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

Category: Matthew

AUGUST 15, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY – MONDAY – THE RICH YOUNG MAN

(Matthew 19:16-22) Prayer – O Jesus, I will sacrifice everything to follow you. Imagination: (Picture the young man asking Jesus about eternal life.) Context: The man’s “kneeling down” shows great piety and his question is excellent. He wants what Jesus offers, eternal life. In responding to his question, Jesus mentions …

AUGUST 12, 2016 – WEEK NINETEEN – FRIDAY – LET NO MAN SEPARATE

(Matthew 19:3-12) Prayer: O Jesus, restore creation as it was in the beginning. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining his ideals to his disciples.) Context: Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God was at hand. Through the power of this Kingdom, all creation can be restored to God’s original plan. Jesus believes …

AUGUST 11, 2016 – WEEK NINETEEN – THURSDAY – THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

(Matthew 18:21-19:1) Prayer: O Jesus, fill my heart with the Holy Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: The parable is about the Last Judgment and highlights the greatest demand upon every disciple, learning how to forgive. The warning is serious. God, who has granted the disciple forgiveness, will …

AUGUST 10, 2016 – WEEK NINETEEN – WEDNESDAY – IMPORTANCE OF GATHERING

(Matthew 18:15-20) Prayer: O Jesus, always join me with others so you will be in our midst. Imagination: (Picture Jesus gathered with his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just spoken of the shepherd seeking out the wandering sheep. This sheep represents a disciple who has left the church and the Church …

AUGUST 9, 2016 – WEEK NINETEEN – TUESDAY – THE LOST SHEEP

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

AUGUST 8, 2016 – WEEK NINETEEN – MONDAY – PAYING THE TEMPLE TAX

(Matthew 17:23-27) Prayer: O Jesus, you have made me a child of God and a citizen of heaven. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples, privately in a house.) Context: This is a unique little story, whose meaning can easily be lost. In Jesus’ time, Roman citizens paid no taxes. Rome …

AUGUST 6, 2016 – WEEK EIGHTEEN – SATURDAY – THE BOY WITH A DEMON

(Matthew 17:14-20) Prayer: O Jesus, set me free from the Evil One. Imagination: (Picture the boy’s father pleading with Jesus.) Context: The disciples are regressing.   Formerly, they had great success in driving out demons. Now, they are total failures. Jesus gets exasperated at their lack of faith. The father is …

AUGUST 5, 2016 – WEEK EIGHTEEN – FRIDAY – SAVING YOUR LIFE

(Matthew 16-24-28) Prayer: Jesus, how greatly I desire eternal life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples) Context: Jesus has just predicted his passion, death and rising. Now he extends this mystery to everyone. Every disciple can rise with Jesus. They need only to deliberately take the same path. The choice …

AUGUST 3, 2016 – WEEK EIGHTEEN – WEDNESDAY – THE QUICK-WITTED MOTHER

(Matthew 15:21-28) 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 the Kingdom will break out of its Jewish beginnings and spread to the whole world. …

AUGUST 2, 2016 – WEEK EIGHTEEN – TUESDAY

(Matthew 15:1 + 10-14) Prayer: O Jesus, let me be planted by your heavenly Father Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds.) Context: This gospel mentions two enemies of Jesus – the scribes from Jerusalem (fierce opponents) and Pharisees (misguided opponents). The scribes raise the question of purification of hands …

AUGUST 1, 2016 – WEEK EIGHTEEN – MONDAY – FOOD IN A DESERTED PLACE

(Matthew 14:13-21) Prayer: O Jesus, you feed me with the finest food. Imagination:  Picture Jesus feeding the 5,000.) Context: When Jesus heard of John’s death (told immediately before this story) he crosses to the eastern bank of the Sea of Galilee (Gentile territory). Jesus was already known among the Gentiles for …

JULY 30, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – SATURDAY – BEHEADING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

(Mt 14:1-12) Prayer – Lord Jesus, let me not be swayed by the opinions of others. Imagination – (Picture Herod with his party guests) Context: Matthew shortens Mark’s long explanation of Herod’s party. He highlights what is familiar – the hatred of John by Herod’s wife and Herod’s foolish promise …

JULY 29, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – FRIDAY – THE DOUBTING HOME TOWN

(Matthew 13:54-58) Prayer: O Jesus, I will believe and not doubt. Imagination:   (Picture Jesus teaching in the synagogue at Nazareth) Context: The gospels record Jesus coming back to Nazareth and being met with a lack of faith. The people know about his miraculous powers but remain cynical. Their lack of …

JULY 28, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – THURSDAY – THE CONCLUDING PARABLE

(Matthew 13:47-53) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to understand your Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples) Context: After preaching many parables, Jesus concludes with this parable about the Final Judgment. When finished, he asks the disciples if they understand. Then describes what he has just done by bringing forth …

JULY 27, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – WEDNESDAY – TWO PARABLES OF JOY

(Matthew 13:44-46) Prayer: O Jesus, I will purchase your Kingdom, no matter what the price. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples) Context: Jesus continues to give a picture of a true disciple. These parables highlight joy that leads to a decision. Because Israel was invaded so many times (from every …

JULY 26, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – TUESDAY – SENDING OUT HIS ANGELS

(Matthew 13:36-43) Prayer: O Jesus, I await your coming with all your angels. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in a house, alone with his disciples) Context: Jesus has just told the parable of the owner who sowed good seed while his enemy sowed weeds. The owner does not allow his servants to …

JULY 25, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – MONDAY – THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE LEAVEN

(Matthew 13:31-35) Prayer: O Jesus, Your Kingdom is hidden but powerful. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: These two parables express the power of the kingdom, by highlighting a beginning smallness and a final greatness. From insignificant beginnings of mustard seed and leaven, God creates a mighty Kingdom. What …

JULY 23, 2016 – WEEK SIXTEEN – SATURDAY – THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS

(Matthew 13:24-30) Prayer: O Jesus, I will use my life your Judgment. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: In Jesus time, three groups tried to form the perfect religious community of Israel – the Pharisees, the Essenes, and surprisingly, John the Baptist. All of Jesus’ actions went against this …

JULY 22, 2016 – WEEK SIXTEEN – FRIDAY – THE SOWER PARABLE EXPLAINED

(Matthew 13:18-23) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let your Kingdom bring forth a harvest. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining the parable to his disciples.) Context: In this text, Jesus applies the parable. The original story highlighted the power of the Kingdom. This explanation highlights the ground’s ability to receive the seed and …

JULY 21, 2016 – WEEK SIXTEEN – THURSDAY – THE PURPOSE OF THE PARABLES

(Matthew 13:10-13) Prayer: O Jesus, reveal to me the mysteries of the Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining to his disciples the mystery of parables.) Context: All the gospels speak of “insiders” (the disciples) and “outsiders” (those who have not yet accepted Jesus and his Kingdom). Jesus has offered to these …