Magdalen Sees Jesus (Jn 20:11-18) Prayer: Jesus, fill me with Magdalen’s love and devotion to you. Imagination: Picture Magdalen at the tomb with Jesus. Context: This is a very rich text, containing many teachings for both devotion and doctrine. Magdalen stays at the empty tomb, thinking the body has been …
The Good News (Mt 28:8-15) Prayer: O Jesus, I will carry the good news to the whole world. Imagination: Picture the two women meeting Jesus.. Context: This gospel has 2 quite different scenes. The women meet Jesus and he tells them to bring the good news to his disciples. In …
The Disciples at the Tomb (Jn 20:1-8) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me the faith to seek the risen Christ. Imagination: Picture the disciples at the empty tomb. Context: If Jesus has risen from the dead, then his tomb must be empty. All four gospels begin their Easter stories with visits …
Prayer: O Risen Jesus, show yourself to me in the quiet of this prayer. Imagination: Picture the holy women meeting Jesus. Context: The four gospels have different stories about the Resurrection and the church has not tried to harmonize these accounts, because the diverse stories witness to the reality of …
(Meditation Taken from John 18:28-38) Prayer: Jesus, let your Kingdom claim my heart. Imagination: Picture Jesus standing before Pilate. Context: John’s gospel presents a lengthy dialogue in which Jesus preaches to Pilate and offers him a chance to make a different decision. Pilate can even be a member of the …
Prayer: Jesus, wash me and cleanse me. Imagination: Picture Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet. Context: This gospel highlights the great contrast. Jesus has all power, yet he acts like a servant. He washes the disciples’ feet as if they were the master of the house. He explains the meaning of …
Jesus Washes Peter’s Feet (Jn 13:6-11) (Note: The gospel for today is so similar to yesterday’s that the following scene from the Last Supper is used). Prayer: Jesus, bathe me in your cleansing waters. Imagination: Picture Jesus washing Peter’s feet. Context: Peter is so special to Jesus that even in …
My Dear Cenacle Friends, During this holiest of weeks, we remember, we celebrate, and we believe that with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. For our God, who loves us, desires our eternal good. Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, God said, “I will open your graves …
Judas Iscariot (Jn 13:36-38) Prayer: Jesus, may I always be loyal to you. Imagination: Picture Jesus at the Last Supper. Context: Jesus often spoke about his betrayal. Up to now however, Jesus never revealed his betrayer or said openly that he would come from the twelve. Now he must focus …
Mary’s Anointing (Jn 12:1-11) Prayer: O Jesus, let me be generous in serving you. Imagination: Picture Jesus at table with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Context: Lazarus has just been raised from the dead. This scene continues the death to life theme, but now it focuses on Jesus, not Lazarus. Martha and Mary …
The Palm Sunday Crowd (Mt 26:14-27) Prayer: Jesus, I spread my cloak before you. Imagination: Picture Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. Context: This ride into Jerusalem is a Messianic procession. Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah (9:9) that the Messiah would come as a messenger of peace, sitting on …
Plotting to Kill Him (Jn 11:45-57) Prayer: Jesus, you died to save me. Imagination: Picture Jesus with Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. Context: Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead. By giving Lazarus new life, Jesus seals his own death. Raising Lazarus leads the Sanhedrin to decide …
Making Himself God (Jn 10:31-39) Prayer: O Jesus, you are truly God and truly man. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple. Context: The Jews understand clearly that Jesus is making himself equal to God. So they try to stone Jesus, claiming that he commits blasphemy. When Jesus preaches, the …
Greater Than Abraham (Jn 8:51-59) Prayer: Jesus, help me never to taste eternal death. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple Context: Jesus makes even stronger claims. Not only is he greater than Abraham but Abraham “rejoiced to see my day.” On the natural level, this is impossible. Jesus is certainly …
The Son Frees You (Jn 8:31-36) Prayer: Jesus, set me free from the slavery of sin. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple. Context: Jesus speaks to “the Jews who believed in him” (8:31). Although they believe, their faith is too limited. They consider Abraham greater than Jesus. They want to …
In the first reading today, we heard about the three valiant men who refused to fall into the sin of idolatry in other time. The Jews were in exile, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in exile in the province of Babylon under power of King Nebuchadnezzar, relatively, currently Iraq. This …
“I AM” (Jn 8:21-30) Prayer: O Jesus, enlighten me and reveal your fullness. Imagination: Picture Jesus in the temple. Context: In this text, Jesus does not say “I am the light of the world” but simply “I Am.” In fact, he says it twice. By using these words, he claims …
The Woman Caught in Adultery (Jn 8:1-11) Prayer: O Jesus, forgive me and set me free from all my accusers. Imagination: Picture Jesus in the temple with the accused woman before him. Context: This story fulfills Jesus’ statement “You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone” (Jn 8:15). …
Their Message about Lazarus (Jn 11:1-16) Prayer: O Jesus, fill me with faith in your love for me. Imagination: Picture Jesus with his apostles. Context: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus visits Martha and Mary to have a meal. In this text of John’s gospel, we discover that they have a sick …
The Annunciation of the Lord Mary’s Questioning and Acceptance (Lk 1:26-38) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to say “Yes” to God’s plan. Imagination: Picture Mary speaking with the Angel. Context: Luke records the greatest moment in human history, when God becomes flesh in Mary’s womb. This text highlights Mary’s struggle …
