By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 25

The First Glorious Mystery // The Resurrection

Fruit of the Mystery // Faith

Reflect

In imaginative prayer, I often return to an undocumented moment in Jesus’ life: Jesus visiting Mary after His Resurrection. I see the blood-stained dress she wore when she held His lifeless body drying on a clothesline in the sun. A familiar shadow casts on the garment causing Mary’s heart to skip a beat. She calls out, “Joshua!”, then dismisses her hope, recalling the horrors of Cavalry. Jesus pulls the dress aside and His face comes into her view. She crumbles to her knees as He rushes to hold her; this time, her body resting on His in the familiar Pieta embrace we are all too familiar with.

She inspects His body; His head still scarred where the thorns once pierced, His wrists with holes the size of her fingers. She kisses Him as only a mother kisses the wounds of her child and rests her head on His chest to hear His heartbeat. Her Son is alive!

This is what faith looks like to me. A mother who never stops believing in her son or daughter’s restoration from the death of addiction. A daughter who never ceases to kiss the wounds of her aging mother as she cares for her in her final days. A sister in Christ who tenderly holds her friend through disease or heartbreak till she can hear the heartbeat of faith get stronger, day after day.

Mary’s faith never wavered after Christ’s death and burial. However, the Apostles, wrapped in fear, guilt, and trauma from the Crucifixion, fought for faith in the upper room. Thomas was not the only one who needed to see to believe. Peter and John had to go to the tomb to see the stone rolled away and the burial linens on the ground. The disciples, on the road to Emmaus, had a long conversation with Jesus, and only when they broke bread were their eyes of faith restored.

Like the first disciples, our faith might waiver from time to time. Sometimes, we may need a loved one to loan us their faith in times when we don’t have any faith to draw upon. Other times, we might need to faithfully enter the confessional in a state of spiritual death and depart resurrected and free.

Let us turn to our Mother Mary and ask for an increase in the virtue or faith to leave the grave of sin behind and rise to the freedom Christ died to endow upon us.

Mary’s faith never wavered. #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet

Let Us Pray

Like our Mother Mary, we must walk by faith and not by sight. Lord, fix our eyes on the beatific vision and not on the things of this world that keep us captive in fear, sin, and death. The empty tomb opens to us eternal life. May we live no longer for ourselves, but for You who died and was raised. Amen.

For Discussion

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen?” Where do you lack the virtue of faith?

“Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the beatific vision, the goal of our journey here below” (CCC 163). How does the first Glorious Mystery, the Resurrection, help you contemplate and center your life on the hope you of Heaven?

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!

By Their Fruits: The 2021 Prayer Pledge // Day 25 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet

About Tricia Tembreull

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Tricia Tembreull is a seasoned ministry professional dedicated to guiding young hearts toward spiritual growth, healing, and the love of Christ. With a background in youth and young adult ministry, Tricia has served in various roles, including as a youth minister, college campus ministry at USC Caruso Catholic Center, and Regional Director for Life Teen International. As a devotions writer for Blessed Is She, she shares scripture reflections that resonate deeply with women of faith. Recognized as a compelling Catholic speaker, Tricia challenges audiences to embrace their faith with authenticity. Additionally, as a spiritual director, she provides compassionate support to those seeking deeper connections with God. Currently serving as the Coordinator of Young Adult Ministry and Evangelization for the Diocese of Orange, Tricia continues to inspire young adults to embrace their faith journey with zeal and purpose, embodying a commitment to spreading the gospel while fostering communities of love.