The One Thing Necessary: Contemplation and Conversion with Our Lady

Jonah 3:1-10, Psalm: 129, Lk 10:38-42

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this beautiful Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Church gives us two Scripture passages that, at first glance, seem to speak of two different paths: one of dramatic action and the other of quiet contemplation. Yet, when we view them through the heart of Mary, we see they are united in a single call to profound interior conversion—a conversion nurtured by the simple, powerful prayer of the Rosary.

In the Book of Jonah, we witness one of the most spectacular successes in prophetic history. Jonah finally goes to Nineveh and proclaims a message of impending doom. The response is immediate and universal: from the greatest to the least, the people believe, proclaim a fast, and put on sackcloth. The king himself rises from his throne, sits in ashes, and decrees that everyone must turn from their evil ways. It is a model of repentance, a faith expressed through dramatic, decisive action. The people of Nineveh heard the Word of God and acted upon it without delay.

In the Gospel, we enter the quiet home of Martha and Mary. Martha is busy with the tasks of hospitality, a necessary and loving service. But she becomes anxious and troubled by her many tasks. Mary, however, chooses the “better part.” She sits at the Lord’s feet, listening to his word. Jesus affirms her choice, stating that this focus on Him is the “one thing necessary,” the one foundation that will not be taken from her. This is a faith expressed through contemplation, through listening and being present to the Lord.

So, which is it? Are we called to the active repentance of Nineveh or the contemplative stillness of Mary? The answer, beautifully embodied by Our Lady of the Rosary, is both. The Rosary itself is the perfect synthesis. It is a prayer of meditation and contemplation, where we quietly ponder the mysteries of Christ’s life with His Mother. Yet, it is also a prayer that calls us to action—to deeper conversion, to greater charity, to the repentance of Nineveh.

When we pray the Rosary, we are doing what Mary did: we are “keeping all these things, reflecting on them in our heart” (Lk 2:19). We sit at the feet of Jesus in each mystery, learning from His joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious life. This contemplation is not an escape from the world. As Pope Francis reminds us, “To pray the Rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and his Mother.” It is in this quiet encounter that our hearts are converted and strengthened.

The fruit of this prayer is meant to be the conversion of our lives. The same Holy Spirit who inspired the people of Nineveh to repent moves in us through this prayer, prompting us to turn away from our own sin and “evil ways.” The Rosary gives us the grace to perform the often-anxious “Martha” tasks of our daily lives—our work, our family duties, our service—with the peaceful, centered heart of Mary, because we have first been nourished by the “one thing necessary.”

St. John Paul II, who loved the Rosary dearly, called it a “compendium of the Gospel” and a powerful weapon for spiritual battle. He said, “The Rosary is my favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer! Marvelous in its simplicity and its depth.” In its gentle repetition, it calms our anxieties and aligns our will with God’s, transforming us from within.

So today, let us take comfort in this gift. Whether we are in a season of dramatic action or a season of quiet endurance, the Rosary is our guide. It calls us to the listening heart of Mary, which in turn empowers us for the active conversion of Nineveh. Let us not be afraid to pause, to pick up these beads, and to choose the better part. For in doing so, we will find the strength for all things in Christ, the one thing necessary for our salvation. Amen.