(Matthew 13:1-9) Prayer – Jesus, plant the powerful seed of your Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds). Context: This parable contrasts the difficult beginning of the seeds and the glorious fulfillment of the harvest. The beginning has multiple frustrations. The end has gigantic results. Jesus’ …
(Matthew 12:38-42) Prayer – O Lord, I seek no sign or wonder. I seek only you. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Jesus’ enemies ask for a sign but Jesus addresses this teaching to the crowds. He cites two Old Testament examples of foreigners having a change …
(Matthew 12:14-21) Prayer: O Jesus, anoint me with your Holy Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the crowds swarming around him.) Context: More than any other gospel, Matthew quotes fulfilled prophecies, to show the Jewish members of his community that their faith in Jesus is solidly founded. He also wants his …
(Matthew 12:1-8) Prayer – O Jesus, you are God, Lord even of the Sabbath. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples being confronted by the Pharisees). Context: The gospels use these confrontation stories to highlight Jesus’ authority, to bring out new aspects of Christian life and most important, to reveal Jesus’ …
(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: Jesus speaks of “a burden” and “a yoke”. The burdened are those who cannot seem to get out from under. Jesus …
(Matthew 11:25-27) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Reveal all that is hidden. Imagination: ( Picture Jesus praising God for His disciples). Context: Filled with joy, the apostles return from their preaching mission. Jesus, too, experiences great joy and thanks his heavenly Father for revealing the Kingdom to his disciples. Gospel Text: …
(Matthew 11:20-24) Prayer: O Jesus, give me the grace to repent so I can face you on the Day of Judgment. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the importance of repentance.) Context: People might have some superficial relationship with their parish and think that this will get them into heaven. …
(Matthew 10:40 – 11:1) Prayer: O Jesus, when I help the needy, I help you. Show me this mystery. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to care for each other.) Context: Jesus praises those who show hospitality. But there is much more. A great mystery exists. When helping someone who …
(Matthew 10:26-33) Prayer: O Jesus, free me from fear so I always acknowledge that I am your disciple. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking with his apostles). Context Jesus is sending his apostles to preach the Kingdom. This is all new for them. Jesus foresees that they will be persecuted and could …
(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 …
(Matthew 10:7-15) Prayer – O Jesus, send me forth like an apostle. Imagination – (Picture the Twelve gathered around, listening to Jesus’ instructions.) Context: There is not much time to evangelize Israel, so Jesus sends out the Twelve. This is totally his initiative. He summons, instructs, and gives his powers. …
(Matthew 10:1-7) Prayer: Come, Jesus. Anoint me to preach your Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preparing his apostles for their missionary journey.) Context: Jesus now makes his apostles into missionaries. He calls them and gives two powers – to drive out demons and to heal. He tells them how to act …
(Matthew 9:23-28) Prayer: O Jesus, come to my town. Imagination (Picture Jesus healing and teaching the crowds.) Context: The gospel has 2 parts. First, Jesus casts out a demon so a person begins to speak. This causes both praise and criticism. Then, Jesus tours all the villages with multiple miracles …
(MT: 9:18-26) Prayer: O Jesus, let me press close to you and be healed. Imagination: (Picture Jesus, surrounded by crowds and the woman secretly touching His garment.) Context: This story contains excellent teachings about healing. The woman has been suffering for twelve years. Many people touch Jesus (as the disciples …
(Matthew 9:14-17) 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 gospel, Jesus speaks only to his disciples. Since they have given themselves to the Kingdom, Jesus promises that the …
(Matthew 9:9-13) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let me respond quickly to Jesus’ call. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table in Matthew’s house). Context: This text has 2 parts. First, Matthew responds to Jesus’ call and then he invites Jesus to his house. Since Matthew is a sinner (collecting taxes for Romans) …
(Matthew 9:1-8) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination- (Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man.) Context: The stories in this section are controversy stories, which allow Jesus to make some pronouncement. The pronouncement in this story is that Jesus is the Son of Man with …
(Matthew 8:28-34) Prayer: O Jesus, how great is your power to free me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples as he frees the two possessed men.) Context: Matthew takes this story from Mark’s gospel (5:1-20) but he shortens Mark’s story. In doing so, he highlights Jesus’ power. Unfortunately, the people …
(Matthew 8:23-27) Prayer – O Jesus, calm the storms in my own life. Imagination: (Picture the fearful disciples and Jesus calming the sea.) Context: Matthew very much follows Mark’s story when Jesus sleeps in the boat. The miracle causes awe and wonder in the apostles. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly …
(Matthew 8:18-22) Prayer: O Jesus, make me your true disciple, ready to pay any price. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the crowd, challenging people to be his disciples.) Context: This gospel is Matthew’s version of the reluctant disciple. From this story, we get a clear picture that some people followed Jesus …
