Category: Lent

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 teaching. The …

Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to ask and to seek and to knock. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to have confidence in prayer.) Context: God wants to bless you. First, he wants you to seek his blessings (so when you receive them you will thank God and grow in …

Prayer – O Lord, I seek no sign or wonder. I seek only you. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Although Jesus’ enemies asked for a sign, Jesus addresses his teaching to the crowds. He cites two Old Testament examples of foreigners having a change of heart. …

Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to pray as you prayed. Imagination (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the Our Father.) Context: The Lord’s prayer has seven petitions. The first three – “hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done” are really the same, showing a desire for Jesus …

Prayer: O Jesus, You are the King who is to come. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Some people never heard Jesus’ gospel. In this parable, Jesus confronts the question of how they will be judged. Although they do not know Jesus (Lord, when did we see you?), they …

Prayer: O Jesus, let me triumph as you did. Imagination: (Picture Jesus overcoming Satan’s temptations) Context: Mark just says that Jesus was tempted by the devil. Matthew gives three definite temptations, sensuality (the bread) misuse of miraculous powers (asking angels to protect and using political power to establish the Kingdom. …