February 18, 2019
Dear Family of Mary!
November 25, 2008 “Dear children! Also today I call you, in this time of grace, to pray for little Jesus to be born in your heart. May He, who is peace itself, give peace to the entire world through you. Therefore, little children, pray without ceasing for this turbulent world without hope, so that you may become witnesses of peace for all. May hope begin to flow through your hearts as a river of grace. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Our Lady has come to give us hope. She is the beacon of hope for this very tired and lost world. We cling to her presence and her words to us, because she pours hope into our hearts with every word she speaks to us. Her messages are liquid hope!!
I want to share something I found in a wonderful monthly Medjugorje Newsletter, The Spirit of Medjugorje! ( http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/ ) Deacon Jerry Peterson wrote “Mysteries of Hope” for the Rosary, as a way to strengthening our hope through Jesus’ words and deeds in Scripture. I am reproducing the little article which introduces those mysteries, so you can pray them in your private prayer. Deacon Jerry explains it this way:
Mysteries of Hope
By Deacon Jerry Peterson
Why I wrote these mysteries [for private devotion]: I love praying the Rosary. I know that in Jesus there is always hope. There is no better way to send our prayers of hope to Jesus than through our mother Mary. These mysteries were given to me by the Spirit as my wife, Joan, and I were praying the Rosary after morning Mass.
1. Jesus feeds 5,000.
[Jesus] said to them “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied… (Matthew 14:16-21)
2. Jesus calls Peter to walk on the water.
Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him. (Matthew 14: 28-31)
3. Jesus restores Bartimaeus’ sight.
[Jesus said to him] “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way: your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10: 51-52)
4. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11: 21-23, 25-26)
5. Jesus welcomes the Good Thief into His kingdom.
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 42-43)
Editor’s note: Deacon Jerry is the nephew of our late spiritual advisor, Msgr. James Peterson (Fr. Pete, as he preferred to be called). I suspect maybe he got a little help from him while composing these mysteries, especially with the fifth mystery, since Fr. Pete often spoke about St. Dismas, the Good Thief
