of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
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, in this life and in …
Continue reading “WEEK EIGHT – TUESDAY – FEBRUARY 28, 2017 RECEIVING THE HUNDRED-FOLD (MK 10:28-31)”
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 man’s “kneeling down” shows great …
Continue reading “WEEK EIGHT – MONDAY – FEBRUARY 27, 2017 THE RICH YOUNG MAN (MK 10:17 – 27)”
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. Now, he sees the disciples …
Continue reading “WEEK SEVEN – SATURDAY – FEBRUARY 25, 2017 THE LITTLE CHILDREN (MK 10:13-16)”
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 about a decree of divorce, …
Continue reading “WEEK SEVEN – FRIDAY – FEBRUARY 24, 2017 LET NO MAN SEPARATE (MK 10:1-12)”
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 sacrifices to avoid Gehenna. (Gehenna …
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 all, they argue about who …
Continue reading “WEEK SEVEN – TUESDAY – FEBRUARY 21, 2017 THE EXTRA MILE (MK 9: 30-37)”
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 boy’s father knows his faith …
Continue reading “WEEK SEVEN – MONDAY – FEBRUARY 20, 2017 THE BOY WITH A DEMON (MK 9:14)”
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 to persevere in their sufferings …
Continue reading “WEEK SIX – SATURDAY – FEBRUARY 18, 2017 TRANSFIGURED ON THE MOUNTAIN (MK 9:2-13)”
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 be in their lives. If …
Continue reading “WEEK SIX – FRIDAY – FEBRUARY 17, 2017 DON’T BE ASHAMED OF JESUS (MK 8:34-9:1)”
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 this Jesus”. Peter answers that …
Continue reading “WEEK SIX – THURSDAY – FEBRUARY 16, 2017 THE RISE AND FALL OF PETER (MK 8:27-33)”
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 to blind people with the …
Continue reading “WEEK SIX – WEDNESDAY – FEBRUARY 15, 2017 A TWO PART HEALING (MK 8:22-26)”
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 received a sign and still …
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 come to faith. They stand …
Continue reading “WEEK SIX – MONDAY – FEBRUARY 13, 2017 THE SIGN SEEKERS (MK 8:11-13)”
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 occur. Jesus is more active …
Continue reading “WEEK FIVE – SATURDAY – FEBRUARY 11, 2017 FEEDING THE FOUR THOUSAND (MK 8:1-10)”
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 the man aside and performs …
Continue reading “WEEK FIVE – FRIDAY – FEBRUARY 10, 2017 THE ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD (MK 7:31-37)”
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 ingenuity. She is the only …
Continue reading “WEEK FIVE – THURSDAY – FEBRUARY 9, 2017 THE QUICK-WITTED MOTHER (MK 7:24-30)”
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 Jewish dietary laws. Then Jesus …
Continue reading “WEEK FIVE – WEDNESDAY – FEBRUARY 8, 2017 ONLY WHAT ENTERS THE HEART (MK 7:14-23)”
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. Each story contains a pronouncement. …
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 teaching the disciples. However, his …
Continue reading “WEEK FOUR – SATURDAY – FEBRUARY 4, 2017 SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD (MK 6:30-34)”
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 Jesus and his disciples and …
Continue reading “WEEK FOUR – FRIDAY – FEBRUARY 3, 2017 MK 6:14-29”