(Luke 4:14-21) Prayer – O Jesus, send the Spirit of the Father upon me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the synagogue.) Context: Having overcome Satan’s three temptations, Jesus begins his public ministry. Other gospels record this visit to the synagogue but Luke gives it preeminence. This is Jesus’ inauguration address, …
(Mark 3-20-21) Prayer – O Jesus, help me to stand firm. Imagination: – (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowd and his family.) Context: This text contrasts the crowds, and the relatives. The crowds hardly know Jesus, and yet they acclaim him. His relatives, who think they know him, have the …
(Mark 3:13-19) Prayer – O Jesus, help me to respond to your call. Imagination: (Picture Jesus on the mountain calling his twelve apostles.) Context: The mountain top symbolizes Jesus’ closeness to the Father and the great importance of this decision. These twelve apostles represent the new twelve tribes of Israel. …
(Mark 3:7-12) Prayer: Draw near, O Lord, so I can touch you in faith. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowds who are healed as they touch him.) Context: In this section, Mark pauses. Jesus tries to get out of the limelight by spending time with his disciples. However, his …
(Mark 3:1-6) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me faith in Jesus’ powers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus healing the man with the withered hand.) Context: For a while, Jesus continues his ministry within the synagogue. Unfortunately, this great healing of a withered hand is overshadowed by a controversy. This leads to the …
(Mark 2:23-28) Prayer: O Jesus, be the Lord of my life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples in the grain fields.) Context: This controversy is not about picking off heads of grain, (which was an accepted practice), but about picking them on the Sabbath. This controversy allows Jesus to pronounce …
(Mark 2:18-22) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, make me a new creation. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus with the disciples and the Pharisees.) Context: Jesus uses two images of cloth and wineskins to show that his Kingdom demands a totally new way of acting and thinking. Nobody sews new cloth on old garments …
Prayer: O Mary, my mother, you help me in all my trials. Imagination: (Picture Mary with Jesus at the wedding feast.) Context: This is an extremely important story because it spells out John’s theme. The hour of the passion, when Jesus sheds his blood, is the world-saving moment. The new …
(Mark 2:13-17) Prayer: O Jesus, call me into your Kingdom because I am a sinner. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with Levi and his friends.) Context: Having heard Jesus call him, Levi calls others. When they sit at table, some religious people complain. This allows Jesus to announce that he …
(Mark 2:1-12) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination: (Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man.) Context: The next five stories contain controversies which allow Jesus to make a solemn pronouncement (the high point of each story). This reveals Jesus’ prerogatives. In this story, Jesus proclaims that …
(Mark 1:40-45) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to believe that Jesus can cleanse me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus cleansing the leper) Context: Mark provides no geographical setting for this miracle. His goal is to show Jesus’ power and how his fame quickly spreads. Jesus tries to avoid this publicity. Gospel …
(Mark 1:29-39) Prayer: O Jesus, let me experience your healing power. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the sick seeking to be healed.) Context: Jesus’ powers are diverse. He heals many illnesses and casts out all kinds of demons. They do not shout out because Jesus quiets them. When his work …
(Mark 1:21-28) Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Set me free from the Kingdom of Darkness. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in a synagogue setting the man free from the unclean spirit.) Context: Mark groups his stories by geography. The next few stories take place at Capernaum, and provide a quick overview of Jesus’ …
(Mark 1:14-20) Prayer – Lord Jesus, invite me today to be your disciple. Imagination: (Picture Jesus calling his first disciples along the Sea of Galilee.) Context This gospel text begins “After John was arrested” and it records Jesus’ first homily of his public ministry. He repeats John’s teaching that the …
(Luke 3:15-16; 21-22) Prayer: Holy Spirit, pour out your fire. Imagination: (Picture Jesus after his baptism.) Context: In Luke, the crowds play a large role. They are filled with anticipation. Also, they get baptized before Jesus does. The two central points are Jesus’ power to baptize with the Holy Spirit …
(Mark 1:7-11) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, fall upon me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus coming out of the Jordan) Context: Mark begins his gospel with the ministry of John the Baptist. The preceding verses describe John who then describes Jesus as the more powerful one. After the baptism comes the divine manifestation …
(Matthew 3:13-17) Prayer: O Spirit of God, descend upon me. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus meeting John by the Jordan River) Context: In Matthew’s gospel, John is reluctant to baptize because he realizes the greater holiness of Jesus. After the baptism, God’s fullness upon Jesus is manifested. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly …
(Luke 4:14-30) Prayer – O Jesus, send the Spirit of the Father upon me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the synagogue.) Context: Having overcome Satan’s three temptations, Jesus begins his public ministry. Other gospels record this visit to the synagogue but Luke gives it preeminence. This is Jesus’ inauguration address …
(Mark 6:45-52) Prayer: O Jesus, come to me when the waves threaten my boat. Imagination: (Picture the disciples in the boat, seeing Jesus on the water.) Context: These early stories of Mark’s gospel reveal to the disciples who Jesus is. However, even as they see the miracles, they do not …
(Mark 6:34-44) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Multiply your gifts within me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus feeding the crowds.) Context: This is the first of two multiplications of food in Mark’s gospel. (This one is for a Jewish crowd and the other is for Gentiles). This miracle is told in all four …
