Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Our Lady of the Rosary, (07th October, 2017) on the Gospel and
the Memorial
(Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in
Ordinary Time (I))
Bar 4:5-12.27-29;
Ps 68:33-37. (R. v.34);
Lk 10:17-24.
The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is also known as
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. It was instituted by Pope Saint Pius V.[1]
This Feast was formerly sometimes known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory. It
commemorates the decisive victory of the combined Christian fleet on 7th
October, 1571 at the Battle of Lepanto, defeating an Ottoman fleet off western
Greece.[2]
Pope Saint Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, who was invoked on the day of the battle through a campaign to
pray the Rosary throughout Europe.[3]
Topic: Celebrating Jesus’ mother.
The seventy Jesus sent in the gospel we read two days ago (Lk 10:1-12) returned rejoicing because
of the marvels God worked through them. Jesus cautioned them, “do not rejoice
at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are
written in heaven” (Lk 10:20).
Certainly, today’s feast might upset some just because it is
an honour to Mary. Some are not comfortable whenever the name of Mary is
mentioned. Reasons although unjustifiable abound.
This woman some honour whereas others attack is indisputably
the mother of Jesus Christ, our God, cf. Acts
1:14. No evidence in the bible that Jesus ever disobeyed or disrespected
her. Instead, the contrary abounds, cf. Lk
2:51; Jn 2:3-9. And those who followed Jesus before us gave her her
rightful place and honoured her, cf. Jn
19:27; Acts 1:14; Rom 16:6.
We do respect and honour our biological parents as well as
other parents but especially parents of the people who mean so much to us. We call
Jesus our God but whenever the name of His mother is mentioned some become
restless. Do we suddenly lose the sense of right judgement when it comes to
God’s, cf. Matt 16:3? If one truly
believes in Jesus Christ, surely he/she ought to respect and honour His mother.
And honouring Mary is both an act of obedience to God as well as an escape from
capital punishment, cf. Ex 20:12; Deut
5:16; Matt 15:4; Mk 7:10; Eph 6:2.
In conclusion, it is important to remind ourselves that God
first honoured Mary. When angel Gabriel came to Mary, he said, “Greetings,
favoured one! The Lord is with you....you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:28.30). And under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we learnt that all
generations shall call her blessed, cf. Lk
1:48. No one can curse he/she whom the Lord has not cursed, cf. Num 22:12. 23:8. The more some try to
paint Mary black the more the blessings God has showered on her will be
manifesting, cf. Deut 23:5. We must
be very careful lest we bring down terrible punishment upon us. It is very
important to humble ourselves and follow the examples of Jesus as well as those
who followed Him before us. Her intercession is the most powerful.
Bible Reading: Jn 2:1-11.
Thought for today: Mary demands
just total obedience to God, cf. Jn 2:5.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, assist us to
honour all as we ought especially your holy mother – Amen.
Our Lady of the Rosary – Pray for us.
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