of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Author: <span>Flame of Love</span>

Author: Flame of Love

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024 WEEK FOUR IN ORDINARY TIME

REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE (MK 6:1-6) Prayer: O Jesus, I honor you as the true prophet who has come into the world. Imagination: Picture Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth. Context:             Jesus returns to Nazareth, accompanied by his disciples.  After his teaching, the crowd asks itself three questions …

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

AN EXORCISM IN THE SYNAGOGUE (MK 1:21-28) Prayer:  Come Holy Spirit. Set me free from the Kingdom of Darkness. Imagination:  Picture Jesus in a synagogue setting the man free from the unclean spirit. Context:             Mark groups his stories by geography. The next few stories take place at Capernaum, and …

FRIDAY – JANUARY 26, 2024 WEEK THREE IN ORDINARY TIME

SEEDS OF THE KINGDOM (MK 4:26-34) Prayer: O Jesus, plant your Kingdom on my heart. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching the crowds. Context:             Jesus uses two parables concerning seeds to show the power of the Kingdom.  In the first parable, the farmer does nothing but “go to bed.”  In the …

THURSDAY– JANUARY 25, 2024 WEEK THREE IN ORDINARY TIME (The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle)

REBUKING THE DISCIPLES (Mk 16:9-15) Prayer:  O Jesus, heal my lack of faith. Imagination: Picture Jesus gathered with his disciples at table. Context:             Mark summarizes the Easter visions.  Jesus rose and appeared to Mary Magdalen. She told the disciples.  He appeared to the two disciples on the road to …

WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 24, 2024 WEEK THREE – (Memorial St. Francis de Sales, Bishop & Doctor of the Church)

THE DIFFERENT RESPONSES (MK 4:1-20) Prayer: O Jesus, let my heart receive your word. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching the crowds. Context:             In this part, Jesus explains the parable and a shift takes place.  The original parable highlighted the great power of the seed.  This explanation highlights the way each …

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE FIRST TO BE CALLED (MK 1:14-20) Prayer: Call me, Jesus, into your Kingdom.  Help me to follow you, and leave everything behind. Imagination:  Picture Jesus inviting the fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him. Context:             Mark’s gospel moves very quickly.  In this first chapter, Jesus has …

SATURDAY , JANUARY 20, 2021 WEEK TWO – ORDINARY TIME

A STARTLED FAMILY (MK 3-20-21) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to stand firm. Imagination: Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowd and his family. Context:             This text contrasts the crowds, and the relatives.  The crowds hardly know Jesus, and yet they acclaim him.  His relatives, who think they know him, …

FRIDAY – JANUARY 19, 2024 WEEK TWO – ORDINARY TIME

CALLING THE TWELVE APOSTLES (MK 3:13-19) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to respond to your call. Imagination:  Picture Jesus on the mountain calling his twelve apostles. Context:             The mountain top symbolizes Jesus’ closeness to the Father and the great importance of this decision.  These twelve apostles represent the new …

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2024 WEEK TWO – ORDINARY TIME

THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND (Mk 3:1-6) Prayer:  Come, Holy Spirit.  Give me faith in Jesus’ powers. Imagination:  Picture Jesus healing the man with the withered hand. Context:             For a while, Jesus continues his ministry within the synagogue.  Unfortunately, this great healing of a withered hand is overshadowed …

TUESDAY – JANUARY 16, 2024 WEEK TWO – ORDINARY TIME

EATING GRAIN ON THE SABBATH (MK 2:23-28) Prayer:  O Jesus, be the Lord of my life. Imagination:  (Picture Jesus with his disciples in the grain fields.) Context:             This controversy is not about picking off heads of grain (which was an accepted practice), but about picking them on the Sabbath.  …

MONDAY , JANUARY 15, 2024 WEEK TWO – ORDINARY TIME

SOME SURPRISE PRONOUNCEMENTS (MK 2:18-22) Prayer:  O Holy Spirit, make me a new creation. Imagination:  Imagine Jesus with the disciples and the Pharisees. Context:             Jesus uses two images of cloth and wineskins to show that his Kingdom demands a totally new way of acting and thinking.  Nobody sews new …

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2024 SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

FINDING THE MESSIAH (JN 1:35-42) Prayer:  Jesus, I will be your disciple and follow you everywhere. Imagination:  Picture Jesus with his three new disciples. Context:             This gospel gives some more details and the call of these disciples.  Andrew, and the other man, were originally disciples of John the Baptist …

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2024 WEEK ONE – ORDINARY TIME

EATING WITH LEVI’S FRIENDS (MK 2:13-17) Prayer:  O Jesus, call me into your Kingdom because I am a sinner. Imagination:  Picture Jesus at table with Levi and his friends. Context:             Having heard Jesus call him, Levi calls others.  When they sit at table, some religious people complain.  This allows …