Reflection on love through the lens of the joyful mystery

My friend questioned me the other day on the idea of love that made me reflect on it while praying the rosary.

So, here you go, my reflection on love through the lens of the joyful mystery.

The first mystery: The annunciation

The angel Gabriel came up to Mary and say, "Hail Mary, full of grace..." From you shall come the Immanuel, God is with us. Then Mary answered, "why me?! I don't even have a husband yet!" The angel replied, "Don't worry, nothing is impossible with God."

The love that Mary received from God, made her conceived Jesus the Christ. Is this an example of God using Mary as a means to deliver the world's salvation? Indeed. But there is more to it. God not only uses Mary, but He also transformed her from her conception, so that Mary may become the "ark of the covenant" that would carry Christ into the world. How about me? When God chose us to fed the hungry, to cloth the naked, to comfort the afflicted, did I say yes to His word?

The second mystery: The visitation

Mary came and visited Elizabeth for she heard that Elizabeth was also pregnant in her old age. Mary thought that helping her relative Elizabeth is the right thing to do, even though she realizes the danger of doing so while she was pregnant with the most important baby in the whole salvation history.

Is Elizabeth using Mary? Of course not. It was her own willingness to pour out her love to her relative, that made her came to Elizabeth. On the other hand, Elizabeth accepted Mary's offer. Elizabeth knows that to say "yes" to Mary's proposition may very well make Mary to ride on a journey for a few days and plus there is a chance of miscarriage due to the fierce travel that Mary has to endure. But, to say "yes" to Mary's proposition also brings many implication. Because of Elizabeth's "yes" to Mary, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and said, "blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." Because of Elizabeth's "yes" to Mary, we heard the beautiful "Magnificat". It is love that drives Mary to come to Elizabeth. It is love that drives Elizabeth to accept Mary into her house. The mutual love of Mary and Elizabeth changed the course of history; what about my love? Will I be able to offer up my help to others? Will I be willing to accept somebody's good intention?

The third mystery: The nativity

Jesus is born in the manger.

It is the simplest of all. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, so that all who believe in Him might not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16.

How about myself? God loved this world by giving up His Son, what do I give up in order to make this world a better place?

The fourth mystery: The presentation at the temple

Baby Jesus is presented in the temple of the Lord. I was drawn to reflect the idea that we are that temple, and Jesus is trying to present Himself to us. Because of His love for us, God desires to dwell in our own body. Have I loved my own body, by not indulging in foods that are not good for our body? Have I kept my temple holy by not involved in impure thoughts and/or sloth?

The fifth mystery: The founding of Jesus in the temple

Mary and Joseph love Jesus, yet they lost Him. We also sometimes lose Jesus in our life due to our own distraction and life's temptation. In order to find Jesus, it took Mary and Joseph three days to do so. What about us? How long should Jesus wait before we come and meet him again? Have I lost my love that I had at first? (Rev. 2:4)

In the end, if God is love, and we are His people, we should be a loving being. Let us be mindful of all around us, for whatsoever you do for the least of His people, you do it for Him. (Matt 25:40)