(Matthew 8:5-11) Prayer: O Jesus, fill me with faith in all that you can do. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the Centurion.) Context: This Gentile centurion is the great model of faith. He believed that Jesus could heal at a distance (unheard of in Judaism). Even Jesus proclaims his extraordinary faith. …
(Matthew 8:1-4) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to believe that you can cleanse me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus cleansing the leper) Context: Jesus has just finished his great discourse on the mountain. As he descends, he quickly encounters the real life difficulties of illness, diabolical possessions and storms at sea. In …
(Matthew 7:21-24) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me to do the Father’s will. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples true devotion.) Context: The disciples in Matthew’s Church exercised many charismatic powers (as seen in this gospel). Here, Matthew issues a severe warning. These powers do not get the disciple into …
(Matthew 7:15-20) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to be on guard lest I be deceived. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: Matthew tries to protect and form his church members. He protects them by warning against false prophets who can lead them astray. He forms them by demanding a …
(Matthew 7:6 & 12-14) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to enter by the narrow gate of selflessness and walk the narrow Road that leads to life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus warning his disciples about the conditions for eternal life.) Context: Matthew writes for his Church members who have chosen the Kingdom. …
(Matthew 7:1-5) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me compassion and forgiveness to improve my relationships with others. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples not to judge.) Context: Jesus praised the meek and the peacemakers. In these words, Jesus explains how to fulfill those roles. Not to judge other disciples is meekness …
(Matthew 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: Having told the disciples not to store up earthly treasures, Jesus responds to their questions about gaining the necessities of life. …
(Matthew 6:19-23) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to treasure heavenly riches. Imagination (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to treasure heaven.) Context: These sayings of Jesus have a common theme. He wants the disciples to have a singleness of purpose, totally serving God and not being distracted by earthly cares. Gospel …
(Matthew 6:7-13) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to pray as you prayed. Imagination (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the Our Father.) Context: The Lord’s prayer has seven petitions. The first three – “hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done” are really the same, asking Jesus to …
(Matthew 6:1-4) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me to act in secret. I do not want to lose my reward. Imagination (Picture Jesus teaching the disciples how to gain their reward.) Context: Jesus contrasts Christian goodness with the goodness of the Pharisees. He highlights doing good deeds in secret, with …
(Matthew 5:43-48) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Make me perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. Imagination Picture Jesus asking the disciples to imitate the Father. Context: Jesus continues his demands concerning goodness towards enemies. He contrasts his disciple with the pagans and demands a greater holiness. At the end, Jesus …
(Matthew 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: The Jewish law to take only “An eye for an eye” was actually merciful in Jesus’ time. It limited the amount of revenge. Jesus goes …
(Matthew 5:33-37) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Sanctify my words. Imagination Picture Jesus teaching his disciples to practice simplicity in their speech. Context: People often call upon God to witness their lie. To avoid this, a Jew might substitute for God’s name a holy place or holy thing. Jesus says that …
(Matthew 5:27-30) Prayer: Holy Spirit. Fill me with your purity of heart. Imagination (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to be pure.) Context: Jesus continues to contrast Old Testament teaching with his new demands concerning purity. He uses graphic images of removing eyes and hands to symbolize the detachment needed to …
(Matthew 5:21-24) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let your gentleness overcome my anger. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples to reconcile.) Context: Jesus teaches a “greater goodness” which is demanded by the holiness of this new Kingdom. In this gospel, he compares the Old Testament teaching on anger and his new …
(Matthew 5:17-20) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Make me great in Jesus’ Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples about following the Law and the Prophets.) Context: “Law and prophets” means the whole Old Testament. Jesus wants his Church to retain these books and teach them to his disciples. At the …
(Matthew 5-13-16) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Set me as a light on the lampstand. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples.) Context: A disciple is someone who has made a decision to live totally for the Kingdom. In the gospels, Jesus explains what he expects of his disciples. The disciple must …
(Matthew 5:3-6) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Form my heart according to Jesus’ teaching. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Jesus calls various groups “blessed”. However, anyone can choose to belong to these groups. A person can be poor in spirit, meek, mourning over the world’s sins, and hungering for …
(Matthew 22:15-21) Prayer –O Lord, let me give you everything. Imagination – (Picture Jesus confronted by the Pharisees.) Context: Israel had two political groups. One sought total allegiance to Rome. Others sought independence, even by war if necessary. The Pharisees, by this question, hope to trip Jesus, forcing him to …
(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 authorities.) Context: The day before this event, Jesus had cleansed the temple. As he returns to Jerusalem, the temple authorities want to know by what authority he …
