Day 56: Good News

Summary

The Rosary in a Year: Episode Summary – Day 56: Good News

Host: Ascension
Guest: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Release Date: February 25, 2025

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Introduction

In Day 56: Good News of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves into the Third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary: The Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion. This episode, hosted by Ascension, offers listeners a profound exploration of how the Rosary can deepen one's relationship with Jesus and Mary, ultimately becoming a powerful source of grace.

Exploring the Third Luminous Mystery

Fr. Ames begins by grounding the discussion in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 1:14-15), where Jesus proclaims, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel” (01:10). He emphasizes that this proclamation isn't merely verbal but is demonstrated through Jesus' actions, embodying the Kingdom of God both in word and deed.

Foundational Truths

1. Revelation of the Kingdom in Jesus

   • Fr. Ames references Pope Saint John Paul II's Apostolic Letter on the Rosary, highlighting that each luminous mystery reveals the presence of God's kingdom in Jesus (01:37).
   • “Each of these mysteries is a revelation of the kingdom now present in the very person of Jesus.” (01:37)

2. Proclamation Through Action and Teaching

   • Jesus not only announces the Kingdom but actively demonstrates it through parables, miracles, and acts of healing.
   • Examples from the Gospel of Mark include Jesus calling His first disciples, casting out demons, healing the sick, and establishing His authority (01:53).

Jesus: The Embodiment of the Kingdom

Fr. Ames elaborates on how Jesus’ actions post-proclamation manifest the Kingdom of God:

• Calling of the Disciples: Inviting Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him (02:24).
• Miracles and Healings: Demonstrating authority over physical and spiritual ailments (02:45).
• Teaching and Authority: Through parables and new laws, Jesus establishes His divine authority (03:10).

“I am the one that you are looking for. I am the bridegroom. I am the authority. I am the king.” (04:02)

The Good News: Embracing Jesus’ Lordship

Central to this episode is the affirmation of Jesus as the embodiment of the Kingdom of God. Fr. Ames underscores Jesus' multifaceted role:

• Savior and Lord: His authority over sin and sickness signifies His divinity and benevolence.
• Agent of Repentance: Calling sinners to turn back to God reflects His compassionate leadership (04:09).

“That which we are looking for, we have found, and we have found it in Jesus.” (05:05)

Practical Application: Personal Reflection and Repentance

Fr. Ames invites listeners to engage in personal introspection, challenging them to identify areas where they may be placing their trust elsewhere instead of in Jesus. This reflection is a call to repentance and renewed faith.

“Let us repent. Let us turn away and come to him. My brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God is at hand.” (05:37)

Listeners are encouraged to assess their lives, ensuring that their hopes and trusts are rightly placed in Jesus, aligning with the Kingdom of God’s principles.

Conclusion and Prayer

The episode concludes with a heartfelt prayer led by Fr. Ames, reinforcing the themes of repentance, belief in the Gospel, and devotion to Mary. The prayer serves as a spiritual anchor, inviting listeners to internalize the Good News and deepen their prayer life through the Rosary.

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Notable Quotes

• “Each of these mysteries is a revelation of the kingdom now present in the very person of Jesus.” – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (01:37)
• “I am the one that you are looking for. I am the bridegroom. I am the authority. I am the king.” – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (04:02)
• “That which we are looking for, we have found, and we have found it in Jesus.” – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (05:05)
• “Let us repent. Let us turn away and come to him. My brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God is at hand.” – Fr. Mark-Mary Ames (05:37)

Resources Mentioned

• Prayer Plan: Accessible at ascensionpress.com/riy or by texting R I Y to 33777.
• Ascension App: Features special content and full Rosary recordings.
• Rosary Near Prayer Guide: A complementary book featuring daily Scripture readings, reflections, and sacred art.

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Join Fr. Mark-Mary Ames tomorrow for another enriching day on your Rosary journey. Continue to deepen your relationship with Jesus and Mary through prayer and meditation.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign Mark May with Franciscan Friars the Renewal and this is the Rosary in.

[B]

Here podcast where through prayer and meditation.

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The Rosary brings us deeper into relationship with Jesus and Mary and becomes a.

[B]

Source of grace for the whole world.

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The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension.

[B]

This is day 56.

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To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com Rosarine Year or text R I Y to 33777. You'll get an outline of how we're going to pray each month and it's a great way to track your progress. The best place to listen to podcast is in the Ascension app. There's special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full Rosary with myself and other friars. I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Rosary Near Prayer Guide, a book published by Ascension that was designed to complement this podcast. You'll find all the daily readings from Scripture, same reflections and beautiful full page images of the sacred art will be reflecting on.

[B]

The third luminous mystery is.

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The proclamation of the Kingdom and the call to conversion.

[B]

Mark 1:14:15.

[A]

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of God and saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel. I'd like our meditation on this third luminous mystery to be built upon two foundational truths. The first is this. And this is going back to what Pope Saint John Paul II said in his Apostolic Letter on the Rosary where he's introducing the luminous mysteries. He reminds us each of these mysteries is a revelation of the kingdom now present in the very person of Jesus.

[B]

Right?

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The kingdom of God that is being proclaimed is Jesus. So when Jesus is saying the kingdom of God is at hand, he's talking about himself. And the second is this, that the proclamation of the kingdom of God is done by both word and deed. It's not just done by saying here it is something new is happening. He actually makes something new happen. And this isn't perfect, but I do think that in our praying of the third luminous mystery, most of what Jesus says and does actually can fall under the proclamation of the kingdom. For example, his parables. Many of the parables are introduced as the kingdom of heaven is like this is a proclamation, the teaching of what the kingdom is also a breaking through of the kingdom, his teaching, his giving of the law, establishing, manifesting, his authority, giving a new law, his miracles. And I think actually the Gospel of Mark is beautiful and a perfect place to understand this as we look at what immediately follows. Right this initial proclamation, the time is fulfilled and kingdom of God is at hand. Repent. Believe in the gospel. What's the first thing that happened? The first thing that he does is that he calls his first disciples. He calls Simon and Andrew and James and John. So the first thing he does, and this is the end of the proclamation, is he says, come to me. And then look what happens. The next thing that happens is Jesus casts out demons. He manifests his authority. The next thing that happens is that he heals Simon's mother in law. That is followed by this statement of, like everyone's looking for you, Jesus. He heals a leper, he heals a paralytic. Then he calls Levi, he calls a sinner, gives the sinner a new way of living, a new life, a new hope. And then immediately after that, he establishes, in responding to the question about fasting, he identifies as the bridegroom. And then he refers to himself, saying, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Like all of this is the proclamation of the kingdom of God. All of this is Jesus manifesting who he is by word and by deed. I am the one that you are looking for.

[B]

I am the bridegroom. I am the authority. I am the king. I have authority over sickness. I have authority over sin.

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I've come to call sinners back to repent.

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Repentance. Jesus is proclaiming the kingdom of God.

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And in his proclamation of the kingdom, he says, and I am this kingdom.

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Repent and believe in the good news.

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Jesus has come to reveal the fullness.

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Of the truth of who we are, of who he is.

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He's come to give us true and right worship. He has come to bring us to Himself through baptism, ultimately bringing us to a sharing his own divine life and his inner relationship with His Father. So my brothers and sisters, like we look, we look at him and we look at all he's doing throughout the Gospels in his public life and the good news of it.

[B]

That he is good, that he is Lord, that he is the authority, that he is the powerful One, that He loves us. See how tenderly he looks on the lowly, on the outcast and the sinner.

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Like this is the good news.

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That which we are looking for, we have found, and we have found it in Jesus.

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Let us believe in this good news.

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My brothers and sisters, and let us.

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Again, let us repent.

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Today, as we reflect on this mystery.

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Let'S just do a little bit of an examine particularly where are the places in which I am giving authority to that which is not Jesus, that I'M placing my hopes in something other than Jesus. Like what in my life am I not trusting to him?

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Let us repent. Let us turn away and come to him. My brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God is at hand. That which your heart is seeking for and longing for is at hand. He is here. He is the Lord. He is Jesus. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 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. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[A]

All right, everybody, thanks for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing the journey.

[B]

Again with you tomorrow. Poco.

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Poco.

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Friends.

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All right, bye now.