(John 21:1-8) Prayer: O Jesus, make me aware of your presence. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing on the shore at the Sea of Galilee.) Context: Jesus had appeared to the apostles in Jerusalem on Easter Sunday and then to the doubting Thomas. This is the third recorded vision. In John’s gospel. …
(John 21:9-14) Prayer: O Jesus, call me to your table. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples around the charcoal fire.) Context: In many Resurrection appearances, Jesus has a meal with his disciples. This helps them to believe that Jesus is truly risen and also teaches them the importance of the …
(John 18:38-19:16) Prayer: Jesus, help me to live in the truth. Imagination: (Picture Pilate with Jesus and the crowds.) Context: Talking with Jesus had strengthened Pilate. However, his resolve is weak and talking again with the Jewish leaders sways him. He thinks he can get out of this without making …
(John 18:28-38) Prayer: Jesus, let your Kingdom claim my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing before Pilate) Context: John’s gospel presents a lengthy dialogue in which Jesus preaches to Pilate and offers him a chance to make a different decision. Pilate can even be a member of the Kingdom instead of …
(John 10:31-39) Prayer: O Jesus, you are truly God and truly man. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: The Jews understand clearly that Jesus is making himself equal to God. So they try to stone Jesus, claiming that he commits blasphemy. When Jesus preaches, the Jewish believes do …
(John 7:25-30) Prayer: O Jesus, I believe that you come from the Father. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple.) Context: When Jesus is in Galilee, he works miracles and receives acclaim. When he goes to Jerusalem, he finds persecution because the leaders want to kill him. The controversy centers …
(Mark 12:28-34) Prayer – O Jesus, I want to love you with all my heart and soul. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the crowd while he speaks with this good-willed scribe.) Context: This scribe is not hostile. His question is sincere. In response, Jesus quotes the great prayer which the scribe …
(Matthew 21:33-43) Prayer – O Lord, you have given me everything. Make me a faithful tenant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples and his opponents.) Context: Jesus spoke this parable in Jerusalem when the chief priests and elders questioned his authority. The parable fitted their situation. The tenants are …
(Matthew 5:20-26) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let your gentleness overcome my anger. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples to reconcile.) Context: Jesus teaches a “greater goodness” which is demanded by the holiness of this new Kingdom. In this gospel, he compares the Old Testament teaching on anger and his new …
(Matthew 9:14-17) Prayer: Come, Holy Ghost. Help me to seek first the Kingdom of heaven. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples about the Father’s care for them.) Context: Jesus has been explaining the eight beatitudes and all that is demanded of a disciple. He ends his talk on a different …
(Mark 6:14-29) (Due to its length, this text is shortened) Prayer – Lord Jesus, let me not be swerved by the opinions of others. Imagination – (Picture Herod with his party guests) Context: This section is an interlude, which Mark inserts between the sending of the Twelve and their return. …
(Mark 4:26-34) Prayer – O Jesus, plant your Kingdom on my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds). Context: Jesus uses two parables concerning seeds to show the power of the Kingdom. In the first parable, the farmer does nothing but “go to bed”. In the second parable, the tiniest …
(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 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 …
(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 2:16-21) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me the shepherds’ faith. Imagination: (Picture the shepherds adoring Jesus with Mary and Joseph). Context: The gospel stories are filled with people. Some respond to Jesus and others do not. Those who respond are always blessed. Here, the shepherds glorify God for all …
(Matthew 11:16-19) Prayer: O Jesus, open my heart to all the messengers you send to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples). Context: This parable shows hostility toward Jesus. The children cannot agree, so their quarrels end their playtime. The cause is laziness. Some children expect others to do the …
(Matthew 9:27-31) Prayer: O Jesus, make me confident that you can make me see. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: After raising the little girl to life, Jesus encounters two blind men. They give him the Messianic title, “Son of David” and proclaim that they have confidence that he …
(Luke 21:29-33) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to act now. So much is about to happen. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just predicted the fall of Jerusalem and declared that, at a given moment, he will come on clouds of glory. Because people think that this …
(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 …
