of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Author: <span>Valerie Parisi</span>

Author: Valerie Parisi

NOVEMBER 23, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-FOUR – WEDNESDAY – THE TRIALS OF A DISCIPLE

(Luke 21:12-19) Prayer: O Jesus, help me in the moments of my trials. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining to the disciples their future difficulties) Context: After discussing all the wars and famines and earthquakes that will occur, Jesus turns to two other difficulties. The disciples will find themselves hauled into court. …

NOVEMBER 22, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-FOUR – TUESDAY – NOT YET THE END

(Luke 21:5-11)  Prayer: O Jesus, let me persevere until the end. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context: In teaching about his Second Coming, Jesus keeps putting it off, always speaking of events that must happen first. The “coming” is always “later”. He stresses perseverance so the disciple does not …

WEEK THIRTY FOUR – MONDAY November 21, 2016 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (LK 21:1-4)

Prayer – O Jesus, to you I give all I have. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in the temple with his disciples.) Context: This gospel joins two different people, linked by the word widow. The scribes want everyone to see their goodness while secretly they steal widow’s money. The widow, on …

NOVEMBER 21, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-FOUR – MONDAY – THE WIDOW’S MITE

(Mark 12:38-44) Prayer – O Jesus, to you I give all I have. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in the temple with his disciples.) Context: This gospel joins two different people, linked by the word widow.   The scribes want everyone to see their goodness while secretly they steal widow’s money. The …

WEEK THIRTY FOUR – SUNDAY SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING THE GOOD THIEF (LK 23:39-43)

(Luke 23:39-43) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me to ask for heaven. Imagination: (Picture Jesus crucified with two thieves) Context: Luke portrays this special moment of faith. A thief looks at the crucified Jesus and sees a king. He even believes he has a kingdom. Jesus rewards his faith. “Today” …

NOVEMBER 19, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-THREE – SATURDAY – LIVING LIKE ANGELS

(Luke 20:34-38) Prayer – O Lord, fill me with strong desires to live like the angels. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in confrontation with the Sadducees.) Context: The Sadducees (unlike the Pharisees) did not believe in the immortality of the soul nor the resurrection of the dead. They bring to Jesus …

NOVEMBER 18, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-THREE – FRIDAY – A CLEANSED BUT UNREPENTANT TEMPLE

(Luke 19:45-48) Prayer: O Jesus, make me your purified disciple. Imagination: (Picture Jesus cleansing the Temple) Context: In all four gospels, Jesus cleanses the temple. (Therefore, it is a very important event). Luke, in his gentle manner, omits many details known from the other gospels. He focuses on Jesus’ continued …

NOVEMBER 17, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-THREE – THURSDAY – JESUS’ LAMENT OVER JERUSALEM

(Luke 19:41-44) Prayer: O Jesus, let me know the time of your visitation. Imagination: (Picture Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.) Context: As Jesus comes close to Jerusalem, he suddenly stops and weeps. He knows the future destruction of this city and describes it clearly. He pinpoints the cause of the failure. …

NOVEMBER 16, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-THREE – WEDNESDAY – THE SERVANTS ENTRUSTED WITH MONEY

(Luke 19:12-27) Prayer: O Jesus, make me your faithful servant to whom you can entrust your blessings. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context Jesus tells this parable to the disciples because they falsely believe that the reign of God is about to appear. The parable stresses the personal initiative …

NOVEMBER 15, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-THREE – TUESDAY – THE MAN UP IN THE TREE

(Luke 19:1-10) Prayer: O Jesus, come and stay in my house this day. Imagination: (Picture Jesus finding Zaccheus in a tree.) Context: Zaccheus is the second wealthy man to receive an invitation from Jesus. He accepts the gift and uses his wealth to restore justice. This story highlights Jesus as …

NOVEMBER 14, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-THREE – MONDAY – THE BLIND BEGGAR

(Luke 18:35-43) Prayer: O Jesus, let me cry out to you in great hope. Imagination: (Picture Jesus and the crowd with a beggar by the roadside.) Context: This journey to Jerusalem began with Jesus healing a blind man and culminates with another healing of blindness. This contrasts with the disciples’ …

NOVEMBER 13, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY THREE – SUNDAY (C) – NOT YET THE END

(Luke 21:5-19) Prayer: O Jesus, let me persevere until the end. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context: In teaching about his Second Coming, Jesus keeps putting it off, always speaking of events that must happen first. The “coming” is always “later”. He stresses perseverance. The disciple must not think …

NOVEMBER 12, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – SATURDAY – THE UNJUST JUDGE

(Luke 18:2-8) Prayer – O Jesus, let me cry out to you day and night. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: The real focus in this parable is the unjust judge. Although he is a complete opposite of God, he still grants the widow’s request. In the middle of …

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – FRIDAY – DAYS OF DECISION

(Luke 17:26-37) Prayer – O Jesus, let me watch and be ready for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples about his Second Coming.) Context: Jesus gives two separate images, the biblical stories of Noah and Lot and the difficult decisions necessary in an emergency. In Palestine, the roofs …

NOVEMBER 10, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – THURSDAY – WHEN THE KINGDOM COMES

(Luke 17:20-25) Prayer – O Lord, prepare me for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples). Context: The Pharisees want to know when the Kingdom would come. The question is futile because the Kingdom is already present as the Spirit dwells in the believer. A final and total coming …

WEEK THIRTY TWO – WEDNESDAY November 9, 2016 Feast of the Lateran Bascilica THE CLEANSING IN THE TEMPLE (JN 2:13-25)

Prayer: O Jesus, I will put no obstacles to your purifying action. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his whip confronting the temple leaders. Context: All four gospels speak of this cleansing (therefore, it is an important event).  John places it at the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and adds the …

NOVEMBER 9, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – WEDNESDAY – THE TEN LEPERS

(Luke 17:11-19) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Fill me with a spirit of thanksgiving. Imagination: (Picture the one leper returning to give thanks) Context: This story is somewhat like a parable, ending with Jesus pronouncing the Samaritan’s saving faith. Obviously, the group consisted of nine Jewish lepers and one Samaritan. …

NOVEMBER 8, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – TUESDAY – THE HUMBLE SERVANT

(Luke 17:7-10) Prayer – O Jesus, let me serve you with a generous spirit and a humble heart. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus pierces deeper into his disciples’ hearts. He probes their inner thoughts and demands that they root out any self-righteousness. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, …

NOVEMBER 7, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – MONDAY – COMMANDS FOR THE DISCIPLES

(Luke 17:1-6) Prayer – O Jesus, make me your faithful disciple. Imagination – (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples.) Context: This gospel contains three separate sayings of Jesus concerning discipleship. First, a disciple should never give scandal. Second, a disciple should correct another and forgive him whenever he is sorry. Third, …

NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – SUNDAY (C) – LIVING LIKE ANGELS

(Luke 20:27-38) Prayer – O Lord, fill me with strong desires to live like the angels. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in confrontation with the Sadducees.) Context: The Sadducees (unlike the Pharisees) did not believe in the immortality of the soul nor the resurrection of the dead. They present to Jesus …