The 5th Great Reason to Pray the Rosary - to change the world!

Reason #5 - to change the world!

The Parable of the Persistent Widow.
​ Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said,“There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” 

The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
                                                                                                                                                                                           Luke 18:1-8
This parable reminds us that eventually, all the pain and strife of this world is going to end. In the meantime, we are called to pray without growing weary.   Praying without growing weary entails two things. First of all, it means that we will constantly be calling out to God, pulling those graces and gifts down to earth.  So the first reason to pray without growing weary - without stopping - results in a blessing for the earth.  The second reason is more subtle. The second reason to pray without ceasing is to form ourselves.  Recall those 4 Great Reasons to Pray the Rosary that we've already discussed.   #1:There are physiological, calming affects that take place right away. 
#2: We become fluent in contemplative prayer, and adept in managing our emotions.
#3: We can draw down the graces and virtues of Jesus directly into the specific circumstances of our own lives. 
​#4: We grow in holiness, in the purpose for which we are here.

The world can't help but be changed, and changed drastically, if we pray constantly and continually, without growing weary.  Why?  Because we ourselves will have changed drastically and dramatically!  Let us stick to this habit of prayer, then, regardless of (as well as especially in light of!) the daily newspaper headlines.  Let's encourage each other to pray, as well.  Pull out your rosary if you are waiting somewhere.  Let people see there is a person of prayer and peace among them. Be the visual example of the Pray-er, the one who prays, who reminds us of the kingdom of God. 

As the month of October draws to a close and we finish our series of unpacking "5 Great Reasons to Pray the Rosary," we leave you with this challenge.  First -Can you commit to praying the rosary?  If not daily, can you commit to praying it every other day, or even weekly?  Secondly - can you encourage another person - maybe even once a week- to think seriously about praying? So much good could come from our decision to simply "pray, without growing weary" and invite other people to pray, as well. 

What's Next?
In November, we will be shifting our focus to a Month of Giving Thanks!  Each day of November, we'll post a short note of gratitude or reflection on thanksgiving, and we invite you to follow along and post your own words of gratitude. 

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