“The purpose of Jesus’ anointing was so that he could proclaim good news to the poor—good news that includes not only hopeful words but the very realities that the words announce: freedom, healing, and release from captivity. The poor are both the materially poor and all people, spiritually impoverished by their alienation from God.” –Mary Healy
Intention: Please help us to resist communism and totalitarianism. I thank You God ahead of time for this.
Monday: Kingdom Without End
1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation
Scripture:
To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God,
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
—1 Timothy 1:17
Reflection:
The Angel Gabriel told Mary about Jesus, “Of his kingdom,
there will be no end” (Luke 1:33). Jesus’s Kingdom is created
through trust and love rather than earthly power. It is a Kingdom
that will have no end, because it is based upon God’s eternal
power pouring forth into our world.
Prayer:
The Angel Gabriel’s promise to Mary is sure: Jesus’s Kingdom
shall never end. Jesus was, is and always will be my King. Lord,
give me confidence about my future, knowing that in the end,
because of You, I have nothing to fear. Amen.
Monday: Hidden Hero
2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
Scripture:
The Lord goes forth like a hero,/ like a warrior he stirs up his
ardor;/ He shouts out his battle cry,/ against his enemies he
shows his might.
—Isaiah 42:13
Reflection:
Humble Mary, while still probably amazed by what the angel
told her, hastily traveled to the house of Elizabeth to aid her in
her time of need. Jesus was the hidden hero on the day that His
Mother Mary greeted Elizabeth, because He was concealed in
her womb. Elizabeth and John were the first people He ever
visited, to bring them the gifts of the Lord.
Prayer:
Lord, visit all police officers and firefighters with the gifts of
the Holy Spirit today and keep them safe from harm. Amen.
Monday: Counter-cultural
3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity
Scripture:
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the
infant lying in the manger.
—Luke 2:16
Reflection:
Just as Jesus was crucified outside of the city, so He was born
outside of the city as well. This was an indication that from the
time He was born, He belonged to the realm of that which is
unimportant in a worldly sense. However, He ended up being
much more important to the world than anyone else ever has
been, or ever will be.
Prayer:
Father, I understand that in becoming a true Christian and
following Jesus, I must sometimes veer off the course of the
prevailing social norms. Instead, help me to follow the Truth
of Jesus’s light. Please give me the strength to live this counter-cultural mission. Amen.
Monday: Mary’s Role
4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
Scripture:
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now,
Master, you may let your servant go/ in peace, according to
your word.”
—Luke 2:28–29
Reflection:
Simeon said that Mary, herself, would be pierced with a sword,
indicating that her role in the gospel story did not end at Jesus’s
birth, but rather that it would continue on to include her
participation in her Son’s passion and resurrection.
Prayer:
Dearest Mother Mary, Help of Christians, your role in the
gospel story included not only the beginning of Jesus’s life but
also its end. Be with all those who will die today, to comfort
them and lead them to their eternal reward. Amen.
Monday: Pondering
5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding of
the Child Jesus in the Temple
Scripture:
I am a sojourner in the land;/ do not hide your commands
from me./ At all times my soul is stirred/ with longing for your
edicts.
—Psalm 119:19–20
Reflection:
Mary and St. Joseph did not understand what Jesus said to them.
Mary had to keep all these things in her heart and ponder them.
Even the extraordinary faith of Mary was a faith that matured
over time—and through darkness—as she was a sojourner in
the land like us, too.
Prayer:
Dear Mary, just as you may not immediately have understood
Jesus, but pondered what He said in your heart until you
eventually did understand, help me, also, to ponder Jesus’s
sayings and grasp the fullest meaning out of them. Amen.
