The third joyful mystery: the birth of Jesus

The time came for Mary to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 6-12)

For centuries, God called his people to justice. The commandments invited them to live together in loving community. The Jubilee every fifty years allowed a reset so that no-one was trapped in poverty or debt. Through the prophets, God urged them to care for the vulnerable and marginalised.

Finally, God made himself poor, coming to share our life completely. In Jesus, God was born among us as a vulnerable baby, amid poverty and persecution. The first to hear the good news were the humble shepherds, on the fringes of society, surprised by the song of the angels. From the very beginning the long-awaited Messiah shows that the way of his kingdom is based not on power and privilege, but rather on love and justice.

As we reflect on this mystery, may we look for the ways Jesus is born and lives among us today, especially in those often rejected and marginalised.

Pray the Our Father.

Pray a Hail Mary on each of the ten beads of the decade.

Pray the Glory Be.

You may also want to add the Fatima invocation