Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
What is “fraternal charity”? Jesus gives us the answer in today’s Gospel, not in words, but in an example. He described a man who desperately needed help. A priest and a Levite passed by with seeming good, even pious reasons not to help. Jesus then says there is no excuse possible for exempting one to put into practice fraternal charity, that is, loving assistance shown to one’s neighbor.
Paul emphasizes this truth in the 1st reading. One is not allowed to pick and choose the teachings of Christ. Without faith in all that Jesus taught, one simply kids himself, like the priest and the Levite in the Gospel. Hard sayings. What’s the solution?
Today we celebrate the feast of our Lady of the Rosary. She is the one who can best interpret for me when and how I can better practice fraternal charity and how to avoid seemingly good and even pious reasons not to be attentive of those who need help of various kind. Making such a petition to our Lady before beginning my daily rosary can be of assistance.
Resolve: In contemplating the mysteries in the rosary, I shall ask the Blessed Mother to show me how she put into practice fraternal charity in the context of each mystery, and I shall ask her to obtain from her son the grace for me to do the same in my activities today.