of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Category: <span>Matthew</span>

Category: Matthew

JULY 19, 2016 – WEEK SIXTEEN – TUESDAY – HAVING A NEW FAMILY

(Matthew 12:46-50) Prayer – O Jesus, I will be your brother (sister). Imagination:(Picture yourself in the crowd with Jesus saying “These are my brother and sister” Context: Often, Mark begins a story, tells another story and then completes the first story. In this text, Mark concludes the story of Jesus’ …

EASTER WEEK – MONDAY – APRIL 17, 2017 THE GOOD NEWS (Mt 28:8-15)

Prayer: O Jesus, I will carry the good news to the whole world. Imagination: (Picture the two women meeting Jesus). Context: This gospel has 2 quite different scenes. The women meet Jesus and he tells them to bring the good news to his disciples. In the second scene, a cover-up takes place. Bribes are paid so this good news remains hidden from the people. This battle  will go on until the end of time. Only then will all see that Jesus is truly risen from the dead. Gospel text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud) The women left the tomb quickly, filled with both fear and great joy, running to  tell the disciples. Then, Jesus stood before them and said, “Peace.” They came up, took hold of his feet and adored him. Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that they are to  go to Galilee. There they shall see me.” As they were going, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests  all that had happened. They assembled with the elders to decide what to do.  They gave a great sum of money  to the soldiers and said, “You are to say that the disciples came at night  and stole the body while we were asleep. If the Procurator should hear of this, we will settle it and keep you out of trouble.” They took the money and did as they were told. This is the story that circulates  among the Jews even to this day. Thoughts: (Read all. Ponder those that attract you.) The women are overwhelmed with joy. They see an angel and then they experience the Risen Jesus. They are prepared to be messengers, the first to know and to tell the story. Many more visions will follow. Jesus will appear for forty days to prepare the disciples. The guards, too, had this experience. They could have become evangelists. They sell out. They take the money and close the door to truth. How many did they deprive of eternal life, themselves included? Lies can blunt the power of the gospel. Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.) O Jesus, I experience great joy at this story. Prepare me to be your evangelist. Come to me often. Remove all fear so I can follow you. O Jesus, you called even the guards to preach you, but the soldiers lost their vocation. Do not let me sell you out, no matter what the cost. O Jesus, I will tell your story to everyone. Resolutions: (Possibly you might want to make your own.) I will try to find moments of quiet, so Jesus can come to me. …

WEEK EIGHT – SUNDAY (A) – FEBRUARY 26, 2017 TRUSTING THE FATHER (MT 6:30-34)

Prayer: Come, Holy Ghost. Help me to seek first the Kingdom of heaven. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples about the Father’s care for them.) Context: In this text, Jesus concludes his teaching about having confidence in God. He cites the universal anxieties that people have about what to eat, …

WEEK SEVEN – WEDNESDAY – FEBRUARY 22, 2017 Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle PETER’S REVELATION (Mt 16:13-20)

Prayer: O Jesus, You are the Messiah, the son of God. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with Peter and the apostles.) Context: Who is Jesus Christ? Many people still do not know. Peter, by a divine revelation of the Father, answers that question. Jesus calls him “Peter” (meaning rock) and makes him …

WEEK SEVEN – SUNDAY- A (PART 1) – FEBRUARY 19, 2017 RELATIONSHIPS (MT 5-38-42)

Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me how to love as a disciple should. Imagination- (Picture Jesus teaching kindness to his disciples.) Context: “An eye for an eye” actually was a merciful regulation because in Jesus’ time this meant that all revenge must be limited. Jesus goes beyond this legal …

WEEK SIX – SUNDAY (A) – FEBRUARY 12, 2017 THE GREATER HOLINESS (MT 5:17-37)

Prayer: O Lord Jesus, by your Holy Spirit, guide me to the heights of holiness. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: Matthew wrote his gospel in 85 A.D. when the early fervor of the believers was cooling down. He tries to enkindle the fire by setting a high standard …

WEEK FIVE – SUNDAY (A) – FEBRUARY 5, 2017 SALT AND LIGHT (MT 5:13-16)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, bless me so I can bless others. Enlighten me so I can show others the way. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context: Jesus uses 2 images, (salt and light) to describe the good works of a true disciple. These works will manifest the Father’s …

DECEMBER 28, 2016 – (THE HOLY INNOCENTS) – HEROD’S MASSACRE

(Matthew 2:13-18) Prayer: O Lord Jesus, I would love to shed my blood for you. Imagination: (Picture Mary, Joseph and the Child fleeing into Egypt.) Context: In Matthew’s gospel, Joseph is the central person in the infancy stories and God’s usual way of communicating with him is by an angel …

DECEMBER 26, 2016 – (ST. STEPHEN, MARTYR) PERSECUTIONS

(Matthew 10:17-22) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, Strengthen me in moments of trial. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preparing His disciples for persecution.) Context: Jesus has just commissioned his apostles and sent them out to preach. He warns them of difficulties. Matthew’s Church also sent out missionaries who faced the same persecutions, both …

DECEMBER 24, 2016 – SATURDAY, CHRISTMAS VIGIL – JOSEPH’S DILEMMA

(Matthew 1:18-25) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give to me Joseph’s fidelity to God’s plan. Imagination: (Picture Joseph receiving the angel’s message). Context: Luke tells us about Mary accepting her role as Mother of God. In Matthew’s gospel, the infancy stories focus on Joseph’s dilemma. How does an upright Jewish man …

DECEMBER 18, 2016 – WEEK FOUR OF ADVENT – SUNDAY (A) – JOSEPH’S DILEMMA

(Matthew 1:18-25) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give to me Joseph’s fidelity to God’s plan. Imagination: (Picture Joseph receiving the angel’s message). Context: Luke tells us about Mary accepting her role as Mother of God. In Matthew’s gospel, the stories focus on Joseph’s dilemma. How does an upright Jewish man resolve …

DECEMBER 17, 2016 – SATURDAY – THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS

(Matthew 1:1-17) (Note: Except for the fourth Sunday, the final eight days before Christmas use these readings.) Prayer: O Lord, I thank you that you have created me. Imagination: (Picture Joseph and Mary at Bethlehem with the child, Jesus). Context:             Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus through St. Joseph …

DECEMBER 13, 2016 – WEEK THREE OF ADVENT – TUESDAY – THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

(Matthew 21:28-32) Prayer- O Jesus, give to me the grace of conversion. Imagination: (Picture Jesus confronting his critics) Context: This is a parable of God’s mercy which explains the decisive moments of the Final Judgment. What a surprise! Publicans and prostitutes enter Jesus’ Kingdom. Why? Because they realized the need …

DECEMBER 12, 2016 – WEEK THREE OF ADVENT – MONDAY – WHAT ABOUT JOHN’S BAPTISM?

(Matthew 21:23-27) Prayer: O Jesus, you have all authority in heaven and earth. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the temple, confronted by the temple authorities.) Context: The day before, Jesus had cleansed the temple. As he comes back, the temple authorities want to know by what authority he took that …

DECEMBER 10, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – SATURDAY – THE NEW ELIJAH

(Matthew 17:10-13) Prayer:   O Jesus, help me to see the Father’s saving plan. Imagination: (Picture Jesus coming down the mountain with Peter, James and John.). Context: These three apostles have just seen the transfigured Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop. This experience leads them to bring up …

DECEMBER 9, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – FRIDAY – THE CHILDREN SINGING AND DANCING IN THE MARKETPLACE

(Matthew 11:16-19) Prayer:   O Jesus, open my heart to all the messengers you send to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples). Context: This parable shows hostility toward Jesus. The children cannot agree, so their quarrels end their playtime. The cause is laziness. Some children expect others to do the …

DECEMBER 8, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – THURSDAY – THE GREATNESS OF JOHN

(Matthew 11:11-15) Prayer:   O Jesus, prepare me for the greatness of your Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus talking to his disciples about John.) Context: John is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Yet, because he did not live to see Jesus’ Kingdom, the least in Jesus’ Kingdom is greater than …

DECEMBER 7, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – WEDNESDAY – THE EASY YOKE

(Matthew 11:28-30) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to take up Jesus’ easy yoke and light burden. Imagination: (Picture Jesus inviting all his disciples to come to him.) Context: The burdened are those who cannot seem to get out from under. Jesus is one of them. He carries the whole …

DECEMBER 6, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – TUESDAY – THE LOST SHEEP

(Matthew 18:12-14) Prayer: O Jesus, come and find me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: This parable is closely connected to the prodigal Son parable. A hundred sheep was a medium sized flock. The shepherd must have been poor and unable to pay a helper. Matthew’s gospel stresses the …

DECEMBER 4, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – SUNDAY (A) – THE ADVENT PREACHER

(Matthew 3:1-12) Prayer: O Jesus, awaken me. Your Kingdom is at hand. Imagination: (Picture John preaching at the Jordan.) Context: John the Baptist is the Advent preacher. He shows up every year at this time and stays for two Sundays. He has one task – “to prepare the way of …