(John 20:19-23) Prayer: O Jesus, breathe upon me and anoint me with your Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus appearing to his disciples in the Upper Room.) Context: This vision occurs on Easter Sunday evening and reveals many truths. By coming through a closed door, Jesus clearly shows that he has a risen, glorified body. Showing his …
Category Archives: John
APRIL 1, 2016 – EASTER WEEK – FRIDAY – PART ONE – VISION AT THE SEA OF GALILEE
(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. Since Jesus had promised to …
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APRIL 1, 2016 – EASTER WEEK – FRIDAY – PART TWO – JESUS PREPARES A MEAL
(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 Eucharist. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, …
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MARCH 29, 2016 – EASTER WEEK – TUESDAY – MAGDALEN SEES JESUS
(John 20:11-18) Prayer: Jesus, fill me with Magdalen’s love and devotion to you. Imagination: (Picture Magdalen at the tomb with Jesus.) Context: This is a very rich text, containing many teachings for both devotion and doctrine. Magdalen stays at the empty tomb, thinking the body has been stolen. Jesus appears and reveals who he is. …
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MARCH 27, 2016 – EASTER SUNDAY (C) – THE DISCIPLES AT THE TOMB
(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 …
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MARCH 25, 2016 – GOOD FRIDAY – PART 2 – PILATE’S FAILED COMPROMISE
(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 a decision. Compromise with truth …
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MARCH 25, 2016 – GOOD FRIDAY – PART ONE – JESUS WITNESSES TO PILATE
(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 an instrument used by the …
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MARCH 24, 2016 – HOLY THURSDAY – JESUS WASHES THE DISCIPLES’ FEET
(John 13:1-13) Prayer: Jesus, wash me and cleanse. Me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet.) Context: This gospel highlights the great contrast. Jesus has all power, yet he acts like a servant. He washes the disciples’ feet as if they were the master of the house. He explains the meaning of this symbolic act. …
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MARCH 23, 2016 – WEDNESDAY – HOLY WEEK – JESUS WASHES PETER’S FEET
(John 13:6-11) (Note: The gospel for today is so similar to yesterday’s that the following scene from the Last Supper is used). Prayer: Jesus, bathe me in your cleansing waters. Imagination: (Picture Jesus washing Peter’s feet). Context: Peter is so special to Jesus that even in the washing of feet, there is a unique dialogue. …
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MARCH 22, 2016 – TUESDAY – HOLY WEEK – JUDAS ISCARIOT
(John 13:36-38) Prayer: Jesus, may I always be loyal to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at the Last Supper.) Context: Jesus often spoke about his betrayal. Up to now however, Jesus never revealed his betrayer or said openly that he would come from the twelve. Now he must focus on this issue. So, Jesus reveals Judas …
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MARCH 21, 2016 – MONDAY – HOLY WEEK – MARY’S ANNOINTING
(John 12:1-11) Prayer: O Jesus, let me be generous in serving you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with Martha, Mary and Lazarus.) Context: Lazarus has just been raised from the dead. This scene continues the death to life theme, but now it focuses on Jesus, not Lazarus. Martha and Mary play their familiar roles. Martha …
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MARCH 19, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – SATURDAY – PLOTTING TO KILL HIM
(John 11:45-57) Prayer: Jesus, you died to save me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha.) Context: Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead. By giving Lazarus new life, Jesus seals his own death. Raising Lazarus leads the Sanhedrin to decide to kill Jesus, no matter what the repercussions. Gospel …
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MARCH 18, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – FRIDAY – MAKING HIMSELF GOD
(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 not understand because they refuse …
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MARCH 17, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – THURSDAY – GREATER THAN ABRAHAM
(John 8:51-59) Prayer: Jesus, help me never to taste eternal death. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple Context: Jesus makes even stronger claims. Not only is he greater than Abraham but Abraham “rejoiced to see my day.” On the natural level, this is impossible. Jesus is certainly less than fifty. However, he invites his …
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MARCH 16, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – WEDNESDAY – THE SON FREES YOU
(John 8:31-36) Prayer: Jesus, set me free from the slavery of sin. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple Context: Jesus speaks to “the Jews who believed in him” (8:31). Although they believe, their faith is too limited. They consider Abraham greater than Jesus. They want to make Jesus part of the Jewish religion instead …
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MARCH 15, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – TUESDAY – “I AM”
(John 8:21-30) Prayer: O Jesus, enlighten me and reveal your fullness. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple.) Context: In this text, Jesus does not say “I am the light of the world” but simply “I am”. In fact, he says it twice. By using these words, he claims equality with the Father, who said ‘I …
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MARCH 14, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – MONDAY – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
(John 8:12-20) Prayer: O Jesus, flood me with divine light. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple.) Context: After saving the woman caught in adultery from being stoned to death, Jesus calls himself “The light of the world”. He is challenged to produce witnesses. He claims that the Father is his witness, but the crowd knows …
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MARCH 13, 2016 – WEEK FIVE OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY
(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 …
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MARCH 12, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – SATURDAY – THE GROWING OPPOSITION
(John 7:40-53) Prayer: O Jesus, never let me oppose you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching in the Temple.) Context: Jesus has divided the crowd. Some think he is the Messiah and others say the Messiah must come from Bethlehem, the City of David. (John’s community knew that Jesus was born in Bethlehem). The question is about …
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MARCH 11, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – FRIDAY – IGNORANT OF JESUS’ ORIGINS
(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 around his origins. Since Jesus …
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