New Mysteries of the Rosary

As I have been spending considerable time these last two days reflecting on the Rosary and its real meaning, I have devised two new sets of mysteries for it which I am passing along: the Mysteries of Hope and the Mysteries of Healing.  The purpose of the mysteries of hope is to remind us that no matter how big our problems are today, Jesus is bigger and He can conquer them for us.  The purpose of the mysteries of healing is to remind us that Jesus is the Divine Physician in whom we can trust for every illness.

The Mysteries of Hope

1. The Feeding of the Five Thousand    Matthew 14:15-21

Jesus takes five loaves and two fish and uses them to feed 5000 men and their families.  When we are tempted to worry because our pantry is running low or our supplies are meager, let us remember to place our trust in God who is capable of doing great things with whatever little we have to offer Him.

2. Jesus Walks on Water    Matthew 14:24-33

The disciples were out in a boat on a stormy sea when Jesus walked on the water to reach them. Reflecting on this mystery reminds us that God can reach us no matter where we are in life, even walking across the water if that's what it takes.

3. Jesus Provides the Temple Tax    Matthew 17:24-27

When Peter didn't have the money to pay the temple tax, Jesus instructed him to go and open the mouth of a fish where he would find more than enough to cover it all.  When we are worried about how we are going to make ends meet, this mystery reminds us that God will always help us find a way when we are in need.

4. Jesus Calms the Stormy Seas   Mark 4:35-41

The disciples were out at sea, and Jesus was asleep in the boat with them when the storm rose up.  The disciples woke Jesus, who calmed the raging sea.  When the storms of life are raging, we can reflect on this mystery and remind ourselves to call on Jesus for help and trust in Him to love us enough not to let us be lost.

5. The Raising of Lazarus   John 11:14-44

When Martha and Mary call for Jesus to heal Lazarus, Jesus arrives too late to keep him from dying. Death wasn't the end of that story, though. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. No matter how bad our situation may be, no matter how hopeless it may seem, reflecting on this mystery reminds us that if Jesus can raise the dead, he can resurrect our situation, too.

The Mysteries of Healing

1. Jesus gives sight to the man born blind     John 9:1-41

His whole life, the blind man had been mocked, ignored, and cast out for being blind. It wasn't his fault, he was born that way.  Then Jesus came and gave him eyes that worked so that he could see just like everyone else. When we are struggling with some defect we've carried since birth, this mystery of healing reminds us that when we put our lives in the hands of Christ, our genetics do not determine our destiny.

2. The Healing of a Paralytic     Matthew 5:17-26

A man was paralyzed due to his past sins, but the love of his friends was such that they made an opening for him in the dense crowd so that Jesus could see him and heal him.  Meditating on this mystery, we are reminded not to give up on our friends or family members when they fall into trouble but to do whatever it takes to bring them in front of Jesus so that He can give them what they need.

3. The Hemorrhaging Woman     Luke 8:43-48

A woman had been bleeding for 12 years. She'd spent all of her money on doctors and potions and cures, to no effect.  She'd lost everything, and was so desperate for healing that she fought through the crowds just for the chance to touch Christ's cloak in the hopes He could do what no doctor on earth could do and cure her.  To her joy, her blood stopped immediately and she was healed. Meditating on this mystery we are encouraged to remember that doctors are human, and their powers limited, but the power and the ability of Christ is unlimited if we place our faith in Him.

4. The Cure of a Demonaic      Mark 1:21-28

While teaching in the temple, Jesus hears a man possessed by demons calling out to him.  Who knows how long that man had sat there in the synagogue. It must not have been easy for him, for demons hate being near anything holy.  Yet with a single word, Jesus was able to free that man from the bonds of slavery to those demons.  If we are troubled by demons or addictions, this mystery reminds us to call upon Christ for help in fighting them.  Christ has the power, we just need to have faith in it.

5. The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man    Mark 7:31-37

The deaf mute man lived in a silent world, unable to express himself or cry out for help.  If not for those who knew him and saw his plight and cared enough about him to bring him to Jesus, he might never have heard or been able to speak.  Meditating on this mystery reminds us how important it is to look for opportunities to bring those in need to Christ so that He can work healing in their lives.

I hope that you find these mysteries helpful as you go about your day.  If you are facing a situation in need of hope or healing, give them a try.  You will never lose out by spending time reflecting on the Gospels.