Reading and meditation on the Word of God, Monday of the 27th week of ordinary time, October 7, 2019; memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Rosary. Jonah 1, 1-17. 2, 10; Luke 10, 25-37. Voice: father Peter sdb (gospel and meditation)
The theme of our meditation today is: Being a Good Neighbor. Today as people of God, the Church, we commemorate the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Rosary. This particular devotion to the Virgin Mary is very famaous and strong by the Catholics. This is the fruit of the Church’s long journey in defending the faith and fighting the enemies who intend to destroy the Church.
This devotional prayer is very popular, suitable for all times and places, it serves all purposes and is liked by all people. The rosary signifies a Church’s success in making her members devotional people. People with devotion means they have love, interest and closeness to a certain subject. Catholics do this to the Virgin Mary, mother of God. There are many testimonies in the Church that confirm the constant assistance of our Lady to our various needs and situations of life.
A parishioner once asked the Parish Priest: Between praying the Rosary privately and collectively, which one is better? The priest gave a number of explanations, but in essence, he says that if the opportunity allows, for example there are some people want to pray together, then it is better to pray the Rosary collectively. That man agreed, because if he prays the Rosary alone, he often losts concentration, gets sleepy and feels uncomfortable.
Praying the Rosary together with neighbors, both in small and in big groups, strengthens unity and builds a sense of brotherhood among the believers. As today’s Gospel speaks about being a good neighbor, we should believe that by praying always the Rosary and offering intention on this particular need, we will meet its realization. When people together hold their rosaries and recite the litany of Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory repeatedly, they all become children with one mother Mary, cared for by one Father in heaven, and taught the truth by Jesus Christ, through the constant accompaniment of the Holy Spirit.
In the praying of the Rosary, everyone is one and the same as children of the Virgin Mary. There are no more divisions of people based on ethnicity, language, culture and origin. These differences if not treated properly and positively, will surely threaten the unity among the believers and create enemies. The Rosary devotion that we are most interested in can make each of us a good neighbor, so we can understand, help and support one another. People who do the devotion of the Rosary but they continue to live in hostility, anger and hatred towards each other, this means that their devotion is not true and right.
Let’s pray. In the name of the Father … O Lord Jesus Christ, may through the devotion of the holy Rosary, we will be more and more like your Mother Mary, who is ever faithfull to the Father’s will. Our Father … In the name of the Father …