night, this thought came to mind. Consent & Obedience. These mysteries show the mother and the Father giving their consent for Jesus to undertake His mission – ultimately that of the Crucifixion. Telling each of us how to live our lives.
In Matthew 3:22, we hear the Father proclaim, “You are My Beloved Son; with You I Am well pleased.” Then, at Cana in John 2:5, mother Mary says to the wedding servants, “do whatever He tells you.” And, lastly, we hear again in Matthew’s Gospel (17:5), the Father speak again, “this is My Beloved Son, with Whom I Am well pleased, listen to Him.”
Three examples of the Father and mother giving their parental consent for Jesus to walk forward in His mission.
From there, Jesus gives His commands – to which both Father and mother commanded us to listen – “a new commandment I give you, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34 In His example He gives the command that we serve our brother, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” John 12:14-15. And finally, what I feel is His greatest commandment, formed from John 6, we hear Jesus institute the Holy Eucharist as the pathway to Him, through Him, to Heaven – “Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28
The Father and mother gave their permission for Jesus to pursue His path and in doing so, they both give guidance to each of us as well. As Jesus moves through these events, forward guided by His parents, we are called to do as He tells us. And, His commands are simple – do as He has done; love as He loves – and, to obtain glorified, eternal life, we must believe and eat His Body and drink His blood in the Holy Eucharist.
I think I’ll be unpacking this meditation for a long time to come.