of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(John 14:1-6) Prayer: Jesus, bring me to the heavenly mansion which you have prepared for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching at the Last Supper) Context: The scene now shifts dramatically. Jesus is still in Jerusalem but no longer teaching the crowds. He has just completed the Last Supper and gives these extensive teachings only to …
Continue reading “APRIL 22, 2016 – FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER – FRIDAY – THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE”
(John 13:16-20) Prayer: Jesus, I will follow your example. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his apostles at the Last Supper.) Context: After washing the apostles’ feet, Jesus makes clear what that action meant. He has served the Apostles and they must serve others. Even here, the betrayal by Judas claims Jesus’ attention. He predicts the betrayal …
Continue reading “APRIL 21, 2016 – FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER – THURSDAY – AFTER WASHING THE FEET”
(John 12:44-50) Prayer: O Jesus, do not let me stay in darkness. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: Jesus is about to leave the temple to go into hiding. His public teaching ministry is over. These verses in John’s gospel are a summary of his main themes, an overview of all that Jesus …
Continue reading “APRIL 20, 2016 – FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER – WEDNESDAY – A RECAPITULATION”
(John 10:22-30) Prayer: O Jesus, I will hear your voice and follow you to eternal life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: Even this image of shepherd gets drawn into controversy. Not being Jesus’ sheep, the hearers do not believe that Jesus can give everlasting life to those who follow him. Jesus explains …
Continue reading “APRIL 19, 2016 – FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER – TUESDAY – SHEEP IN THE FATHER’S HANDS”
(John 10:11-15) Prayer: O Jesus, You laid down your life for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: Jesus’ care for his sheep knows no limits. Besides enduring the rigors of sleeping outside, He is willing to die to protect his sheep. The “hired man” would reject this responsibility and flee. Gospel text …
Continue reading “APRIL 18, 2016 – FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER – MONDAY – THE GOOD SHEPHERD”
(John 10:24-30) Prayer: O Jesus, I will hear your voice and follow you to eternal life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: Even this image of shepherd gets drawn into controversy. Not being Jesus’ sheep, the hearers do not believe that Jesus can give everlasting life to those who follow him. Jesus explains …
Continue reading “APRIL 17, 2016 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – SHEEP IN THE FATHER’S HANDS”
(John 6:60-69) Prayer: O Lord Jesus, to whom else shall I go? Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his twelve apostles.) Context: Jesus has just finished his talk on the Eucharist, using the very explicit phrases “eat my flesh” and “drink my blood.” Some disciples could not accept this teaching. They walked away. Jesus now asks the …
Continue reading “APRIL 16, 2016 – THIRD WEEK OF EASTER – SATURDAY – THE MURMURING DISCIPLES”
(John 6:52-59) Prayer: O Jesus, may I eat your flesh and drink your blood every day of my life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching to the crowds.) Context: These are among the most important verses in the New Testament because they provide a clear teaching on the power of the Eucharist to give eternal life. These …
Continue reading “APRIL 15, 2016 – THIRD WEEK OF EASTER – FRIDAY – HIS FLESH AND BLOOD”
(John 6:43-51) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to learn from the Father. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Jesus continues to speak about the Israelites in the desert. Just as they murmured against Moses, Jesus’ audience is murmuring against him. Yet, Jesus is the bread of life, ensuring that we will live forever. Gospel …
Continue reading “APRIL 14, 2016 – THIRD WEEK OF EASTER – THURSDAY – STOP MURMURING”
(John 6:32-39) Prayer: O Jesus, hold me tight. Never let me go. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: In the debate with Jesus, the crowd talks about the great sign of manna. In the desert, God promised Moses that he would send “bread from heaven” (Ex. 16:4). Jesus explains that the manna came from …
Continue reading “APRIL 13, 2016 – THIRD WEEK OF EASTER – WEDNESDAY – TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN”
(John 6:30-35) Prayer: O Jesus, give me to eat from the heavenly table. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples teaching the crowds.) Context: After Jesus multiplies the food and the people seek him out, he gives a lengthy teaching on heavenly bread. This heavenly bread is both his teaching and the Eucharist, his flesh and …
Continue reading “APRIL 12, 2016 – THIRD WEEK OF EASTER – TUESDAY – THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S BREAD”
(John 6:25-29) Prayer: O Jesus, let me seek the Bread of life everlasting. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching the crowds Context: After Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, he prays alone on the mountain. Meanwhile, his disciples cross the Sea of Galilee to Caparnaum and Jesus walks on the water to rescue them. In this gospel, …
Continue reading “APRIL 11, 2016 – THIRD WEEK OF EASTER – MONDAY – FOOD THAT DOES NOT PERISH”
(John 21:1-8) Prayer: O Jesus, make me aware of your presence. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing on the shoe at the Sea of Galilee.) Context: Because Jesus promised to appear to his disciples in Galilee, the apostles return there and resume fishing. In John’s gospel, this is the third recorded vision to these disciples. Gospel Text: …
Continue reading “APRIL 10, 2016 – THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER – (C) – VISION AT THE SEA OF GALILEE”
(John 6:16:21) Prayer: O Jesus, help me when the storms of life become too strong. Imagination: (Picture Jesus approaching the disciples’ boat.) Context: Multiplying food is a powerful miracle but walking on the sea is even greater. Jesus is much more than a miracle-worker. He is God and has power over the sea. Gospel Text: …
Continue reading “APRIL 9, 2016 – SECOND WEEK OF EASTER – SATURDAY – JESUS WALKS ON THE SEA”
(John 6:1-15) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Multiply your gifts within me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus feeding the crowds.) Context: This multiplication of food is very important and is told in all four gospels. The Early Church loved this miracle because it prefigures Jesus’ gift of Eucharist. Why is this story told in Easter time? The miracle …
Continue reading “APRIL 8, 2016 – SECOND WEEK OF EASTER – FRIDAY – FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND”
(John 3:31-36) Prayer: O Jesus pour out the fullness of your Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context: John the Baptist was a great preacher but he knew only earthly truths. Jesus knows heaven and can speak about what he has seen in heaven. Jesus is not just an earthly Messiah. He “comes from …
Continue reading “APRIL 7, 2016 – SECOND WEEK OF LENT – THURSDAY – NO RATIONING OF THE SPIRIT”
(John 3:16-21) Prayer: O Jesus, you were lifted up on the cross to save me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching Nicodemus) Context: This gospel contains the famous John 3:16 verse about God so loving the world. It explains that god’s motive was to save, not to condemn. However, anyone who rejects this light is subject to …
Continue reading “APRIL 6, 2016 – SECOND WEEK OF EASTER – WEDNESDAY – SENT INTO THE WORLD”
(John 3:7-15) Prayer: O Jesus, let me come to you for wisdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching Nicodemus) Context: Nicodemus is a trained Jewish scholar. His questions to Jesus contrast the Jewish faith with the mysteries of Christ. His questions allow Jesus to explain these truths. If Nicodemus cannot understand the mystery of the Holy Spirit, …
Continue reading “APRIL 5, 2016 – SECOND WEEK OF EASTER – TUESDAY – THE QUESTIONING NICODEMUS”
(John 3:1-13) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to grow in faith. Imagination: (Picture Nicodemus speaking with Jesus.) Context: Nicodemus appears in three different stories in John’s gospel. In this meditation, we will use all three because they show his growth into discipleship. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud) Scene One (Jn 3:1-10): Nicodemus, a Pharisee …
Continue reading “APRIL 4, 2016 – SECOND WEEK OF EASTER – MONDAY – NICODEMUS”
(John 20:24-29) Prayer: Jesus, remove all my doubts so I can proclaim you as Lord and God. Imagination: (Picture Jesus offering Thomas the opportunity to touch his wounds.) Context: This is the high point of the gospel. John has put forth all the evidence to show Jesus has come from the Father. He has told …
Continue reading “APRIL 3, 2016 – SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, (C) – PART TWO – THOMAS THE DOUBTER”