(Luke 14:15-24) Prayer: O Jesus, let me respond now to your banquet invitation. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: In Jesus’ time, a popular, story told about a tax collector who decided to invite all the prominent people to a banquet. Naturally, these prominent people did not want to …
(John 6:37-40) Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward …
(Matthew 5:1-12) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Form my heart according to Jesus’ teaching. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Jesus calls various groups “blessed”. However, anyone can choose to belong to these groups. A person can be poor in spirit, meek, mourning over the world’s sins, and hungering for …
(Luke 14:7-11) Prayer: Dear Jesus, let me see suffering as a part of your saving plan for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus trying to explain his future suffering to his disciples.) Context: Peter has just proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. Because of his faith, Jesus has given to Peter the keys …
(Luke 14: 1-6) Prayer: Lord Jesus, heal my infirmities. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with the Pharisees.) Context: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus spends much time at table. Usually, controversy erupts. Here, Jesus heals a man and the story focuses more on the controversy than on the healing. Gospel Text: (Read …
(Luke 13:31-35) Prayer: O Jesus, let me follow you to Jerusalem. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples and the Pharisees.) Context: Seemingly, the Pharisees are warning Jesus to leave Herod’s territory. Really, they want him to go to Jerusalem where they have more power. Jesus knows their plans and …
(Luke 13:24-30) Prayer – O Jesus, you are my Lord and Saviour. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: By this parable, Jesus confronts his hearers. They understand, all too well, what He means. He comes to their villages, preaches in their streets and eats with them. Yet, they do …
(Luke 13:18-21) Prayer – O Jesus, plant your powerful Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds) Context: These two little parables are excellent images of the reign of God. The mustard seed and the leaven are both small but powerful. As they are planted, people learn …
(Luke 13: 10-17) Prayer – O Jesus, stretch out your hand. With your power set me free. Imagination 🙁Picture Jesus in the synagogue.) Context: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is about to proclaim that God’s Kingdom is open to all. He starts with the most humble, curing a stooped woman in …
(Mark 10:46-52) Prayer: O Jesus, I cry out to you in great hope. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the crowd and a beggar by the roadside.) Context: This journey to Jerusalem began with Jesus healing a blind man and culminates with another healing of blindness. This contrasts with the disciples’ growing …
(Luke 13:6-9) Prayer – O Lord Jesus, let me use my time to repent and receive the Kingdom. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Although the judgment is inevitable, God marvelously extends the time for repentance. This is the gift of the Fig Tree Parable. In Palestine, …
(Luke 12:54-59) Prayer – O Lord, do not let me lose the Kingdom. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: This text has two parts. First, people should be able to see that the Kingdom is at hand. Second, the disciple must act now and accept the Kingdom. Gospel …
(Luke 12:49-53) Prayer – O Jesus, light your fire in my heart. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: This text contains two separate sayings of Jesus. The first shows his greatest desire – to cast the fire of the Holy Spirit upon all believers. The second speaks about …
(Luke 12:41 – 48) Prayer – O Jesus, make me your faithful servant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching Peter and the others.) Context: This parable deals with handling responsibility, with being a good servant, whether in the Church or in daily life. The owner is extremely fair and generous but …
(Luke 12:35-38) Prayer – O Jesus, I will be your vigilant servant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus describes the perfect disciples. The robe gathered in by a belt shows a man at work. The burning lamps show that the servants are awake. The Master even proceeds …
(Luke 12:16-20) Prayer – O Lord, do not allow my material possessions to ruin my faith. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: A person asked Jesus to gain him his rightful inheritance. Jesus refuses to accept this task. Jesus wants people to avoid greed. Owning property is irrelevant …
(Mark 10:35-40) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Reveal the glory you have prepared. Imagination – (Picture James and John seeking favors from Jesus.) Context: Jesus has just told the apostles that he would suffer. James and John, however, want Jesus’ glory. Jesus speaks about drinking from the chalice, meaning both …
(Luke 12:8-12) Prayer: O Jesus, You are my Lord. Imagination: – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context This text has three separate teachings. If the disciple acknowledges Jesus, Jesus will acknowledge him before the Father. If not, then Jesus cannot acknowledge him. The second teaching speaks of people who …
(Luke 12: 1-7) Prayer – O Lord, you care for the sparrows. You will care also for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the dense crowds.) Context: This text has 2 parts. Having denounced the Pharisees to their face, Jesus is surrounded by crowds. However, he speaks to his disciples. He …
(Luke 11:47-54) Prayer – O Jesus, fill me with a true piety which knows and loves God. Imagination – (Picture Jesus denouncing the Pharisees) Context: The Jews blame their forefathers for being mistaken and killing the prophets. However, they will do the same thing in killing Jesus. Jesus recounts human …
