of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(Luke 14:7-11) Prayer: Dear Jesus, let me see suffering as a part of your saving plan for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus trying to explain his future suffering to his disciples.) Context: Peter has just proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. Because of his faith, Jesus has given to Peter the keys of the Kingdom of God. …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 31, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – SATURDAY – THE PLACES AT TABLE”
(Luke 14: 1-6) Prayer: Lord Jesus, heal my infirmities. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with the Pharisees.) Context: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus spends much time at table. Usually, controversy erupts. Here, Jesus heals a man and the story focuses more on the controversy than on the healing. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.) When Jesus …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 30, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – FRIDAY – ANOTHER SABBATH HEALING”
(Luke 13:31-35) Prayer: O Jesus, let me follow you to Jerusalem. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples and the Pharisees.) Context: Seemingly, the Pharisees are warning Jesus to leave Herod’s territory. Really, they want him to go to Jerusalem where they have more power. Jesus knows their plans and says that he will arrive …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 29, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – THURSDAY – JESUS AND JERUSALEM”
(Luke 13:24-30) Prayer – O Jesus, you are my Lord and Saviour. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: By this parable, Jesus confronts his hearers. They understand, all too well, what He means. He comes to their villages, preaches in their streets and eats with them. Yet, they do not accept his claims and …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 28, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – WEDNESDAY – THE CLOSED DOOR”
(Luke 13:18-21) Prayer – O Jesus, plant your powerful Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds) Context: These two little parables are excellent images of the reign of God. The mustard seed and the leaven are both small but powerful. As they are planted, people learn how forceful they are. Gospel …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 27, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – TUESDAY – THE SMALL BEGINNINGS”
(Luke 13: 10-17) Prayer – O Jesus, stretch out your hand. With your power set me free. Imagination 🙁Picture Jesus in the synagogue.) Context: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is about to proclaim that God’s Kingdom is open to all. He starts with the most humble, curing a stooped woman in a synagogue. The controversy that …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 26, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – MONDAY – THE DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM”
(Mark 10:46-52) Prayer: O Jesus, I cry out to you in great hope. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the crowd and 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’ growing blindness about Jesus’ death in …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 25, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – SUNDAY (B) – THE BLIND BEGGAR”
(Luke 13:6-9) Prayer – O Lord Jesus, let me use my time to repent and receive the Kingdom. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Although the judgment is inevitable, God marvelously extends the time for repentance. This is the gift of the Fig Tree Parable. In Palestine, the first three years of …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 24, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – SATURDAY – THE FIG TREE”
(Luke 12:54-59) Prayer – O Lord, do not let me lose the Kingdom. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: This text has two parts. First, people should be able to see that the Kingdom is at hand. Second, the disciple must act now and accept the Kingdom. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud) …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 23, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – FRIDAY – INTERPRETING THE URGENCY”
(Luke 12:49-53) Prayer – O Jesus, light your fire in my heart. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: This text contains two separate sayings of Jesus. The first shows his greatest desire – to cast the fire of the Holy Spirit upon all believers. The second speaks about the problems which will arise …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 22, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – THURSDAY – ENKINDLING A FIRE”
(Luke 12:41 – 48) Prayer – O Jesus, make me your faithful servant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching Peter and the others.) Context: This parable deals with handling responsibility, with being a good servant, whether in the Church or in daily life. The owner is extremely fair and generous but he demands high standards. Jesus …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 21, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – WEDNESDAY – THE TWO SERVANTS”
(Luke 12:35-38) Prayer – O Jesus, I will be your vigilant servant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus describes the perfect disciples. The robe gathered in by a belt shows a man at work. The burning lamps show that the servants are awake. The Master even proceeds to wait on them, (a …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 20, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – TUESDAY – THE WIDE AWAKE SERVANTS”
(Luke 12:16-20) Prayer – O Lord, do not allow my material possessions to ruin my faith. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: A person asked Jesus to gain him his rightful inheritance. Jesus refuses to accept this task. Jesus wants people to avoid greed. Owning property is irrelevant in the new Age. This …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 19, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – MONDAY – THE RICH FOOL”
(Mark 10:35-40) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Reveal the glory you have prepared. Imagination – (Picture James and John seeking favors from Jesus.) Context: Jesus has just told the apostles that he would suffer. James and John, however, want Jesus’ glory. Jesus speaks about drinking from the chalice, meaning both the chalice of his suffering …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 18, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – SUNDAY (B) AMBITIONS JAMES AND JOHN”
(Luke 12:8-12) Prayer: O Jesus, You are my Lord. Imagination: – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context This text has three separate teachings. If the disciple acknowledges Jesus, Jesus will acknowledge him before the Father. If not, then Jesus cannot acknowledge him. The second teaching speaks of people who rejected Jesus in his earthly …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 17, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY EIGHT – SATURDAY – ACKNOWLEDGING JESUS”
(Luke 12: 1-7) Prayer – O Lord, you care for the sparrows. You will care also for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the dense crowds.) Context: This text has 2 parts. Having denounced the Pharisees to their face, Jesus is surrounded by crowds. However, he speaks to his disciples. He calls the Pharisee teaching, hypocrisy, …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 16, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY EIGHT – FRIDAY – JESUS’ WARNINGS”
(Luke 11:47-54) Prayer – O Jesus, fill me with a true piety which knows and loves God. Imagination – (Picture Jesus denouncing the Pharisees) Context: The Jews blame their forefathers for being mistaken and killing the prophets. However, they will do the same thing in killing Jesus. Jesus recounts human history. Abel was the first …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 15, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY EIGHT – THURSDAY – BLAMING THE FOREFATHERS”
(Luke 11:42-46) Prayer – O Jesus, cleanse me so you cannot condemn me. Imagination – (Imagine Jesus at table with the Pharisees and lawyers.) Context: Jesus is familiar with the Pharisees’ teaching. They are confused. They put the wrong obligations first, and cause many religious problems. Jesus must clear away all this confusion. Gospel Text: …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 14, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY EIGHT – WEDNESDAY – SO MANY WOES”
(Luke 11:37-41) Prayer – O Jesus, make my heart sincere in my love for you. Imagination – (Picture Jesus dining with the Pharisees) Context: Jesus spent much time at table, with Pharisees who were deeply religious. (Pharisees did not participate in any way in Jesus’ death). The gospels use the Pharisee stories to correct false …
(Luke 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 the sign, Jesus addresses this teaching to the crowds. He cites two Old Testament examples of foreigners having a change of heart. When Jonah preached …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 12, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY EIGHT – MONDAY – A GREATER THAN JONAH OR SOLOMON”