Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. A day to remember Mary our mother and the gift of the rosary that we have to contemplate with and meditate on the life of Jesus. Many of our Protestant brothers and sisters think the rosary is about worshiping Mary but we know it is a way to

Meditate with Mary and walk through the life of Jesus Christ, reminding ourselves how he lives and what he endured for us personally. 

Our first reading is the rest of the story from yesterday. Jonah arrives at Nineveh and they listen to him and repent. They shut down their lives and even eating and drinking. All focus on kneeling before God. Even the king of Nineveh. 

They turned from their evil ways and chose to give all us for the Lord. Nothing was above him. Not even food. And God spared the city and people.

Turning to our Gospel we see the familiar story of Jesus visiting his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus in their home. Martha is busy being the best hostess and making sure all feel welcome and receive refreshments and food. She would be the perfect southern woman. Welcoming and attentive. She reminds me of my mother and grandmother.

Meanwhile Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus totally oblivious to Martha and her work. She is taking in every word of Jesus. She sees and hears nothing as she has devoted the moment to Him.

And when Martha in her anxiety complains and asks Jesus to make Mary help he says to her she shouldn’t worry so much and that Mary will not be denied because she chose the better part.

This reminds me of my own experience over the last couple of years. I had experienced a loss of my voice and the doctors gave me no hope for recovery. No more singing, no more proclaiming the word or preaching. So after three decades of serving on the altar, helping the priest prepare the table of the Lord, ensuring everyone received the Eucharist and everything went smoothly.  But without a voice I felt it was time to retire. 

And so After preaching and proclaiming for the better part of 30 years I found myself sitting in the pew with my wife. It was an odd experience for me and while I loved sitting next to my wife it didn’t sit right with me not to be busy on the altar serving others.  But I sat there and realized how different the experience was for those sitting in the pew. They didn’t have to worry about making sure everything was done. They didn’t need to make sure they did their part of the liturgy and everything went smoothly. I was able to be quiet and just be filled with his word. I was able to focus entirely on the drama that built up to receiving the Eucharist, true God and true flesh and becoming one with God. The Mass was so different an experience. My heart and mind relaxed and was softer and more at peace. Devotion was easier. 

I am back to serving on the altar. Apparently doctors don’t know everything and God had different plans than what they or I knew. It’s a story for another day. But I mention this experience because I could see how much I was Martha in the altar and Mary in the pew. 

My experience has given me a different view to this Gospel and Martha and Mary. 

Today we are called to remember that we have work to do and that isn’t a bad thing, but we also need contemplation and need to ensure that our hearts are listening to Jesus Christ at all times. The rosary is an important tool for us. It helps us connect with the life of Jesus Christ and bring him into our mind and heart throughout our day. Mary always points to her son. So it is only logical her Rosary also is all about her son our Lord. 

We should have a rosary with us all day so we are reminded of the need to be quiet and listen to the Word as he speaks to our heart.