Prayer – O Jesus, teach me to set aside everything for love of you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his apostles.) Context: A young man has walked away from Jesus because he was rich. In contrast, Peter is a model disciple who has set all aside. Jesus spells out the rewards, …
Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Let me sacrifice everything to follow Jesus. Imagination: (Picture the young man asking Jesus about eternal life.) Context: The gospel begins “As Jesus set out”. This sets the scene. Jesus is on a journey and the young man will be invited to come along. The …
Prayer: O Jesus, I will accept your Kingdom like a little child. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by children and the disciples.) Context: Right after Jesus’ teaching on the permanence of marriage, Mark places this story of children (the fruit of marriage). Earlier, Jesus spoke of not scandalizing the little ones. …
Prayer: O Jesus, you have come to restore creation as it was in the beginning. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining his ideals to his disciples.) Context: Jesus believes that through the power of the Kingdom of God, all creation can be restored to God’s original plan. His critics cites Moses’ teaching …
Prayer: O Jesus, help me to live according to your highest ideals. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining his ideals to his disciples.) Context: These teachings deal with moral life in the Christian community. First, disciples must give good example to the “little ones” (the newer members). Secondly, they must make radical …
Prayer: Jesus, teach me to be a little one, living in the simplicity of a child. Imagination: (Picture Jesus, with his arms around a child, teaching his disciples.) Context: The disciples have just failed to drive out a demon. Now, they do not understand Jesus’ teaching about suffering. Worst of …
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Set me free from the Evil One. Imagination: (Picture the boy’s father pleading with Jesus.) Context: The disciples are going backward. Earlier, they had great success in driving out demons. Now, they are total failures. Jesus gets exasperated. The difficulty is their lack of faith. The …
Prayer – O Jesus, reveal to me your heavenly glory. Imagination- (Picture Peter, James and John witnessing the glory of Christ.) Context: These three apostles witness both Jesus’ glory on the mountain and his agony in the Garden. Mark always links Jesus’ suffering with his glory, telling his persecuted Christians …
Prayer – O Jesus, in time of trial, do not let me turn my back on you. Imagination- (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: Having told the disciples that he will suffer, die and rise, Jesus gathers the crowd. He explains that if they become his disciples, sufferings will also …
Prayer – Lord Jesus, lift me up and I will be secure in your arms. Imagination- (Picture Jesus with his apostles.) Context: This text is central to Mark’s gospel (exactly the midpoint) and contains the two themes of the gospel. For many chapters, the people have been wondering, “Who is …
Prayer – Jesus, lead me out of darkness into the full light of day. Imagination- (Picture Jesus laying his hands on the blind man’s eyes.) Context: This section of Mark’s gospel begins and ends with Jesus healing blind men. In many of his stories, Mark deliberately contrasts new sight given …
Prayer – O Jesus, do not let my heart be hardened. Imagination- (Picture Jesus in the boat with the Twelve.) Context: Certainly, the Pharisees have hardened hearts, but this text shows that the disciples’ hearts are hardening, also. The multiplication of the loaves has not increased their faith. They have …
Prayer – O Jesus, I will trust you completely with the faith of a little child. Imagination- (Picture the Pharisees confronting Jesus and his disciples.) Context: In this story, the Pharisees do not understand. Like the crowds, they have witnessed Jesus teaching and healing. Unlike the crowds, they do not …
Prayer – O Jesus, feed me with Your Body and Blood, the Bread of Life. Imagination – (Picture Jesus blessing the bread in the sight of the crowds.) Context: Earlier (Mk 6:34), Jesus multiplied bread and fish for a Jewish crowd. Now, He repeats the miracle for Gentiles. Some changes …
Prayer – O Jesus, open my ears to hear your gospel, and my tongue to speak your word. Imagination – (Picture Jesus healing the deaf and dumb man.) Context: The geography shows that Jesus has become a preacher to the Gentiles. Because the Gentile crowd might not understand, he takes …
Prayer – O Jesus, let me persevere in seeking your blessings. Imagination – (Picture Jesus confronted by this mother.) Context: This story occurs in Gentile territory with a Gentile mother and shows that Jesus’ Kingdom will spread beyond Palestine. Mark gives a developed portrait of this mother’s intense desires and …
Prayer: O Jesus, let no evil designs enter my heart. Imagination – (Picture Jesus summoning the crowd.) Context: After his conflict with the Pharisees, Jesus summons the crowd to give his own teaching. His declares that all foods are clean. This is a gigantic help in freeing Gentile Christians from …
Prayer – O Jesus, let my heart be set only on the heavenly father’s will. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in this controversy with the Pharisees). Context: Jesus rejects the piety of the Pharisees, who have gone off course. This gospel contains two stories, washing of hands and declaring things sacred. …
Prayer: O Lord, pour out your mercy and draw me close to your heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the apostles and the crowds.) Context: For a brief moment, Jesus wants to be alone with his disciples. This foreshadows the second half of the gospel where Jesus spends much time …
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. It is the only story that does not focus on …
