The What and the Why of
The Life Of Jesus (TLOJ)
Proclamation and Prayer
The ‘What’ of ‘The Life of Jesus’ as a proclamation and a prayer is an invitation to experience a special grace by reflecting on the whole life of Jesus, stepping through certain moments and events, called mysteries, of His life. The 20 Mysteries of the Rosary wonderfully organize and progress through Jesus’ life, from His conception to His mother Mary’s coronation. What is ‘new’ is that by reading through and meditating briefly on all 20 mysteries with a Scripture verse allows the totality of Jesus’ life to unfold in your mind and heart. While the 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are Scripture’s ‘Life of Jesus’, by using these 20 mysteries, one has an excellent outline by which to know, love, and serve Jesus.
The ‘Why’ of TLOJ has 3 parts. 1) Jesus wants to be our best friend, but if we don’t know the events of His life, we cannot enter into the deep and wonderful friendship that He desires with us. 2) Just as a composer of music does not invent new notes, but uses existing notes and arranges them to compose new music, TLOJ uses Scripture passages to present Jesus to our own mind and heart, and to others around us. 3) If someone tells you that they had never gone to church or read the Bible and that they do not know anything about Jesus, and ask us to tell them about Jesus, these 20 mysteries form an excellent way to introduce someone to Jesus. Then this becomes the proclamation and the prayer.
The Life of Jesus. A proclamation and a prayer.
The Life of Jesus
1. Annunciation / Incarnation / Conception of Jesus. The angel said to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb by the power of the Holy Spirit and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” (Luke 1:26-38)
2. Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant, John the Baptist, leapt in her womb. (Luke 1:39-56)
3. Nativity / Birth of Jesus. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, Jesus. (Luke 2:1-19)
4. Presentation of the baby Jesus. Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. (Luke 2:22-40)
5. Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Jesus said to Mary and Joseph, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:41-52)
6. Baptism of Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, a voice came from Heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17)
7. Miracle at the Wedding at Cana. Mary, the mother of Jesus, said to the servers, “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:1-11)
8. Proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus began to preach and proclaim, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
(Matthew 4:17 & 5:1-16)
9. Transfiguration. While Jesus was praying, His face changed in appearance and His clothing became dazzling white.
(Luke 9:28-36)
10. Eucharist / Last Supper. Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my Body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of Me.”(Luke22:7-23)
11. Prayer and Agony in the Garden. Jesus prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from me, still, not My Will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:39-46)
12. Scourging at the Pillar. Pontius Pilate, after he had Jesus scourged, handed Him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:15)
13. Crowning with Thorns. The soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and pressed it on Jesus’ head, and clothed Him in a purple cloak. (John 18:36-38 & 19:1-5)
14. Carrying of the Cross. The soldiers took Jesus, and carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called the Place of the Skull. (John 19:16-17)
15. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus. Jesus said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He handed over the Spirit. (John 19:16-37)
16. Resurrection of Jesus. The angels said to the women, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? Jesus is not here. He has been raised!” (Luke 24:1-8)
17. Ascension of Jesus to Heaven. Jesus said, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Jesus was taken up to Heaven and seated at the right hand of God. (Mt 28:16-20 & Mk 16:19)
18. Pentecost / Descent of the Holy Spirit. While Mary, the Apostles and the disciples were praying, there appeared to them tongues as of fire, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-13)
19. Assumption of Mary into Heaven. Mary said, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Lk 1: 46-56)
20. Coronation of Mary. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Rev 12:1)
The Chaplet of the Life of Jesus
The Chaplet of the Life of Jesus goes through the 20 Mysteries of the Life of Jesus, and after the recitation of the Scripture verse, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be prayers are prayed. The acclamations, ‘Jesus, I trust in You’, and ‘St. Joseph, pray for us’, are added. Then you go to the next Mystery.
The Life of Jesus
A Proclamation and a Prayer
Using the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary, I present and preach Jesus Christ as Lord. I focus on the Life of Jesus and explain how each of these moments unite each and every one of us to Jesus, and Jesus to us.