Jesus spoke to Elizabeth and said: “Look at my disfigured Face and My tortured Sacred Body. Didn’t I suffer to save souls? Believe in Me and adore Me.” Elizabeth: At that very moment I made acts of faith, hope, and charity begging Him to never allow that I be separated …
While the “Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” is an awesome mystery, which is hard for at least some, or perhaps many of our brothers and sisters in Christ to understand, He is Jesus Christ! We know fire is both destructive and purifying as it causes destruction …
The Extra Mile (Mk 9:30-37) Prayer: Jesus, teach me to be a little one, living in the simplicity of a child. Imagination: Picture Jesus, with his arms around a child, teaching his disciples. Context: The disciples have just failed to drive out a demon. Now, they do not understand Jesus’ …
The Boy with a Demon (Mk 9:14) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Set me free from the Evil One. Imagination: Picture the boy’s father pleading with Jesus. Context: The disciples are going backward. Earlier, they had great success in driving out demons. Now, they are total failures. Jesus gets exasperated. The …
Relationships (Mt 5:38-42) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me how to love as a disciple should. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching kindness to his disciples. Context: “An eye for an eye” actually was a merciful regulation because in Jesus’ time this meant that all revenge must be limited. Jesus goes beyond …
Transfigured on the Mountain (Mk 9:2-13) Prayer: O Jesus, reveal to me your heavenly glory. Imagination: Picture Peter, James and John witnessing the glory of Christ. Context: These three apostles witness both Jesus’ glory on the mountain and his agony in the Garden. Mark always links Jesus’ suffering with his glory, …
Don’t Be Ashamed of Jesus (Mk 8:34-9:1) Prayer: O Jesus, in time of trial, do not let me turn my back on you. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching his disciples. Context: Having told the disciples that he will suffer, die and rise, Jesus gathers the crowd. He explains that if they …
The Rise and Fall of Peter (Mk 8:27-33) Prayer: Lord Jesus, lift me up and I will be secure in your arms. Imagination: Picture Jesus with his apostles. Context: This text is central to Mark’s gospel (exactly the midpoint) and contains the two themes of the gospel. For many chapters, …
A Two-Part Healing (Mk 8:22-26) Prayer: Jesus, lead me out of darkness into the full light of day. Imagination: Picture Jesus laying his hands on the blind man’s eyes. Context: This section of Mark’s gospel begins and ends with Jesus healing blind men. In many of his stories, Mark deliberately …
Disciples Who Do Not Understand (Mk 8:14-21) Prayer: O Jesus, do not let my heart be hardened. Imagination: Picture Jesus in the boat with the Twelve. Context: Certainly, the Pharisees have hardened hearts, but this text shows that the disciples’ hearts are hardening, also. The multiplication of the loaves has …
The Sign Seekers (Mk 8:11-13) Prayer: O Jesus, I will trust you completely with the faith of a little child. Imagination: Picture the Pharisees confronting Jesus and his disciples. Context: In this story, the Pharisees do not understand. Like the crowds, they have witnessed Jesus teaching and healing. Unlike the …
The Greater Holiness (Mt 5:17-37) Prayer: O Lord Jesus, by your Holy Spirit, guide me to the heights of holiness. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching his disciples. Context: Matthew wrote his gospel in 85 A.D. when the early fervor of the believers was cooling down. He tries to enkindle the fire by …
Feeding the Four Thousand (Mk 8:1-10) Prayer: O Jesus, feed me with Your Body and Blood, the Bread of Life. Imagination: Picture Jesus blessing the bread in the sight of the crowds. Context: Earlier (Mk 6:34), Jesus multiplied bread and fish for a Jewish crowd. Now, He repeats the miracle …
The Enthusiastic Crowd (Mk 7:31-37) Prayer: O Jesus, open my ears to hear your gospel, and my tongue to speak your word. Imagination: Picture Jesus healing the deaf and dumb man. Context: The geography shows that Jesus has become a preacher to the Gentiles. Because the Gentile crowd might not …
The Quick-Witted Mother (Mk 7:24-30) Prayer: O Jesus, let me persevere in seeking your blessings. Imagination: Picture Jesus confronted by this mother. Context: This story occurs in Gentile territory with a Gentile mother and shows that Jesus’ Kingdom will spread beyond Palestine. Mark gives a developed portrait of this mother’s …
Only What Enters the Heart (Mk 7:14-23) Prayer: O Jesus, let no evil designs enter my heart. Imagination: Picture Jesus summoning the crowd. Context: After his conflict with the Pharisees, Jesus summons the crowd to give his own teaching. He declares that all foods are clean. This is a gigantic …
Our Blessed Lord said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk.12:49). Jesus is the All-Consuming Fire of God’s Living Flame of Love. In His zealous devotion towards us, He ardently desires to set our hearts on fire with the love …
Setting Aside God’s Commandments (Mk 7:1-13) Prayer: O Jesus, let my heart be set only on the Heavenly Father’s will. Imagination: Picture Jesus in this controversy with the Pharisees. Context: Jesus rejects the piety of the Pharisees, who have gone off course. This gospel contains two stories, washing of hands …
Touching His Cloak (Mk 6:53-56) Prayer: Jesus, let me seek you, find you and be blessed by your power. Imagination: Picture the crowds pressing upon Jesus. Context: These crowds in Galilee are enthusiastic. In fact, by their lively faith they somewhat force Jesus to heal. He seems more comfortable in …
Salt and Light (Mt 5:13-16) Prayer: Lord Jesus, bless me so I can bless others. Enlighten me so I can show others the way. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching his disciples. Context: Jesus uses 2 images (salt and light) to describe the good works of a true disciple. These works will manifest the …
