February 6, 2024, Holy Rosary (Sorrowful Mysteries)

Friends of the Rosary: Today, on the memorial day of Saint Paul Miki and Companions Martyrs, we see Jesus calling the Pharisees hypocrites because they “disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” (Mark 7:1–13) The Pharisees and scribes were questioning Jesus because His disciples were not following the tradition of the elders but instead were eating with unwashed, uncleaned hands. He responded,“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,as it is written:These people honor me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me;In vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines human precepts.” The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was 1) disregard of love — not willing the good of the other — and 2) a human creation of the Eternal Word. They were playing as little Gods, following an interpreted religion for their earthly purposes. Regarding what is real love, Bishop Barron writes, “It’s a leaping outside of the narrow confines of my needs and desires, and an embrace of the other’s good for the other’s sake. It is an escape from the black hole of the ego, which tends to draw everything around it into itself.” Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You! To Jesus through Mary!Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • YouTube video: Daily Rosary broadcast at 7:30 pm ET