The Mystery of a Grace-Filled Offering

A Julian Rosary

On Thursdays my daily Rosary devotion centers on The Offering Mysteries from my cyclce of Rosary Prayers for the Seven Days of the Week. It is a devotion especially meaningful to an Oblate of a Reliigious Order, whose very name, “Oblate,” means “Offering.”

1. The Triumphal Entry
2. The Foot Washing
3. The Last Supper
4. The Agony in the Garden
5. The Betrayal and Arrest.

The Triumphal Entry – Jesus Offers Himself to Jerusalem

Luke 19: 28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus, I walk with you and the crowd down the steep Mount of Olives path, across the Kidron Valley, up the steep path to the gate of the City. Your followers cry out, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” We know this is a dangerous thing you do, publically offering your self to a city where men lie in wait to seize you, should you do such a thing. Jesus, it is me to who whom you offer yourself – to my communities, my congregation, my social club, my place of work, my family. You offer yourself willingly, with no care for your own life.

In imitation of Christ, may I become an offering to those around me. May I offer my love, my help, my faith, my presence to all in need, without regard to my own convenience, or my own life.

The Foot Washing – Jesus Offers Himself to His Friends

John 13: 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Jesus, you come to me in the circle gathered for supper. You come with your bowl of water, stripped to the waist to show you mean a real washing, not just a symbolic sprinkling. The feel of my bare foot in your caloused hands is electrifying and calming at the same time. “Will you wash my feet, Lord?” Your eyes meet mine as you say, “Understand that I have come to serve humankind in God’s Name.” As the dust comes off my feet, I feel a new and brighter light enter my soul. Jesus, in these tender moments you offer yourself to your friends, counting me as one of them.

In imitation of Christ, may I have the courage and grace to offer myself to those closest to me. It is easy to offer myself to an entire city – the particular can be hidden and ignored in the bigger picture. Self-offering is harder when there are just a few, and all can clearly see. May I have the grace to be an offering to each friend, each family member. May I not be afraid for each of them to see and feel me doing it.

The Last Supper – Jesus Offers Himself to the Church

Luke 22: 14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it[c] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Jesus, you come to me with a morsel of bread offered, with a common cup extended for me to drink. “As far as you are concerned,” you say, “This is the Bread of My Presence, this is My Life’s Blood.” As we eat and drink, these powerful symbols unite us forever with your Real and Continuing Presence. And we become the Church, the Continuing Presence of You in the World forever.

In Imitation of Christ, may I become in thought, word and deed a meaningful Member of this marvelous Body of Christ, the Church. May I support it always with my regular attendance and my sacrificial giving. May I see and treat each member of this Body of Christ as just that – a member with me of the Body of Christ in the world.

The Agony in the Garden – Jesus Offers Himself to God

Luke 22: 39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”[g] 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” [[43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]][h] 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

Jesus, through my closing eyes I see you at prayer under the olive trees, in the Paschal moonlight. I barely hear your mumbled prayers. As much as I would stay awake, sleep is overtaking me. But what I hear takes away my breath – you have offered yourself to each of us, taken your final leave, and now, in the quiet of the Garden these words: “Father, not my will but yours be done,” as you offer yourself to God. You have gathered up all humanity in your arms, and you offer yourself and us together into His presence.

In Imitation of Christ, may I day by day, night by night, make the hardest yet best Offering of Transformation I may make. Setting aside all my selfish fears, may I offer myself wholly to God, an Oblation of the creature to the Creator. May I be willing to be changed by this forever.

The Betrayal and Arrest – Jesus Offers Himself to Eternity

Luke 22: 47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?

Jesus, the silence of the prayer-filled night is shattered by torchlight and shouts of men, the glint of fire on swords. “There he is!” Judas shouts, comes to you, and gives you a kiss. A look of utmost tenderness passes between you which most of the world will never see, never understand. At great distress to himself, Judas obeys your bidding, spoken to him while we were yet at Supper: “What you are going to do, do quickly.” And it is through this act that you give yourself over to the final moments. Suddenly we understand your words about the grain of wheat: “Unless the seed be buried in the ground, it cannot rise again to full fruit.” Jesus, you now make the greatest offering of love a friend can make..

In Imitation of Christ, may I have the courage to follow Jesus, even if at a distance, to the ultimate sacrifice. No greater love has anyone, than to lay down his life for a friend. Make me an Oblation, Lord. Make me a Saint. Amen.

~ Will, ObJN