of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(John 5:31-40) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to believe your testimony. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple.) Context: Jesus explains his purpose in healing the man. By this miraculous deed, the Father testifies about Jesus’ divine mission. Before this, John the Baptist testified about Jesus. However, the Jews accept neither testimony. Gospel text (Read …
Continue reading “MARCH 10, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – THURSDAY – PART ONE – THE FATHER’S TESTIMONY”
Prayer: O Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: In this final part of the conflict, Jesus pinpoints the problem. His hearers listen to each other and praise one another. They do not open their ears to God. Moses did not act this way. He pointed …
Continue reading “MARCH 10, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – THURSDAY – PART TWO – SEEKING HUMAN PRAISE”
(John 5:23-26) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to value eternal life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples in the Temple.) Context: Jesus continues to defend his ministry as He focuses on God’s power to judge, to raise from the dead and to grant eternal life. The Father, (who obviously has these powers) has given them …
Continue reading “MARCH 9, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – WEDNESDAY – PART TWO – HONORING THE SON”
(John 5-19-23) Prayer: O Jesus, reveal the Father and Jesus to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples in the Temple.) Context: Jesus has just healed a man who lay ill for thirty-eight years. However, he healed him on the Sabbath, and “The Jews began to persecute Jesus” (Jn 5:16) and even tried to kill …
Continue reading “MARCH 9, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – WEDNESDAY- PART ONE – THE SON AND THE FATHER”
(John 5:1-16) Prayer: O Jesus, heal my body and remove my sins. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking to the healed man. Context: John portrays Jesus as going to Jerusalem on feast days to show that Jesus fulfills Jewish aspirations concerning the Messiah. This is the third sign of new life (preceded by Cana and healing the …
Continue reading “MARCH 8, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – TUESDAY – THE NEW WATER OF LIFE”
(John 4:43-54) Prayer: O Jesus, you can do all things. Help me to believe. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the royal official pleading for his son.) Context: This is the second time in John’s gospel that Jesus reveals his power. This second miracle also takes place at Cana, and has some similar aspects. First, Jesus’ initial …
Continue reading “MARCH 7, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF LENT – MONDAY – BELIEVING THE WORD OF JESUS”
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 wine is a preview of …
Continue reading “JANUARY 17, 2016 – WEEK TWO – SUNDAY (C) – MAKING NEW WINE”
(John 1:19-28) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to find my identity in you. Imagination: (Picture John preaching at the Jordan River.) Context: The gospel of John focuses on Jesus’ identity. This gospel clarifies the Baptist’s identity so he is not confused with the messiah. John also distinguishes their two Baptisms. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly …
Continue reading “JANUARY 2, 2016 – THE BAPTIST’S FULL IDENTITY”
(John 1:1-14) Prayer: O Jesus, thank you for leaving the Father’s side and becoming a man. Imagination: (Imagine Mary telling the angel, Gabriel, that she would be God’s mother.) Context: Mark begins his gospel with John the Baptist. Matthew and Luke begin their gospels with infancy stories. John begins his gospel in heaven. Quickly, the …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 31, 2015 – THE WORD BECAME FLESH”
(John 1:1-14) Prayer: O Jesus, thank you for leaving the Father’s side and becoming a man. Imagination: (Picture Mary giving birth to Jesus, the Word made Flesh.) Context: Mark begins his gospel with John the Baptist. Matthew and Luke begin their gospels with infancy stories. John begins his gospel in heaven where the Word was …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 25, 2015 – CHRISTMAS (DURING THE DAY) -THE WORD BECAME FLESH”
(John 6:37-40) Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward Jesus. Because the children cannot …
Continue reading “NOVEMBER 2, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY ONE – MONDAY – FEAST OF ALL SOULS”
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 God’s judgment. …