Compassionate as the Father (Lk 6:36-38) Prayer: Father, fill me with your compassion. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching his disciples. Context: After teaching about loving enemies, Jesus concludes with “Be compassionate as the Heavenly Father.” He then stresses the need not to judge others. This will determine what will be measured …
The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9) Prayer: Jesus, take me up the mountain of prayer. Imagination: Picture Jesus in glory with his three apostles. Context: Peter has just proclaimed by faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Now, he and two others experience this truth as they …
Love Your Enemies (Mt 5:43-48) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Make me perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect. Imagination: Picture Jesus asking the disciples to imitate the Father. Context: Jesus continually demands that his disciples show goodness towards enemies. They must act as children of a Heavenly Father. At the …
Anger (Mt 5:20-26) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let your gentleness overcome my anger. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching his disciples to reconcile. Context: Jesus teaches a “greater goodness” which is demanded by the holiness of this new Kingdom. In this gospel, he compares the Old Testament teaching on anger and his …
Confidence in Prayer (Mt 7:7-12) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to ask and to seek and to knock. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to have confidence in prayer. Context: God wants to bless you. First, he wants you to seek his blessings (so when you receive them you will …
A Greater Than Jonah or Solomon (Lk 11:29-32) Prayer: O Lord, I seek no sign or wonder. I seek only you. Imagination: Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds. Context: Although Jesus’ enemies asked for a sign, Jesus addresses his teaching to the crowds. He cites two Old Testament examples of …
Phoenix, Arizona was lit up with Our Lady’s lights from Her Flame of Love Grace of Her Immaculate Heart!! Around 600 people attended the XII Marian Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference was blessed with the participation of the Auxiliary Bishop from Arizona, Monsignor Eduardo Nevares, Father José Ballesteros, the …
How to Pray (Mt 6:7-13) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to pray as you prayed. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the Our Father. Context: The Lord’s prayer has seven petitions. The first three – “Hallowed be your name,” “Your Kingdom come,” “Your will be done” are really the same …
The Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) Prayer: O Jesus, You are the King who is to come. Imagination: Picture Jesus with His disciples. Context: Some people never heard Jesus’ gospel. In this parable, Jesus confronts the question of how they will be judged. Although they do not know Jesus (Lord, when …
The Three Temptations (Mt 4:1:11) Prayer: O Jesus, let me triumph as you did. Imagination: Picture Jesus overcoming Satan’s temptations. Context: Mark just says that Jesus was tempted by the devil. Matthew gives three definite temptations, sensuality (the bread), misuse of miraculous powers (asking angels to protect), and using political …
Eating with Levi’s Friends (Lk 5:27-32) Prayer: O Jesus, call me into your Kingdom because I am a sinner. Imagination: Picture Jesus at table with Levi and his friends. Context: When these scribes and Pharisees complain about Jesus’ table companions, Jesus announces that he is a physician whose ministry is …
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: Jesus has been explaining the beatitudes and all that is demanded of a disciple. He ends his talk on a …
Don’t Be Ashamed of Jesus (Lk 9:22-25) 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 and explains that they also …
ASH WEDNESDAY Acting in Secret (Mt 6:1-6) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me to act in secret so I do not lose my reward. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching the disciples how to gain their reward. Context: Jesus contrasts Christian goodness with the goodness of the Pharisees. He focuses on almsgiving, …
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, …
