The scriptures collected here are the equivalent of the mysteries in a traditional rosary. They are referred to here as “Pandemic Responses.” The scriptural texts quoted are from the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB). The hyperlinked citations will take you to other translations.
Specific words within each scripture are emphasized, with definitions of the Greek words set out below each passage and links to the sources of the definitions. Those are among the things you might want to be meditate upon on the Hail Mary beads.
As you meditate, note the concepts that are repeated within and across these scriptures—God often uses repetition to emphasize what He really wants us to understand.
First Pandemic Response:
Philippians 2:2-8 (NJB)
Philippians 2:2-8 (NJB)
make my joy complete by being of a single mind, one in love, one in heart and one in mind. Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others, everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others.
Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.
affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love; charity(-ably)
ambition, self-seeking, rivalry; denotes "party-making;" strife, jealousy, wrath, faction; electioneering or intriguing for office; a desire to put one's self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts; intrigue; courting popular applause by trickery and low arts
vain glory, groundless, self esteem, empty pride; empty glorying, i.e. self-conceit
lowliness of mind; having a humble opinion of one's self; a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness; modesty
be careful; set the mind on; to direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for; to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication, to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively, to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)
"made... of no reputation;" make of no effect
one who gives himself up to the will of another; servant; devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests; those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
to humble or abase myself by humble living; to behave in an unassuming manner; devoid of all haughtiness; to make low, bring low
Second Pandemic Response:
Romans 15:1-6 (NJB)
Romans 15:1-6 (NJB)
It is for us who are strong to bear with the susceptibilities of the weaker ones, and not please ourselves. Each of us must consider his neighbour's good, so that we support one another. Christ did not indulge his own feelings, either; indeed, as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me. And all these things which were written so long ago were written so that we, learning perseverance and the encouragement which the scriptures give, should have hope. Now the God of perseverance and encouragement give you all the same purpose, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that you may together give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one heart.
to bear what is burdensome; to take up; carry; to sustain, i.e. uphold, support; endure
to render service, doing so evilly in one's own interests; to accommodate one's self to the opinions, desires and interests of others
benefit; beneficial in its effect; useful, salutary; pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; upright, free from guile; benevolent, kind, generous, beneficent; convenience, advantage
edify; build up; the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness; what contributes to edification, or augments wisdom, etc.
patience; remaining under; steadfastness, constancy, endurance; the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance
calling to one's side; an exhortation, or consolation, comfort; encouragement with alleviation of grief; that which affords comfort or refreshment
favorable and confident expectation; to anticipate, usually with pleasure; joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
Third Pandemic Response:
1 Peter 5:1 (NJB)
1 Peter 5:1 (NJB)
...humility towards one another must be the garment you all wear constantly, because God opposes the proud but accords his favour to the humble.
the having a humble opinion of one's self; a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness; modesty, humility, lowliness of mind; humiliation of mind
knot or band by which two things are fastened together; to fasten or gird one's self; this could also refer to the overalls which slaves wore to keep clean while working—an exceedingly humble garment; to engirdle oneself (for labor), i.e. figuratively (the apron as being a badge of servitude) to wear (in token of mutual deference) by putting on humility show your subjection one to another
showing oneself above others; always used in the NT in the evil sense of "arrogant, disdainful, haughty;" overtopping, conspicuous above others; an overweening estimate of one's means or merits; despising others or even treating them with contempt
that which is low, and does not rise far from the ground; metaphorically, signifies "lowly, of no degree;" primarily signifies "low-lying." It is used always in a good sense in the NT
Fourth Pandemic Response:
'Everything is permissible'; maybe so, but not everything does good. True, everything is permissible, but not everything builds people up. Nobody should be looking for selfish advantage, but everybody for someone else's.
***
Never be a cause for offence, either to Jews or to Greeks or to the Church of God, just as I try to accommodate everybody in everything, not looking for my own advantage, but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved. Take me as your pattern, just as I take Christ for mine.
to bring together; to be an advantage, profitable, expedient (not merely 'convenient'); to carry with others; to collect or contribute in order to help; to bear together or at the same time
used metaphorically, in the sense of "edifying," promoting the spiritual growth and development of character of believers, by teaching or by example, suggesting such spiritual progress as the result of patient labor; to build (up from the foundation); to restore by building, to rebuild, repair; by action, instruction, exhortation, comfort, promot[ing] the Christian wisdom of others and help them to live a correspondent life
to seek after, endeavor; inquire for; metaphorically, to "seek" by thinking, to "seek" how to do something; strive after, desire; to seek (i. e. in order to find out) by thinking, meditating, reasoning; to inquire into
the other; another: i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different; any other person whatever, stands for 'the other affected by the action in question'
not causing to stumble; refraining from doing anything to lead astray; not leading others to sin by one's mode of life; inoffensive
to be pleasing to, be acceptable to; to endeavor to please; to render service; to accommodate one's self to the opinions desires and interests of others
to heal; to make whole; the idea is that of saving from disease and its effects; restoration to health; material and temporal deliverance from danger, suffering, etc.; to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue; to make well, heal, restore to health; to bring safe forth from
Fifth Pandemic Response:
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments again he went back to the table. 'Do you understand', he said, 'what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you. 'In all truth I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the one who sent him.' Now that you know this, blessed are you if you behave accordingly.
to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand, or to understand completely; in its past tenses it frequently means to know in the sense of realizing; indicates a relation between the person "knowing" and the object known; in this respect, what is "known" is of value or importance to the one who knows; suggests approval and bears the meaning to be approved; to know by observation and experience
an example for imitation; that which is shown; representation, figure, copy; an exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively, specimen, adumbration); a sign suggestive of anything
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