(Matthew 5:38-48) Prayer: O Jesus, overcome in me any desire to exclude others. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching John and the other Eleven) Context: Jesus has just spoken about service within the Christian community. He now teaches about relating to those outside the Community. Jesus rejects a close-mindedness that would result …
(Matthew 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, …
(Matthew 28:1-10) Prayer: O Risen Jesus, show yourself to me in the quiet of this prayer. Imagination: (Picture the holy women meeting Jesus.) Context: The four gospels have different stories about the Resurrection and the church has not tried to harmonize these accounts, because the diverse stories witness to the …
(Matthew 5:17-20) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Make me great in Jesus’ Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). 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 same time, these books are not God’s …
(Matthew 18:23-35) Prayer: O Jesus, fill my heart with the Holy Spirit of mercy towards others. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: This parable about the Last Judgment highlights the deepest secret of discipleship. They must learn how to forgive. The warning is serious. God, who has granted the …
(Matthew 21:33-43) Prayer – O Lord, you have given me everything. Make me a faithful tenant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples and his opponents.) Context: Jesus spoke this parable in Jerusalem when the chief priests and elders questioned his authority. The parable fitted their situation. The tenants are …
(Matthew 20:17-28) Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Reveal the glory you have prepared. Imagination: (Picture James and John seeking favors from Jesus.) Context: Jesus has just told the apostles that he would come in glory. With great ambition, James and John want that glory. Before granting any glory, Jesus must enter …
(Matthew 23:1-12) Prayer: O Jesus, give me the heart of a servant. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing His disciples in humility.) Context: Jesus does not criticize the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees (although he alludes to moral rigorism) but he condemns their practices of seeking honor and gaining titles. Jesus …
(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 continually demands that his disciples show goodness towards enemies. They must act as children of a heavenly Father. At the end Jesus reveals …
(Matthew 5:20-26) 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 7:7-12) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to ask and to seek and to knock. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to have confidence in prayer.) Context: God wants to bless you. First, he wants you to seek his blessings (so when you receive them you will thank God and …
(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, showing a desire …
(Matthew 25:31-46) Prayer: O Jesus, You are the King who is to come. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Some people never heard Jesus’ gospel. In this parable, Jesus confronts the question of how they will be judged. Although they do not know Jesus (Lord, when did we see …
(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: Jesus has been explaining the eight beatitudes and all that is demanded of a disciple. He ends his talk on a different …
(Matthew 6:1-4) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me to act in secret so I do not 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 focuses on almsgiving, prayer and fasting. All of …
(Matthew 3:13-17) Prayer: O Spirit of God, descend upon me. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus meeting John by the Jordan River) Context: In Matthew’s gospel, John is reluctant to baptize because he realizes the greater holiness of Jesus. After the baptism, God’s fullness upon Jesus is manifested. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly …
(Matthew 2:1-12) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me your light to search for the Christ Child. Imagination: (Picture the three Magi worshipping Jesus in Bethlehem.) Context: Since the Magi were not Jewish, Epiphany is called the Gentile Christmas, a symbol that Christ is for all the world. Magi were a …
(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 …
(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 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 …
