(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. …
(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, …
(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, …
(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 scenes which describe two contrasting groups. In the first story, the scribes want everyone to see their goodness while secretly they …
(Luke 16:9-15) Prayer: O Jesus, let my heart be totally set upon you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just told the parable of the dishonest steward. Now, he speaks of how a believer should use his money to gain God’s blessings. The second part contains a …
(Luke 16:1-8) Prayer: O Jesus, wake me up to the imminence of the Kingdom, so I respond fully. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples) Context: The parable uses real-life details. Rich owners often lived at a distance and depended on stewards who held promissory oaths of debtors. The steward wants …
(Luke 15:1-10) Prayer: O Jesus, show me how precious I am to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: These twin parables are closely connected to the Prodigal Son parable. A hundred sheep was a medium sized flock. The shepherd must have been poor, unable to pay a helper. …
(Luke 14:28-32) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to persevere until the finish line. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Jesus is dealing here with enthusiastic disciples who cannot see the tremendous hardships that lie ahead. So, Jesus gives two examples which entail great difficulties. A farmer needs a tower …
(Luke 14:15-24) Prayer: O Jesus, let me respond now to your banquet invitation. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: In Jesus’ time, a popular, story told about a tax collector who decided to invite all the prominent people to a banquet. Naturally, these prominent people did not want to …
(John 6:37-40) Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward …
(Matthew 5:1-12) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Form my heart according to Jesus’ teaching. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Jesus calls various groups “blessed”. However, anyone can choose to belong to these groups. A person can be poor in spirit, meek, mourning over the world’s sins, and hungering for …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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, …
(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 …
