“As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now ten times the more to seek him”(Baruch 4:28).

The poetic imagery in our first reading today is coming from the personification of Jerusalem, speaking as a mother to her children. Those who have been in exile “for sacrificing to demons instead of God” (Baruch 4:7) and she is calling them to repent, to turn back, and to come home.

We may not see any relevance in our own lives as we are not making any sacrifices to demons nor are we in exile. And yet, there is much to learn. Our world offers many diversions and distractions that are not a part of what God has planned for our lives.

He not only has our best interests in mind, but he also knows what will lead us into isolation, desolation, and exile from our authentic selves. God knows what will fulfill and satisfy us at the core of our being. He wants nothing more than to reveal to us the truth of who we are and who he is calling us to be. To see his guiding light though, we need to be able to cut through the clouds of lies, half-truths, apparent goods, and our own sins.

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary established by St. Pope Pius V that commemorates the naval victory of the alliance of Genoa, Spain, and the Papal States against the more powerful Turkish navy at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Pope Saint Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of Mary as the sailors before the battle and people throughout Europe prayed the Rosary for victory.

Mary is encouraging us to rise up and win the battle for our souls. Just as the children of Judah were called back from their mother Jerusalem to come home to God, our loving mother Mary calls us to do the same. She is gently challenging us to let go of our fears that keep us crouched in a defensive posture of selfishness; to let down our defenses so we will allow others to see who we truly are; to have the humility to admit where we are weak and in need of healing; and to trust her Son who loves us more than we can ever imagine. He loves us in our imperfection, in our suffering, in our sin, and even defiance.

Though we have strayed, as we are willing to repent and open our whole hearts to Mary, she will lead us through the clouds that separate us back to her Son, where we can rest and abide in his love. In trusting in Mary and Jesus, we will be freed from that which binds us and restore the glory of our relationship with our loving God and Father, for “God’s love is absolutely free: we don’t have to merit it or win it, we only have to receive and welcome it by faith” (Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom).

Photo: Where I start my evening Rosary walk each evening, with Mary, St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL.

Link for the Mass readings for Saturday, October 7, 2023