Day 60: Effects of Sin

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year – Day 60: Effects of Sin

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)
• Host/Author: Ascension
• Episode: Day 60: Effects of Sin
• Release Date: March 1, 2025
• Description: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames guides listeners through a transformative journey of prayer and meditation on the Rosary, fostering a deeper relationship with Jesus and Mary.

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Introduction

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames opens Day 60 of the Rosary in a Year podcast by welcoming listeners and providing essential information about the prayer plan. He encourages listeners to download the prayer plan from Ascension's website or text "RIY" to 33777 for an organized outline of the month’s prayers. He highlights the Ascension app's features, including special podcast content and full Rosary recordings with himself and fellow friars. Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes the importance of subscribing to receive daily notifications, ensuring listeners can maintain their prayer routine seamlessly.

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Reflection on the Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar

At [00:04], Fr. Mark-Mary introduces the day’s focus—the second sorrowful mystery of the Rosary: the scourging at the pillar. He references Matthew 27:26, which narrates Jesus being scourged before his crucifixion. This reflection serves as a gateway to understanding the profound effects of sin on the human soul and the nature of God's heart.

Connecting the Scourging to the Prodigal Son

Fr. Mark-Mary draws a parallel between Jesus' scourging and the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:13-19. At [01:23], he recounts the son’s descent into sin, highlighting how the son squandered his inheritance, fell into extreme want, and degraded himself by feeding swine. Fr. Mark-Mary elaborates on how this narrative illustrates the nature of sin:

“The more in which we try and accommodate sin or satisfy sin, the more distorted it gets... it just inflamed them more. And we see this in the nature of sin.” [02:10]

He emphasizes that sin initially appears sweet and satisfying but ultimately leads to emptiness and despair. This distortion reflects the inner turmoil and physical degradation seen in those struggling with addiction, drawing a vivid image of the prodigal son’s plight.

Theological Insights on Sin’s Deceptive Nature

At [03:10], Fr. Mark-Mary discusses the transformative and destructive power of sin, using addiction as a real-world example:

“Sin has this effect until you see this prodigal son like this, like the person who's been caught up in addiction.” [03:10]

He explains how sin can bend and wear down the soul, making individuals appear physically and morally broken. The scourging of Jesus mirrors this internal suffering, showcasing the profound impact of sin both on a personal and societal level.

Fr. Mark-Mary further contrasts the state of being scourged and broken by sin with the innocent suffering of Jesus:

“We see him becoming through love. We see our Lord again, the innocent.” [03:53]

This juxtaposition underscores the redemptive power of Christ’s love, which transforms the scourging—a symbol of sin’s consequences—into an act of divine mercy and salvation.

Conviction and Redemption Through Reflection

At [04:03], Fr. Mark-Mary acknowledges that while not everyone may descend into severe sin like the prodigal son, the subtle effects of sin are still prevalent:

“The effects. They're probably not going to be fully matured. But what Jesus is revealing to us in his own passion, his own scourging is like, look at me, look at me. This is what sin does to your soul.” [04:03]

He urges listeners to reflect on Jesus' suffering to understand the destructive nature of sin and to seek redemption through prayer and contemplation.

Key Takeaways and Insights

• Nature of Sin: Sin starts as seemingly satisfying but ultimately leads to greater distortion and harm, leaving individuals spiritually and physically desolate.

• Christ’s Suffering: Jesus’ scourging serves as a profound demonstration of sin’s impact and highlights His role as the innocent sufferer who redeems humanity through love.

• Personal Reflection: By contemplating the scourging at the pillar, believers are encouraged to recognize the subtle yet pervasive effects of sin in their lives and the world.

• Addiction as a Parallel: The discussion draws a direct comparison between the prodigal son’s descent into addiction and the broader effects of sin, illustrating the tangible consequences of spiritual downfall.

Conclusion and Prayer

Fr. Mark-Mary concludes the reflection by inviting listeners to meditate on the scouring of Christ and its implications for their own lives. He emphasizes both the conviction of sin and the overwhelming love of Jesus that offers protection and redemption.

The episode transitions into a time of prayer, reciting the Lord’s Prayer, multiple Hail Marys, and the Glory Be, reinforcing the themes of forgiveness, grace, and divine mercy discussed during the reflection.

“Let us look at the Lord scourged. And let us see and be convicted of the truth of our sin and what it does again to our soul and to the world.” [04:10]

Fr. Mark-Mary closes with a heartfelt farewell, expressing gratitude for the shared prayer and anticipation for the next day’s journey.

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Notable Quotes:

• “The more in which we try and accommodate sin or satisfy sin, the more distorted it gets... it just inflamed them more. And we see this in the nature of sin.”
  — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [02:10]

• “Sin has this effect until you see this prodigal son like this, like the person who's been caught up in addiction.”
  — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [03:10]

• “We see him becoming through love. We see our Lord again, the innocent.”
  — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [03:53]

• “Let us look at the Lord scourged. And let us see and be convicted of the truth of our sin and what it does again to our soul and to the world.”
  — Fr. Mark-Mary Ames [04:10]

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Final Thoughts

Day 60 of The Rosary in a Year podcast offers a profound exploration of sin through the lens of Scripture and personal reflection. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames adeptly connects the Parable of the Prodigal Son with the Passion of Christ, providing listeners with deep theological insights and practical applications for their spiritual lives. This episode serves as a catalyst for self-examination and a reminder of the transformative power of prayer and divine love.

For more resources and to follow the complete prayer plan, visit Ascension Press – Rosary in a Year.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

Foreign.

[Mark Mary]

Mark Mary with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and this is the Rosary in a Year podcast, where through prayer and meditation, the Rosary brings us deeper into relationship with Jesus and Mary and becomes a source of grace for the whole world. The Rosary in a Year is brought to you by Ascension. This is day 60. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosaryinayear 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 the podcast is in the Ascension app. There are special features built just for this podcast and also recordings of the full Rosary with myself and other friars. No matter what app you're listening in, remember to tap, follow or subscribe for your daily notifications. The second sorrowful mystery is the scourging at the pillar. Matthew, chapter 27, verse 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged, Jesus delivered him to be crucified. We're going to continue our journey, reflecting on the passion of our Lord as it reveals the true nature of sin and the true nature of the heart of God. And to help with this, I'm going to continue to reference the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

[Unknown Speaker]

So this is the parable of the.

[Mark Mary]

Prodigal son, Luke, chapter 15. Starting at verse 13, he squandered his property and loose living, and when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. The Son, he took the inheritance and he spent it, right? And he spent it and he spent it and spent it. And instead of satisfying his desires, it just inflamed them more. And we see this in the nature of sin. Like the more in which we try and accommodate sin or satisfy sin, the more distorted it gets. And eventually the sin, it loses its sweetness, right? And it becomes something actually very harmful and very ugly that leaves us empty, desolate, despairing. You know, unfortunately, I think we have some insight into this as we see our brothers and sisters who have been caught up in addiction. You know, in a lot of our work here in New York, we see those who have been like the Son who has spent everything they had in addiction. And you see the way in which that Life, it begins to reflect itself externally. You see them cut up and having open wounds, losing teeth, like bent over, beat up. Sin has this effect until you see this prodigal son like this, like the person who's been caught up in addiction.

[Unknown Speaker]

Who has nothing, who is dirty, who's been spending days and nights out on.

[Mark Mary]

The field, stealing, robbing, to try and get what he can, fighting the sw. And again, he's just. You see this man now who is dirty, who is beat up, who is sick, who is frail, who is bent over. This is theologically, we talk about this like by sin we become bent over, we become beat up. This is what happens when we really give ourselves over to the pursuit of our passions. My brothers and sisters, what we see in Jesus scourged at the pillar, we see him becoming what the prodigal son became through sin. We see him becoming through love. We see our Lord again, the innocent.

[Unknown Speaker]

One, scourged, beaten, frail, bent over.

[Mark Mary]

So many of us, right? We're not going to be going full blown into addiction. We're not going to have this clear.

[Unknown Speaker]

Visibility of the effects of our sin.

[Mark Mary]

And thank God for that. There's still the effects. They're probably not going to be fully matured. But what Jesus is revealing to us in his own passion, his own scourging is like, look at me, look at me. This is what sin does to your soul. This is what sin does to the world. It scourges it. And that is what we become through sin. So, my brothers and sisters, as we reflect on and pray today with this second sorrowful mystery, let us look at the Lord scourged. And let us see and be convicted of the truth of our sin and.

[Unknown Speaker]

What it does again to our soul.

[Mark Mary]

And to the world. But also let us be moved by the goodness and the love of our Lord, who has taken it upon himself for love of His Father and for love of us and to shield us and protect us. And so let us pray in the.

[Unknown Speaker]

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.

[Mark Mary]

Forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but.

[Unknown Speaker]

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.

[Mark Mary]

All right, my brothers and sisters, thanks for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing the this journey with you again tomorrow. Poco poco. God bless y'all.