The Rosary in a Year: Day 79 – "Trust Like Jesus"

Release Date: March 20, 2025
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Produced by: Ascension

Introduction

In Day 79 of The Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames delves into the profound theme of trust, drawing inspiration from the Gospel of Matthew. This episode, titled "Trust Like Jesus," guides listeners through a deep meditation on Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane, encouraging a closer relationship with Jesus and Mary through the Rosary.

Scripture Reflection: The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46)

Fr. Mark-Mary begins by reading the passage from Matthew 26:36-46, highlighting Jesus’ profound sorrow and his unwavering trust in the Father during his darkest hour.

[00:40] Fr. Mark-Mary: "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with me."

He emphasizes the depth of Jesus' anguish:

[01:15] Fr. Mark-Mary: "How deep is the sorrow, how deep is the pain, the suffering that he's experiencing?"

Despite his agony, Jesus consistently returns to prayer, demonstrating ultimate surrender to God's will:

[02:50] Fr. Mark-Mary: "Not as I will, but as you will be done."

Lectio Divina: Engaging with the Text

Using the Lectio Divina method, Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to meditate on the nuances of the scripture, focusing on Jesus' attributes of trust and obedience.

• Sentence: Focus on the key elements—Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus with Peter, James, and John.
• Words: Highlight "sorrowful unto death" to understand the intensity of Jesus' emotions.
• Movements: Observe Jesus' repeated acts of falling on his face and his persistent prayer.

[05:30] Fr. Mark-Mary: "Jesus is his Son, building his entire life on the Father and making this prayer—here's my desire, Father. I know you see me. Let this shalt pass... not as I will, but as you will be done."

Meditatio: Personal Reflection

Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners to reflect on their own lives, identifying moments of deep sorrow or trials akin to Jesus' experience in Gethsemane. He poses essential questions:

• Personal Trials: "What are the areas in our own hearts... which feel like an experience of Gethsemane?"
• Maintaining Relationship: "Can we still stay in relationship with our Father here?"
• Surrender: "Can we surrender like Jesus?"

[09:45] Fr. Mark-Mary: "Jesus knew who His Father is. He knows to whom he is speaking. He knows the goodness of His Father."

Oratio: Structured Prayer

Following the reflection, Fr. Mark-Mary leads listeners through a structured prayer sequence—Receive, Respond, Request, Rejoice—centering on the theme of trust.

1. Receive: Acknowledge the good news and Jesus' unwavering trust.

2. Respond: Praise Jesus for His love and obedience.

   [14:20] Fr. Mark-Mary: "We adore Jesus for His obedience, His Sonship, and His faithfulness to the Father."

3. Request: Ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance to emulate Jesus' trust and surrender.

   [16:10] Fr. Mark-Mary: "Jesus, teach us to trust. Teach us to pray as you trusted, to praise you... May your grace prevail, Lord Jesus."

4. Rejoice: Give thanks for the insights gained and the grace received.

   [18:30] Fr. Mark-Mary: "Thank you, Jesus, that you see us, hear us, and are with us, pouring out your grace into our hearts."

Contemplatio: Silent Meditation and the Rosary

The episode concludes with Contemplatio, where Fr. Mark-Mary leads a decade of the Rosary, focusing on the first sorrowful mystery—the Agony in the Garden. Listeners are encouraged to meditate on Jesus' trust and surrender, asking for a deeper reception of grace and the Holy Spirit.

[25:00] Fr. Mark-Mary: "May we too, like Jesus, pray, 'Not my will be done, but your will be done.'"

Conclusion

Fr. Mark-Mary wraps up the episode by reaffirming the importance of trust in one's spiritual journey. He invites listeners to continue their prayerful engagement, fostering a stronger relationship with Jesus and Mary through the Rosary.

[28:45] Fr. Mark-Mary: "Thank you, friends, for joining me and praying with me here today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow."

Notable Quotes

• [00:40] "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with me."
• [01:15] "How deep is the sorrow, how deep is the pain, the suffering that he's experiencing?"
• [02:50] "Not as I will, but as you will be done."
• [05:30] "Jesus is his Son, building his entire life on the Father and making this prayer—here's my desire, Father. I know you see me. Let this shalt pass... not as I will, but as you will be done."
• [09:45] "Jesus knew who His Father is. He knows to whom he is speaking. He knows the goodness of His Father."
• [14:20] "We adore Jesus for His obedience, His Sonship, and His faithfulness to the Father."
• [16:10] "Jesus, teach us to trust. Teach us to pray as you trusted, to praise you... May your grace prevail, Lord Jesus."
• [18:30] "Thank you, Jesus, that you see us, hear us, and are with us, pouring out your grace into our hearts."
• [25:00] "May we too, like Jesus, pray, 'Not my will be done, but your will be done.'"
• [28:45] "Thank you, friends, for joining me and praying with me here today. I look forward to continuing this journey with you again tomorrow."

Key Takeaways

• Building Trust: Emulating Jesus' trust in God, especially during times of profound sorrow and challenge.
• Persistent Prayer: Maintaining a steadfast relationship with the Father through prayer, even when faced with trials.
• Surrendering Will: Learning to surrender personal desires in favor of God's will, fostering deeper spiritual growth.
• Holy Spirit Guidance: Seeking the Holy Spirit's assistance to navigate personal Gethsemanes, building resilience and faith.

Further Resources

For a complete prayer plan and to continue your journey through Rosary in a Year, visit Ascension Press or text RIY to 33777. Access additional features and full Rosary recordings through the Ascension app by searching for Rosary in a Year.

Embrace this transformative journey of trust and deepen your spiritual life through daily prayer and meditation with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames.