Introduction
This rosary reflection contains several sayings of Jesus about God’s love for humanity and his disciples, found in the Gospel of John.
The Gospel Account
Human beings cannot live without God’s love. Jesus’ words of love assure that God’s love will always be with us.
The word “love’ appears 57 times in the Gospel of John which is more than the other three Gospels combined. Jesus makes love a commandment, the first priority of any disciple.
The Five Decades
When you pray the five decades of this Rosary Reflection, use these five moments from the Gospel of John. Read the Gospel verses for each decade and let the words sink in as you pray that decade.
First Decade: God So Loved the World (John 3:16)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life.”
Second Decade: Jesus’ Commandment to Love (John 14:15)
“This is my commandment, love one another as I love you. There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Third Decade: Dwell in God’s Love (John 14:23)
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come and make our dwelling with them.” (paraphrased)
Fourth Decade: Remain in Jesus’ Love (John 15:9)
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.”
Fifth Decade: Jesus’ Prayer for His Love to Be in You (John 17:25-26)
[Jesus prayed,] “Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
What to Remember
The Gospel verses in this reflection offer a rainbow of perspectives of God’s love: God’s love for the world to give Jesus and eternal life to humanity, the willingness to lay down one’s life for a friend, dwelling in God’s love, remaining in God’s love, and allowing God’s love to dwell in you.
As a follower of Jesus, and a child of God, you have been adopted into God’s family through Baptism. You can pray this rosary reflection to recall Jesus’ words about God’s love for you. Mary is always willing to lead you to the love of her Son.
What to Pray For
- For a richer and deeper personal experience of God’s love for you, your family, friends and others.
- For those who feel unloved or unworthy, that they will experience God’s love – through you.
- For all families divided by fear or anger, that they may experience God’s love and mercy.
- For those whose lives are committed to hate and violence, that they may turn from that path to experience and share God’s love.
Feel free to pray the rosary using these Scripture verses for a deeper experience of God’s love.
Where These Gospel Verses Appear
These Gospel verses appear in the Gospel of John. Refer to the chapter and verse next to each decade title.
* Scripture passages are from the United Conference of Catholic Bishops website, https://usccb.org/bible
