Jacob Perikala csc –
Readings: Acts 1: 12-14; Lk 1: 26-38
Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, established in 1573 to give thanks for the Christian victory over the Ottoman forces at Lepanto. Mary has encouraged the faithful to pray the rosary, which has become a powerful tool for spiritual strength and intercession. In the first reading, the disciples exemplify obedience, fellowship, and prayer, as Jesus instructed them to wait until the appointed time.
In the gospel reading, Mary is greeted by the Angel Gabriel as “full of grace,” chosen by God to fulfil his divine plan on earth. This highlights her unique role as the mother of God and emphasizes her cooperation with God’s will. The Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah, and in Jesus, we see the fulfilment of those prophecies. It is important to recognize that Jesus did not become the Son of God at his birth; rather, he has been the Son of God from all eternity.
Just as Jesus lived in Mary physically, he now lives within us spiritually through his Word. We are called to make Christ visible in the world, just as Mary did. To be like Mary, we must contemplate Jesus’ life and live according to his teachings found in the Gospel.
As St. John Paul II said, “To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ.” Let us then put away all our negative vibes and vibrate with the vibrations of Christ like Mary our mother.