Throughout the six weeks of Lent we followed Jesus on his journey toward Jerusalem. During Holy Week we shared in the last supper, we prayed with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and we followed the Way of the Cross to Golgotha. On Easter Sunday we rejoiced with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John when they discovered the empty tomb. Today we begin a new journey of faith and discovery as we encounter through scripture and sacrament the victorious Christ in his resurrected glory.
In the Catholic Church there is a name for this type of discovery, Mystagogy. In the modern church mystagogy is an orientation for the newly baptized members of our Christian family. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults describes mystagogy as “a time for the community and the neophytes together to grow in deepening their grasp of the paschal mystery and in making it part of their lives through meditation on the gospel, sharing in the Eucharist and doing works of charity”(RCIA 234). However, mystagogy is a very old term that means the study of the “mysteries” we celebrate at Easter. Although technically mystagogy finishes at Pentecost, in reality it is a lifelong process. Our mystagogy finishes when we come face to face with God and we see God “as he is” (1 John 3:2).
The disciples hiding behind locked doors and John writing in Revelation had the opportunity to see Christ face to face. For those of us who will not see the face of Christ until the time of our death, Jesus gives a special beatitude: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29).
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, a day when we reflect on the compassion and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we continue our journey of faith during this week let this be our prayer.
God of mercy,
you wash away our sins in water,
you give us a new birth in the Spirit,
and redeem us in the blood of Christ.
As we celebrate Christ's resurrection,
increase our awareness of these blessings,
and renew your gift of life within us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
you wash away our sins in water,
you give us a new birth in the Spirit,
and redeem us in the blood of Christ.
As we celebrate Christ's resurrection,
increase our awareness of these blessings,
and renew your gift of life within us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
