The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Episode: Day 73: Seek Him
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Ascension)
Date: March 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode, "Seek Him," invites listeners to deeply reflect on how they search for and encounter Jesus in their everyday lives, using the biblical story of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52) as a foundation for meditation and prayer. Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to consider both their methods and motivations in seeking the Lord, guiding them through Lectio Divina and offering practical suggestions for developing a more intimate prayer life rooted in trust, perseverance, and openness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scripture Focus: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

• Gospel Reading (Luke 2:41–52) [01:10–03:00]:
  • Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem after Passover; his parents anxiously search for him.
  • Jesus is eventually found in the temple, engaging with teachers and astounding them with his wisdom.
  • Mary confronts Jesus: "Son, why have you treated us so? ...your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."
  • Jesus responds: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

2. Meditation: Deepening the Encounter

• Holy Family’s Journey [03:01–05:12]:

  • Fr. Mark-Mary describes the trust within the group traveling to Jerusalem and the anxiety of Mary and Joseph when Jesus is lost.
  • He notes a "foreshadowing" in Jesus being found in the temple on the third day, drawing a parallel to Jesus’ resurrection.
  • Emphasis on Jesus' self-understanding: "He is the Son of the Father, and first and foremost, he’s about his Father’s business." (Fr. Mark-Mary)

• Mary’s Example in Prayer [05:13–06:11]:

  • Mary models authentic prayer by sharing her heart with Jesus. She doesn't hide her pain.
  • Jesus’ enigmatic response invites a deeper mystery rather than closure.
  • "Mary is not hurt, but she keeps all these things in her heart," highlighting a posture of contemplation and trust.

3. The Central Question: How Do We Seek Jesus?

• A Personal Reflection [06:12–08:11]:
  • Fr. Mark-Mary pivots to the relevance for all believers:
    "How is it that you and I are seeking Him? ...Do we seek Him in prayer, in the Word, in sacrament, in community, in silence?"
  • Recognizes the human experience of feeling lost or abandoned by God, paralleling Mary’s own distress.
  • Invites listeners to self-examination: Do we seek God with confidence, trust, and hope, or are we distracted, seeking worldly solutions?

4. Lectio Divina (Prayerful Reading and Meditation)

• Invitation to Examine One’s Own Seeking [08:12–11:02]:
  • Fr. Mark-Mary leads the audience through four steps:
    • Receive: Recognize Jesus’ presence and desire for relationship.
    • Respond: Be grateful for God’s closeness, consider if we desire control or allow God to "find us."
    • Request: Ask for grace to persevere in prayer, silence, and letting go of distractions.
    • Rejoice: Thank God for access to His heart through Scripture, Eucharist, and adoration.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • "The one we seek is also seeking us. The beauty of the heart of God—that he wants to spend time with us." (Fr. Mark-Mary, 09:23)

5. Practical Application: Cultivating a Daily Practice of Seeking God

• Seeking in Silence and Simplicity [11:03–12:45]:
  • Emphasizes silence as fertile ground for seeking and encountering God.
  • Guidance to "root out from our lives whatever is distracting and keeps us from Him."
  • A call to fidelity: regular prayer, sacramental participation, and openness to God’s initiative.

6. Concluding Prayerful Segment: Oratio and Contemplatio

• Requests and Thanksgiving [12:46–14:35]:
  • Prays for grace to seek God more purely, to leave behind obstacles, and to remain steadfast in prayer.
  • Expresses gratitude for "Jesus opening the door to the Father’s house and inviting us to join."
  • Encourages listeners to echo Mary’s contemplative attitude.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sharing the Heart in Prayer:

  "Mary sharing her heart—I think this beautiful example of prayer, of sharing your heart with Jesus: ‘Why have you treated us so?’”
  — Fr. Mark-Mary [04:32]

• On How We Seek God:

  "Did you seek me with confidence? Did you seek me with prayer? Did you seek me with trust? Did you seek me with hope?"
  — Fr. Mark-Mary [07:43]

• God’s Desire for Us:

  "The one we seek is also seeking us. The beauty of the heart of God—that he wants to spend time with us."
  — Fr. Mark-Mary [09:23]

• Challenge to Listeners:

  "Are there ways in which we are seeking his promises and his fulfillment in the world and in worldly things and in distraction and in noise and in whatever is bright and shiny and new?"
  — Fr. Mark-Mary [10:12]

Important Timestamps

• 01:10 – Introduction to the Fifth Joyful Mystery, the Finding in the Temple
• 03:01 – Reflection on the journey, anxiety, and discovery in the Gospel story
• 05:13 – Mary’s example as a model for prayer
• 07:35 – The call to self-examine: How do we seek the Lord?
• 09:23 – Receiving the good news: "The one we seek is also seeking us."
• 10:30 – Invitation to renewed prayer, silence, and removal of distractions
• 12:46 – Oratio: Petition for the grace of "holy seeking"
• 14:36–end – Contemplative closing prayer and Rosary segment

Final Takeaways

• Seeking God is an active, ongoing process rooted in trust, openness, and sometimes the acceptance of mystery.
• True seeking involves prayerful silence, honesty, and receptivity, modeled after Mary’s response to Jesus.
• God is not distant; He desires to be found and is seeking us too.
• Practical challenge: Set aside distractions, cultivate daily silence, and allow God to reveal Himself in His own way and timing.

For more resources and the full prayer plan:
Visit ascensionpress.com/riy