The Fourth Luminous Mystery // The Transfiguration
Fruit of the Mystery // Desire for Holiness
Reflect
As a child, I thought holiness was only available to those who lived in convents or were cloistered in some remote mountain top experiencing absolute solitude praying for the rest of us poor sinners down below. That image I had about holiness changed as I grew in my faith.
Growing up in the inner city, my mom made it a habit to keep her eyes peeled to see the needs of others living among us. My mom was connected to people who were philanthropic and used that as a means of helping others. One time, my mom saw a little mama walking out of the neighborhood laundromat with her children in a borrowed grocery cart. All three of them were nestled in tightly while holding the laundry as mama pushed the cart. My mom slowed the car down as the mama and her babies crossed onto the sidewalk, rolled down the window and asked her if she needed any clothes or toys for her children, which my mom happened to have in her trunk. After several encounters with that family, my mom established a personal relationship with them and would take groceries and other meals to their house.
“Is this holiness?” I thought to myself as I would observe the reaction of the mama receiving and my mom giving.
My Dad worked in waste management and was known to give rides to hitchhikers. As much as that would make me cringe (not because it wasn’t the safest thing in the world, but because it was a stranger that I didn’t personally know) it removed the hardness of my own heart and taught me that the call to holiness was for me, too.
Through their own individual acts of charity, my parents taught me what it meant to be transfigured by Jesus. Their desire to be holy led them to receive opportunities to grow in holiness and they never hesitated to grab them, no matter what they looked like.
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You all of the ways You reveal to us how we are called to grow in holiness. Enkindle in us a sincere desire to be holy so that we may enjoy and partake in a deeper and more intimate relationship with You. Amen.
For Discussion
The Catechism of the Church says, "All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."" (CCC 66). How do you respond to the universal call to holiness?
Do you surround yourself with holy people who lead you closer in your desire to follow Jesus?
Praying the Rosary
Throughout the Prayer Pledge and beyond, we really encourage you to pray the Rosary! Since we will be looking at the fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary, it only makes sense to actually pray it!
Here is a guide on how to pray the Rosary.
I like this podcast and this podcast for praying the Rosary.
Hallow also has a marvelous Rosary meditation.
And if you want to go even deeper in to the Rosary, check out Mystery!
By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 14 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet