of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(John 20:1-8) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me the faith to seek the risen Christ. Imagination: Picture the disciples at the empty tomb. Context: If Jesus has risen from the dead, then his tomb must be empty. All four gospels begin their Easter stories with visits to the empty tomb and with descriptions of the …
Continue reading “MARCH 27, 2016 – EASTER SUNDAY (C) – THE DISCIPLES AT THE TOMB”
(John 8:1-11) Prayer: O Jesus, forgive me and set me free from all my accusers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple with the accused woman before him.) Context: This story fulfills Jesus’ statement “You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.” (Jn 8:15) Jesus teaching in the temple and people getting up early …
Continue reading “MARCH 13, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY”
(Luke 15:17-24) Prayer: O Father, embrace me when I return to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: The father’s response to the Prodigal’s return is not a model for earthly fathers. It is how the heavenly father responds to our repentance. The son is reduced to the lowest degree of degradation. He is …
Continue reading “MARCH 6, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL”
(Luke 13:6-9) Prayer – O Lord Jesus, let me use this extra 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. The Fig Tree parable teaches that in Palestine, the owner allowed three years for a …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 28, 2016 – WEEK THREE OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE FIG TREE”
(Luke 9:27-36) Prayer: O Jesus, take me up the mountain with you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus transfigured in glory with his 3 apostles.) Context: Peter has just proclaimed (by faith) that Jesus is the Messiah. Now, these three apostles experience Jesus as the Messiah. Also, the Father says that Jesus is his “Beloved Son”, the same …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 21, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE TRANSFIGURATION”
(Luke 4:1-13) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to remain faithful to you in all my temptations. Imagination: (Picture Jesus tempted by Satan.) Context: These temptations show that Jesus experienced temptations just as we do. By going into the desert, Jesus is like the Israelites who spent forty years there. However, they constantly failed and many …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 14, 2016 – WEEK ONE OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE THREE TEMPTATIONS”
(Luke 5:4 -11) Prayer – Let me see, O Lord, how unworthy I am to be your disciple. Imagination – (Picture Peter kneeling at Jesus’ feet and proclaiming his own sinfulness.) Context: This miraculous catch of fish is but a prelude to the high point of the story. While seeing the miracle, Peter receives a …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 7, 2016 – WEEK FIVE – SUNDAY (C) – THE CATCH OF FISH”
(Luke 4:21-30) Prayer – O Lord, never let me reject you. Imagination– (Picture Jesus confronted by the angry citizens of Nazareth.) Context: The mood of the crowd changes suddenly from acceptance to rejection because they want to see miracles. Jesus recounts two stories in which the prophets worked no miracles for Jews, but did help …
Continue reading “JANUARY 31, 2016 – WEEK FOUR – SUNDAY – C – REJECTION AT NAZARETH”
(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 and fire, and the heavenly …
Continue reading “JANUARY 10, 2016 – BAPTISM OF THE LORD – C – BAPTIZING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT”
(Luke 21:34-36) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to watch and to pray constantly. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple teaching his disciples.) Context: These are Jesus’ final words of teaching before the Last Supper. Jesus is worried. He will not be returning to earth soon. The disciples will wonder why he delays. So, he exhorts …
Continue reading “NOVEMBER 29, 2015 – WEEK THREE OF ADVENT – SUNDAY (C) – FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE”