Persecutions (Mt 10:16-23) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, Strengthen me in moments of trial. Imagination: Picture Jesus preparing His disciples for persecution. Context: Jesus has just commissioned his apostles and sent them out to preach. He warns them of difficulties. Matthew’s Church also sent out missionaries who faced the same persecutions, …
Sending Out the Twelve (Mt 10:7-15) Prayer: O Jesus, send me forth like an apostle. Imagination: Picture the Twelve gathered around, listening to Jesus’ instructions. Context: There is not much time to evangelize Israel, so Jesus sends out the Twelve. This is totally his initiative. He summons, instructs, and gives his …
Commissioning of the Twelve (Mt 10:1-7) Prayer: Come, Jesus. Anoint me to preach your Kingdom. Imagination: Picture Jesus preparing his apostles for their missionary journey. Context: Jesus now makes his apostles into missionaries. He calls them and gives two powers – to drive out demons and to heal. He tells them …
Laborers for the Harvest (Mt 9:32-38) Prayer: O Jesus, come to my town. Imagination: Picture Jesus healing and teaching the crowds. Context: The gospel has two parts. First, Jesus casts out a demon so a person begins to speak. This causes both praise and criticism. Then, Jesus tours all the …
Woman with an Issue of Blood (Mt 9:18-26) Prayer: O Jesus, let me press close to you and be healed. Imagination: Picture Jesus, surrounded by crowds and the woman secretly touching His garment. Context: This story contains excellent teachings about healing. The woman has been suffering for twelve years. Many …
Revelation to the Little Ones (Mt 11:25-30) Prayer: O Jesus, reveal all that is hidden so I know the mysteries of the Kingdom. Imagination: Picture Jesus praising God for His disciples. Context: Jesus has just reproached those towns that did not repent at his preaching. Now, he looks onward at …
Trusting the Father (Mt 9:14-17) Prayer: Come, Holy Ghost. Help me to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching His disciples about the Father’s care for them. Context: In this gospel, Jesus speaks only to his disciples. Since they have given themselves to the Kingdom, Jesus promises that …
Matthew the Tax Collector (Mt 9:9-13) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let me respond quickly to Jesus’ call. Imagination: Picture Jesus at table in Matthew’s house. Context: This text has two parts. First, Matthew responds to Jesus’ call and then he invites Jesus to his house. Since Matthew is a sinner …
The Paralyzed Man (Mt 9:1-8) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination: Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man. Context: The stories in this section are controversy stories, which allow Jesus to make some pronouncement. The pronouncement in this story is that Jesus is the Son of …
Possessed Men and a Dumb City (Mt 8:28-34) Prayer: O Jesus, how great is your power to free me. Imagination: Picture Jesus with his disciples as he frees the two possessed men. Context: Matthew takes this story from Mark’s gospel (5:1-20) but he shortens Mark’s story. In doing so, he …
Power Over the Sea (Mt 8:23-27) Prayer: O Jesus, calm the storms in my own life. Imagination: Picture the fearful disciples and Jesus calming the sea. Context: Matthew very much follows Mark’s story when Jesus sleeps in the boat. The miracle causes awe and wonder in the apostles. Gospel Text: …
FEAST OF ST. THOMAS, APOSTLE Thomas the Doubter (Jn 20:24-29) Prayer: Jesus, remove all my doubts so I can proclaim you as Lord and God. Imagination: Picture Jesus offering Thomas the opportunity to touch his wounds. Context: This is the high point of the gospel. John has put forth all …
The Cross and Hospitality (Mt 10:37-42) Prayer: Come, O Jesus, help me to find true life. Imagination: Picture Jesus explaining to his disciples what is required of them. Context: Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this saying of Jesus that a disciple must “take up his cross.” Obviously, these important words …
A Centurion with Great Faith (Mt 8:5-17) Prayer: O Jesus, fill me with faith in all that you can do. Imagination: Picture Jesus with the Centurion. Context: This Gentile centurion is the great model of faith. He believed that Jesus could heal at a distance (unheard of in Judaism). Even …
Cleansing a Leper (Mt 8:1-4) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to believe that you can cleanse me. Imagination: Picture Jesus cleansing the leper. Context: Jesus has just finished his great discourse on the mountain. As he descends, he quickly encounters the real-life difficulties of illness, diabolical possessions and storms at …
SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES Peter’s Revelation (Mt 16:13-19) Prayer: O Jesus, You are the Messiah, the son of God. Imagination: Picture Jesus with Peter and the apostles. Context: Who is Jesus Christ? Many people still do not know. Peter, by a divine revelation of the Father, answers that question. …
The False Prophets (Mt 7:15-20) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to be on guard lest I be deceived. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching his disciples. Context: Matthew tries to protect and form his church members. He protects them by warning against false prophets who can lead them astray. He forms them …
The Narrow Road (Mt 7:6, 12-14) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to enter by the narrow gate of selflessness and walk the narrow road that leads to life. Imagination: Picture Jesus warning his disciples about the conditions for eternal life. Context: Matthew writes for his Church members who have chosen …
Judging Others (Mt 7:1-5) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me compassion and forgiveness to improve my relationships with others. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching His disciples not to judge. Context: Jesus praised the meek and the peacemakers. In these words, Jesus explains how to fulfill those roles. Not to judge other disciples …
Freedom from Fear (Mt 10:26-33) Prayer: O Jesus, free me from fear so I acknowledge to all that I am your disciple. Imagination: Picture Jesus speaking with his apostles. Context: Jesus is sending his apostles to preach the Kingdom. This is all new for them. Jesus foresees that they will …
