The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary | Friday 7 October 2022

Today is Friday the 7th of October, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, in the 27th week of Ordinary time.

Maximillian sings, ‘Redemption’. As you listen, notice if a particular line or lyrics stands out to you.


Friends and foes gather ‘neath below
Held in the arms of a bittersweet shadow
Eyes all fixed on a shepherd-king
To all men, He is all things
Innocence hung guilty on a tree
His flesh abused for the world to see
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
‘King of the Jews’ is what was read
A crown of thorns set upon His head
Innocence hung guilty on a tree
This time the fruit is good to pick
It hangs the height of a hyssop stick
Come you all who hunger and thirst
The first shall be last and the last’ll be first
Innocence hung guilty on a tree
Where beams of wood turn to beams of light
When weakness found in Him it's might
Heaven’s cry was heard aloud
The Father’s Son, His head was bowed
Hallelujah!

Today’s reading is from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

Gal 3:7-14

so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’ For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’ But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, ‘Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Paul is again stating one of the core principles of Christian faith, one which we find so difficult to fully accept. We are saved by God’s free gift. What we do will then confirm that we have really got a hold of God’s love. Take a moment to reflect on this.

Paul is writing to the Galatians who know their Scripture. He’s making his case for faith in Christ by referring to the faith Abraham showed before ever there was any Law. It’s not an easy argument for us to follow.

This, though, was a part of Paul’s personal experience. He had been scrupulous in obeying the Law even while putting Christians to death. He experienced God’s mercy as an utterly free gift. Now he wants the Galatians to return to that central truth. How have you experienced God’s mercy?

Listen again and see what you pick up from his argument.

Do you sometimes try and earn your own salvation? What might Paul want to say to you? Bring this all now to the Lord as we prepare to close this time of prayer.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.