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

Author: Flame of Love

Week Two – Ordinary Time – Wednesday, January 18, 2023

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 by …

Week Two – Ordinary Time – Monday, January 16, 2023

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 cloth …

Second Sunday – Ordinary Time – Sunday, January 15, 2023

Recognizing the Lamb (Jn 1:29-34) Prayer: O Jesus, come to me. When you come, help me to recognize you. Imagination: Picture John at the Jordan River, seeing Jesus among the crowd. Context: In this gospel, Jesus does not get baptized. Instead, the Baptist recognizes Jesus and introduces him to the world …

Week One – Ordinary Time – Saturday, January 14, 2023

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 Jesus …

Week One – Ordinary Time – Friday, January 13, 2023

The Paralyzed Man (Mk 2:1-12) Prayer:   Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination: Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man. Context: The next five stories contain controversies which allow Jesus to make a solemn pronouncement (the high point of each story). This reveals Jesus’ prerogatives. In this story, …

Week One – Ordinary Time – Thursday, January 12, 2023

Cleansing a Leper (Mk 1:40-45) Prayer:   Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to believe that Jesus can cleanse me. Imagination:  Picture Jesus cleansing the leper. Context: Mark provides no geographical setting for this miracle. His goal is to show Jesus’ power and how his fame quickly spreads. Jesus tries to avoid …

Week One – Ordinary Time – Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Multiple Healings (Mk 1:29-39) Prayer:   O Jesus, let me experience your healing power. Imagination:   Picture Jesus surrounded by the sick seeking to be healed. Context: Jesus’ powers are diverse. He heals many illnesses and casts out all kinds of demons. They do not shout out because Jesus quiets them. When …

We are God’s Family!

Written by Fr. Kevin Barrett – Chaplin Apostolate for Family Consecration Then the Virgin spoke: “My anguish comes from the danger that threatens the whole world because families are no longer places of prayer. I want to save the world, and I want you to be the first to experience this immense …

Week One – Ordinary Time – Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Jesus’ First Public Appearance (Mk 1:14-20) Prayer: Lord Jesus, invite me today to be your disciple. Imagination: Picture Jesus calling his first disciples along the Sea of Galilee. Context This gospel text begins “After John was arrested” and it records Jesus’ first homily of his public ministry. He repeats John’s …

Monday, January 9, 2023 – FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

The Spirit Descends (Mt 3:13-17) Prayer:   O Spirit of God, descend upon me. Imagination:   Imagine Jesus meeting John by the Jordan River. Context: In Matthew’s gospel, John is reluctant to baptize because he realizes the greater holiness of Jesus. After the baptism, God’s fullness upon Jesus is manifested. Gospel Text: (Read …

Friday, January 6, 2023

More Powerful One (Mk 1:7-11) Prayer:   O Holy Spirit, fall upon me. Imagination:  Picture Jesus coming out of the Jordan. Context: Mark begins his gospel with the ministry of John the Baptist. The preceding verses describe John who then describes Jesus as the more powerful one. After the baptism comes …

Thursday, January 5, 2023 – MEMORIAL OF ST. JOHN NEUMANN, BISHOP)

A True Israelite (Jn 1:43-51) Prayer: O Jesus, call me into your presence. Imagination: Picture Jesus with his early disciples. Context: Peter, Andrew, Philip and Nathaniel are all from Bethsaida. Philip leads Nathaniel to Jesus. This dialogue reveals much of Jesus’ identity. It alludes to Jacob who was filled with …

Wednesday, January 4, 2023 – MEMORIAL OF ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, RELIGIOUS

The Early Disciples (Jn 1:35-42) Prayer:   Jesus, I will be your disciple and follow you everywhere. Imagination:   Picture Jesus with his three new disciples. Context: John’s gospel gives some details about the call of the first apostles. Andrew, and another, were originally disciples of John the Baptist, who told them …