Day 80: His Blood For You

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (Day 80: His Blood For You)
Host: Ascension
Guest: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Release Date: March 21, 2025

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Introduction

In Day 80 of Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames leads listeners through a profound meditation on the Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar. Released on March 21, 2025, this episode delves deep into the Passion of Christ, inviting believers to deepen their prayer life and relationship with Jesus and Mary through the Rosary.

Overview of the Rosary in a Year

Fr. Mark-Mary begins by reminding listeners about the Rosary in a Year program, encouraging them to download the prayer plan from Ascension Press or text RIY to 33777. He highlights the structured approach of starting small and gradually building a daily prayer habit, making the Rosary accessible to all, regardless of their current spiritual journey.

Building a Daily Habit of Prayer

Fr. Mark-Mary emphasizes the importance of constructing a daily prayer routine, explaining that small, consistent steps lead to a more profound love and understanding of the Rosary. He states:

“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.”
— Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, 00:04

Meditation on the Scourging at the Pillar

The core of the episode is the Lectio Divina practice focused on the Scourging at the Pillar, a pivotal moment in the Passion of Christ. Fr. Mark-Mary guides listeners through the scripture reading from Matthew 27:26:

“And having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.”
— 00:21

Detailed Reflection

Fr. Mark-Mary breaks down the significance of this event, explaining:

• Barabbas’ Release: He notes the irony in the name Barabbas, which means "Son of the Father," highlighting the world's choice of a false Messiah over Jesus, the true Son of God.

  “The world we see is choosing this false Son of the Father instead of Jesus, the true Son of the Father.”
  — 01:25

• The Scourging: He describes the brutality of the scourging, likely involving a whip with hooks and stones, intending to severely weaken Jesus to prevent further demands for crucifixion.

  “The scourging is going to be a severe, severe beating.”
  — 02:31

Engaging the Scriptural Scene

Fr. Mark-Mary invites listeners to vividly imagine the scene, focusing on Jesus’ eyes meeting theirs amidst the brutality:

“With each scourging, each whipping of Jesus, can you experience him finding you in the crowd and his eyes locking on yours and communicating his love for you, his choice of you.”
— 02:55

He encourages an empathetic connection, allowing believers to feel Jesus’ love and sacrifice personally.

Experiencing Jesus’ Sacrifice

Through imaginative meditation, Fr. Mark-Mary leads listeners to experience Jesus' physical and emotional pain, yet underscored by His unwavering love:

“This is my body given for you. This is my blood poured out for you.”
— 03:34

He emphasizes Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice:

“No one takes my life from me. I lay it down freely like for you. I freely choose to endure this for you.”
— 04:20

Contemplation and Response

Fr. Mark-Mary transitions to guiding listeners through a contemplative response using the Orazio (prayer of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication):

1. Receive: Understanding Jesus’ sacrifice as a testament to our true worth.
2. Respond: Adoration and praise for God's goodness and Jesus’ perseverance.
3. Request: Seeking the grace to maintain fidelity to prayer amidst distractions.
4. Rejoice: Expressing gratitude for Jesus' unconditional love and the gift of prayer.

He highlights the transformative power of recognizing one’s worth in Jesus’ eyes rather than seeking external validation:

“How much do we go searching for a sign of our worth out there when our true worth we can be found in here... think you are good, because he wants to be with you, because of his love for you.”
— 04:30

The Power of Mary’s Influence

While the primary focus is on Jesus' sacrifice, Fr. Mark-Mary subtly weaves in the role of Mary as an intercessor and a model of unwavering faith. Through the Rosary, listeners are reminded of Mary's presence and her powerful influence in guiding believers closer to Jesus.

Conclusion and Continued Prayer

Fr. Mark-Mary concludes the meditative session by encouraging listeners to continue their prayer journey in the silence of their hearts, reinforcing the day's themes of sacrifice, love, and personal worth in God's eyes.

“Encourage you, if you've been moved in prayer, to continue in prayer with our Lord in the silence of your own heart.”
— 14:36

He invites listeners to join in the decade of the Rosary, maintaining the imagery of Jesus' loving gaze as they pray:

“Keep in your imagination the scene of Jesus crucified, his eyes looking at you with love... This is my body given for you. This is my blood poured out for you.”
— 13:43

Notable Quotes

• Fr. Mark-Mary Ames:

  “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.”
  — 00:04

  “No one takes my life from me. I lay it down freely like for you. I freely choose to endure this for you.”
  — 04:20

  “How much do we go searching for a sign of our worth out there when our true worth we can be found in here.”
  — 04:30

Key Takeaways

• Building a Prayer Habit: The structured approach of the Rosary in a Year helps believers develop a consistent prayer life.
• Personal Relationship: Engaging deeply with the mysteries of the Rosary fosters a closer relationship with Jesus and Mary.
• Scriptural Meditation: Using Lectio Divina to reflect on the Scriptures enhances spiritual understanding and personal connection to the mysteries.
• Understanding Sacrifice: Meditating on Jesus' suffering reinforces the understanding of His love and the significance of His sacrifices.
• Mary’s Role: The Rosary not only honors Mary but also leverages her influence to draw believers closer to Jesus.

Final Reflections

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames expertly weaves together scripture, personal reflection, and communal prayer to guide listeners through a meaningful meditation on one of the most poignant moments in the Passion of Christ. By focusing on the profound sacrifice of Jesus and encouraging a personal connection, he provides a pathway for believers to deepen their faith and prayer life through the Rosary.

Listeners are left with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation for the Rosary as a source of grace and a means to strengthen their relationship with Jesus and Mary.

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For the complete prayer plan, visit Ascension Press.
Support the podcast at [e-mail].

Transcript

[Unknown]

Foreign.

[Mark Mary]

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

[Unknown]

This is day 80.

[Mark Mary]

To download the prayer plan for Rosary in a year, visit ascensionpress.com rosary in a year or text RIY 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 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. On behalf of myself and the whole.

[Unknown]

Team here at Ascension, we wanted to.

[Mark Mary]

Take this opportunity to thank everyone who's helped support this podcast financially. Your generosity is so appreciated and helps us to reach as many people as possible. And if you haven't already, please consider supporting [e-mail] support for today's Lectio Divina.

[Unknown]

We'Ll be praying with the second sorrowful mystery, the scourging at the pillar, Matthew 27:26 and our emphasis is going to be for you. This is my body given for you, this is my blood poured out for you. We'll have our begin with our Lectio.

[Mark Mary]

Then he released for them Barabbas, and.

[Unknown]

Having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Insofar as shorter verse, we can get a little bit more into the details for our meditatios. We engage the Scripture here like the.

[Mark Mary]

He of course is Pontius Pilate.

[Unknown]

Release for them Barabbas.

[Mark Mary]

This is a criminal who'd been arrested. Most notably, the name Barabbas means right Son of the Father.

[Unknown]

We have this way in which the world we see is choosing this false Son of the Father instead of Jesus, the true Son of the Father. And then he is scourged and after he's scourged he's delivered to be crucified. And so we can reflect here, knowing what we know about the scourging of Jesus, we can understand that the weapon of this whip, which would be leather, would have hooks, would have perhaps stones. The scourging which is going to be.

[Mark Mary]

So severe, the attempt of it is.

[Unknown]

Actually to appease the people so they don't ask them to be crucified. So it's a severe, severe beating.

[Mark Mary]

And I'll invite you to engage this reality, the Scripture, with your imagination. As much as you're Able as much.

[Unknown]

As you feel comfortable.

[Mark Mary]

But I'm going to ask you, as.

[Unknown]

You do so, to keep a particular.

[Mark Mary]

Like a focus on the eyes of.

[Unknown]

Jesus, the face of Jesus. I place myself there in this scene and I'm going to invite you to reflect on it in this way. With each scourging, each whipping of Jesus, can you experience him finding you in the crowd and his eyes locking on yours and communicated in this as his love of you, his choice of you.

[Mark Mary]

And perhaps Jesus actually mouths these words.

[Unknown]

Or perhaps just what's communicated. This is my body given for you. And as his blood is shed and pours out on the stone ground, he looks at you with love and determination. This is my blood poured out for you. And I experienced Jesus as well, saying, no one takes my life from me. I lay it down freely like for you. I freely choose to endure this for you. So much does he love us. So much does he long for us. So much does he long to save us. He freely endures this for you.

[Mark Mary]

I'm going to invite you to continue.

[Unknown]

To remain here because how much do we go searching for a sign of our worth out there when our true worth we can be found in here. Like look at what Jesus does for you. Because he thinks you are good, because he wants to be with you, because of his love for you. Have our time of lexio again. Then he released for them Barabbas. And having scourged Jesus delivered him to be crucified. I'll invite you back into the scene for ongoing meditatio. Perhaps at this point Jesus has been beaten so severely that he falls to the ground. But then he fights to look up again to find your eyes, almost seeking to comfort you. No one takes my life from me. I lay it down freely. This is my body given for you. This is my blood poured out for you. Behold the heart of God. Behold the heart of Jesus. Behold his heart for you. And again Alexio. Then he released for them Barabbas. And having scourged, Jesus delivered him to be crucified. Behold Jesus as he continues to be scourged, perhaps even now falling all the way to the ground, struggling to lift himself up to see you again. It's for love of you that he does this and he wants you to receive the gift of his love for you. So behold, behold the heart of Jesus for you. We'll transition to our time here of Orazio following the template. Receive, respond, request, rejoice, receive. What is the good news? Behold the heart of Jesus. Behold the heart of God. The One who gives everything for you, behold the cost of our salvation. But also, again, remember the truth. No one takes Jesus life. No one does this to him, but he gives it freely. And what's the response? We begin by adoration and praise of God and his goodness and Jesus and his goodness. Jesus, we just adore you for your love, for the ways in which you've persevered in fighting for us, for loving us even to the point of being scourged for us. We adore your goodness, Lord. We see your goodness. Adore your goodness. And now what's our invitation? I'm going to invite us to really ask, to receive here, to behold Jesus scourged like the sign of our worth. Jesus, may we repent from trying to prove our worth, to find our worth, to establish our worth somewhere apart from you. When we have these experiences of self doubt, self accusation, disappointment in the particularities of who we are, of our situation in life, may we come here and behold you, Jesus. You scourged for us out of love for us, moved by the goodness that you see in us. May we remember what it means to be purchased by the blood of the Lamb and request. All right, Jesus, we just ask for the grace of prayer, fidelity to prayer. Because again, it's so easy to get distracted. It's so easy to forget who we are and whose we are.

[Mark Mary]

And to be honest, Lord, like, sometimes.

[Unknown]

It'S difficult to come here and to receive this grace. It's a difficult grace to receive. It's a heavy grace to receive. May your Holy Spirit give us the strength to remain here, to remain here with Mary, to receive the gift offered in you. The Lamb of God scourged for our sins. And now we end with a time of rejoicing. We just thank you, Jesus, for your love for us. We thank you for the free gift you make for us, even though it costs you everything. We thank you for this time of prayer and we thank you for the Holy Gospels which communicate your word and your life to us. Now let us conclude our flexo divina with our contemplatio or contemplation, by praying one decade of the rosary. And I'm gonna invite you in particular, if you're able to keep in your imagination the scene of Jesus crucified, his eyes looking at you with love, with encouragement, asking you to receive this gift like, this is my body given for you. This is my blood poured out for you. No one takes my life from me. I lay it down freely for you, for you, for you. And behold the heart of Jesus for you.

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.

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.

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.

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, friends, well, that's going to conclude our time of lecture divina here today. So certainly encourage you, if you've been moved in prayer, to continue in prayer with our Lord in the silence of your own heart. But thank you for joining me and praying with me today, and I look forward to continuing this journey again with you tomorrow.

[Mark Mary]

Poco, poco.

[Unknown]

All right.

God bless y'all.