Day 63: Even Unto Death - The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Day 63: Even Unto Death

Tue Mar 04 2025

Just as the father in the parable of the prodigal son does not merely wait to welcome his son back, but pursues to meet him on the way, Fr. Mark-Mary explains that God does not wait for us to return to him but instead pursues us, even to death on the cross. At Calvary, in the Crucifixion, we see the true nature of the heart of God, a heart filled with love for us. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord and we will be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Rosary in a Year" – Day 63: Even Unto Death

Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Hosted by: Ascension
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Podcast Description:
In "The Rosary in a Year," Fr. Mark-Mary Ames guides listeners through a transformative journey of prayer and meditation centered on the Rosary. This episode, titled "Day 63: Even Unto Death," delves deep into the fifth sorrowful mystery—the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ—exploring its profound theological and spiritual implications.

Introduction to Day 63

Timestamp [00:00]:
Fr. Mark-Mary Ames opens the episode by welcoming listeners and introducing the day's focus: the fifth sorrowful mystery of the Rosary—the crucifixion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the significance of this mystery in understanding both the reality of sin and the profound nature of God's love.

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: Crucifixion and Death

Reading from Luke 23:33-46 [02:15]:
Fr. Ames reads the biblical passage detailing the crucifixion of Jesus, highlighting key moments such as Jesus' plea for forgiveness, the mocking by rulers and soldiers, and His final words before dying: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

Reflection on Sin and Divine Truth [05:40]:
Discussing the passage, Fr. Ames reflects on the gravity of sin and its consequences. He states, “This is the truth of sin, and the truth of who God is” ([06:10]). He elaborates on how sin leads to death and estrangement from God, using Jesus' suffering as the ultimate revelation of these truths.

The Nature of God Revealed Through the Cross

Understanding God's Character [12:30]:
Fr. Ames explores the nature of God as demonstrated on the cross. He asserts, “Does God care? Does God see me? Jesus Christ on the cross answers this question” ([13:00]). Through Jesus' sacrifice, believers gain insight into God’s unwavering love and active pursuit of humanity despite their sins.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Reading from Luke 15:20 [16:45]:
Fr. Ames revisits the parable of the Prodigal Son, focusing on the son's return and the father's compassionate reception: “Father, I've sinned against heaven and before you... Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” ([17:10]).

Connecting the Parable to the Crucifixion [20:00]:
He draws parallels between the parable and the crucifixion, emphasizing that Jesus embodies the father figure who relentlessly pursues and forgives the lost. Fr. Ames notes, “This parable happens and it's real for the good thief, and it's real for you and me as we pray with and ponder this fifth sorrowful mystery” ([21:30]).

God's Salvific Pursuit and Embrace

Deepening Understanding of Divine Love [25:15]:
Fr. Ames delves into the depths of God's love, highlighting how Jesus' actions on the cross reflect the father's relentless pursuit to restore humanity. He emphasizes, “There is no indifference in the heart of God towards us. There is passion, there is love, there is fighting, there is pursuit unto death” ([26:45]).

Christ's Sacrifice as Historical Salvific Fact [29:00]:
He reinforces the historical and salvific reality of Jesus' sacrifice, stating, “The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Father's pursuit of you and of me” ([29:30]). This pursuit is not merely symbolic but a lived reality that transforms believers’ relationship with God.

Conclusion: Embracing God's Mercy

Final Reflections [33:20]:
Fr. Ames concludes by urging listeners to internalize the lessons from the crucifixion and the parable of the Prodigal Son. He encourages embracing God's mercy and recognizing the lengths to which God has gone to secure salvation for humanity.

Closing Prayers [38:00]:
The episode closes with a recitation of the "Our Father," three "Hail Marys," and the "Glory Be," reinforcing the day's meditations and inviting listeners to continue their prayerful journey.

Key Takeaways

Understanding Sin: The crucifixion starkly reveals the destructive power of sin and its consequences for humanity.
God's Nature: Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's unwavering love, mercy, and active pursuit of humanity despite their flaws and sins.
Parable Integration: The story of the Prodigal Son serves as a tangible example of divine forgiveness and the heartfelt desire of God to restore and embrace each individual.
Personal Application: By contemplating these mysteries, listeners are encouraged to deepen their relationship with Jesus and Mary, fostering a transformative prayer life.

Notable Quotes

On Sin and Truth:
“This is the truth of sin, and the truth of who God is.” ([06:10])
On God's Care:
“Does God care? Does God see me? Jesus Christ on the cross answers this question.” ([13:00])
On Divine Pursuit:
“The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Father's pursuit of you and of me.” ([29:30])
On God's Indifference:
“There is no indifference in the heart of God towards us. There is passion, there is love, there is fighting, there is pursuit unto death.” ([26:45])
On the Historical Reality of the Cross:
“This parable happens and it's real for the good thief, and it's real for you and me as we pray with and ponder this fifth sorrowful mystery.” ([21:30])

Final Thoughts

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames' "Day 63: Even Unto Death" offers a profound exploration of the crucifixion and its intertwined relationship with the parable of the Prodigal Son. Through scripture reading, reflective analysis, and heartfelt prayer, listeners are invited to deepen their understanding of sin, embrace God's limitless love, and cultivate a more intimate relationship with Jesus and Mary. This episode serves as a pivotal moment in the "Rosary in a Year" journey, highlighting the transformative power of the Rosary in fostering spiritual growth and becoming a beacon of grace for the world.

Transcript

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Foreign 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 63. To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a 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 this 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 fifth sorrowful mystery is the crucifixion and death of our Lord. Luke, chapter 23, verses 33 through 46 and when they came to the place which is called the skull, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by watching. But the rulers scoffed at him, saying, he saved others, let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen one. The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar and saying, if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself. There was also an inscription over him, this is the King of the Jews. One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us? But the other rebuked him, saying, do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power. And he said to him, truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last with the crucifixion and death of our Lord. We see this high point of the revelation, the truth of sin, and the truth of who God is. Behold, Jesus crucified Behold our inheritance. Nailed to a tree, crowned with thorns, mocked, scourged, stripped of everything. This is the result of sin. This is what sin does to the soul. This is what sin does to the world, to humanity. And the fruit of sin is only death. Also, behold the truth of who God is. The answer to the deepest question and longing of the human heart. Is God good? Does God care? Does God see me? Jesus Christ on the cross answers this question. We'll return for one last time to the parable of the Prodigal Son. This is Luke, chapter 15, and we'll start at verse 20. And he arose and came to his Father. But while he was yet at a distance, His Father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the Son said to him, father, I've sinned against heaven and before you. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. But the Father said to his servants, bring quickly the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, and bring the fatted calf and kill it. And let us eat and make merry. For this my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. And they began to make merry. My brothers and sisters, this is the good news. How much do we desire, like the Prodigal Son, to be pursued like this by the Father, to have the Father who cares about us? So much is invested in us. So much has never stopped thinking about us, keeping vigil always with his eyes on the horizon, waiting for us just to turn so that he can run to us and embrace us and kiss us and restore us back to life. Love us back to life, my brothers and sisters. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Father's pursuit of you and of me. The good news is that this is not just a parable. This is a historical salvific fact in all of our histories and in your history, in my history, Jesus, you can say, while we are yet at a distance, still stuck in our sin, he emptied himself and came to us. I think it's so important because there's a tendency we can sanitize the Father, that he's just sort of still indifferent, receiving the Son back, like, okay, good. I'm glad you're back. This is great. But we see, like, what is the nature of the Father in this pursuit of the Father? Like, we see what it actually looks like in Jesus Christ on the cross. Like, the Father's not just waiting at his doorstep, happy to receive the Son, but kind of Indifferent if it doesn't happen. He is so invested in the Son, he empties himself and what the sinner has become by his sin. Like so undignified and lowly Jesus, God becomes out of love. He enters into our situation. He comes to us and embraces us and saves us and restores us back to life. The salvific pursuit and embrace of the Father of the Son. It happened at Calvary and is at Calvary. We see the true nature of the heart of God. There is no indifference in the heart of God towards us. There is passion, there is love, there is fighting, there is pursuit unto death. Does God care? Can he be trusted? Does he see you? Is there hope? My brothers and sisters, look at Christ on the cross. Behold the truth of the heart of God, of the heart of Jesus, who is revealing to us perfectly the heart of the Father for you. For the last of these sorrowful mysteries, we actually changed the Gospel of Luke. And I think it's interesting and it's noteworthy that the Gospel of Luke is who gives us the parable of the prodigal Son. And here we see Jesus embracing and living out this parable for the good thief who, who we often call Dismas. Jesus comes in pursuit of this poor man to save him. He is crucified next to him in Dismas, right. He doesn't need to make a long journey back home. All Dismas does is he turns to Jesus and he says this Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingly power. And Jesus says, truly I say to you today you will be with me in paradise. This parable happens and it's real for the good thief, and it's real for you and me as we pray with and ponder this fifth sorrowful mystery, the crucifixion and death of our Lord. Yes, we look at and see the nature and the truth of sin and the fruit of sin. But even more so, we look and we ponder the heart of God, to what lengths and depths he has come in pursuit of us, to meet us in the fullness of our misery and poverty. He takes it upon himself. He runs to us, desiring to embrace us and kiss us and save us so that we can be with him forever in paradise. My brothers and sisters, behold our God. Behold the hearts of God, the mercy of God 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. 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 thee. 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. All right. Thank you for joining me and praying with me again today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you tomorrow. Poco. Poco. All right. God bless you all.