There is Something About Mary Series – Living for Mission

Ponder:  Have you found your role in the great story being told by God?

After the opening prayers of the rosary, we announce the first mystery and read the relevant Scripture passage slowly with attention, a lectino divina style of praying the scriptures.  Pause for a few moments of silence and then recite the indicated prayers (#5 below) while meditating on that mystery.  You may make a prayer request at the beginning of each decade or offer a Hail Mary for a specific person. 

Pray:  The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation. 

Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.  The fruit of the mystery: Love of Neighbor.

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

The Canticle of Mary. And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. (Luke 1:39-56)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, whom you carried to Elizabeth.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Pray for us Mary, cause of our joy, that we may love our neighbors and bring Christ into their lives.

Amen

Reflect: God turned Mary’s world upside down. What did Mary do? She rushed off with speed and purpose to her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary was excited because she had found her mission and her role in God’s divine plan. Today we are much too concerned about worldly things and being self-made. This is the ego drama, or the story I am writing, producing, directing, and starring in. Freedom of choice reigns supreme and I get to choose who I want to be. If we hear God’s whisper to us, too often our first reaction is one of selfishness: “I don’t feel like it,” “I’ll do it later,” “Can’t someone else take care of it?” The theo drama is the great story being told by God. It is the divine plan. Mary shows us and it is life thrilling to discover our role in it. Mary had an instinct to serve, an entrenched humility.

Act:  I will spend time today thinking about my place in God’s story.