The Third Luminous Mystery // The Proclamation of the Kingdom

Fruit of the Mystery // Repentance + Trust in God

Reflect

What a great opportunity these past couple of months have offered us to exhibit charity, forgiveness, love of neighbor, compassion, and dying of self. I don’t need to rehash all of the political and moral issues that have divided us. Has our response been like Saint John the Baptist in preparing the way for the Lord? Do we unite ourselves in the mission of Saint John the Baptist to “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2) or do we instigate further division and confusion of the Good News?

Recently, while I was in the confessional line, I noticed how much lengthier it has become. It comforted me to be surrounded by so many people wanting to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Although we may not be participating in after-Mass donuts or pancake breakfasts as a community, I feel united in my repentance with my brothers in sisters standing alongside me. I love the confessional line because it acknowledges the need for the salvation of God. It exclaims boldly that we recognize our need of converting our hearts over to God all while saying nothing to each other at all. That is a powerful witness of “proclaiming the kingdom of God.”

I have noticed in my own life and in the lives of others that preparing the way of the Lord is done gently, lovingly, and gives the greatest peace to the individual who is receiving the message. Each time we ask God for His mercy in the confessional we start anew in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. My proclamation and yours is only as good as our last Confession. Each and every one of us is called to an even greater conversion than the one we experienced before.

In his address in March 2020, Pope Francis said, "What we are living now is a place of 'metanoia' (conversion), and we have the chance to begin. So, let's not let it slip from us, and let's move ahead."

Our own ‘metonoia’ gives us the clean slate we need to trust God more fully in joining John’s mission in “preparing the way of the Lord.”

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Let Us Pray

Father in Heaven, thank you for sending Saint John the Baptist to prepare us for Your coming. Help us to participate in the mission of bringing Your Good News to our families, friends, and community. May our own conversion become a wellspring of bringing others to You. Amen.

For Discussion

How can you form the habit of repentance in your daily life?

How does repentance lead you to a greater trust in God?

Praying the Rosary

Throughout the Prayer Pledge and beyond, we really encourage you to pray the Rosary! Since we will be looking at the fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary, it only makes sense to actually pray it!

Here is a guide on how to pray the Rosary.

I like this podcast and this podcast for praying the Rosary.

Hallow also has a marvelous Rosary meditation.

And if you want to go even deeper in to the Rosary, check out Mystery!

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