Gospel of Life: The Resurrection

Rosary for Life, Unity and Justice

For the next 40 days up to the 7^th October I offer a series of reflections on each of the decades of the Holy Rosary. The Holy Rosary is a traditional prayer recited by Catholics and a few others outside the Roman Catholic Church. It recalls important moments in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Saviour and Lord.

This is a testing time for three reasons:

1. The culture of death is advancing on many fronts not least in Ireland where legislation is pending for the legalisation of abortion up to birth (and beyond birth in the case children who survive abortion in the hours following a failed abortion) as well as euthanasia. We are, literally, running out of time.
2. Discord, strife and in-fighting abound in the body of Christ here on earth. We need to pray and work for unity based on gospel values. This is all the more urgent given the Synod on synodality scheduled for October of this year.
3. The injustices driving economic inequality, social breakdown, environmental disruption and political corruption are all too evident at global and local level.  We need to act. If not us, who?

I am suggesting that the Rosary forms an important part of the resources at the disposal of ordinary people – like you and me – to pray and live for change that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.  We need the courage of early Christians to witness with our lives and our words that are called to repentance and renewal.

The Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection

A scripture reading:

"And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever." (Isaiah 25:7).

A reflection:

"God did not make death. He hates it, and in fact has fulfilled this ancient promise of Isaiah through the death and resurrection of Christ, by which he destroyed death and made us the People of Life. Those who continue God's work in the world therefore fight against the lingering power of death's kingdom, in whatever form it takes.” [from Priests for Life]

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank You for creating human life in Your image.

Thank You for our lives and the lives of those we love.

Thank You for teaching us through Scripture the value You place on life.

Help us to uphold the sanctity of life in our churches and community.

Give us the strength to stand up to those forces that seek to destroy the lives of those most vulnerable, the unborn, the infirm and the elderly.

Today we commit ourselves never to be silent, never to be passive, never to be forgetful of respecting life.

We commit ourselves to protecting and defending the sacredness of life according to Your will, through Christ our Lord. Amen

(Anglicans for Life)