(Luke 1:5-20) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me to believe in God’s word to me. Imagination: (Picture the Angel appearing to Zechariah). Context In these early stories, Luke speaks of two couples, Zechariah with Elizabeth and Joseph with Mary. Zechariah fails this test of faith. His lack of belief is …
(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 …
(Luke 5:17-26) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination- (Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man.) Context: These stories in Mark’s gospel are controversy stories. Each dispute allows Jesus to make some pronouncement. In this story, Jesus says that he is the Son of Man with …
(Matthew 8:5-11) Prayer: O Jesus, fill me with faith in your power. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the Centurion.) Context: Advent is a time of faith and the church selects the Gentile centurion as the first model. He believed that Jesus could heal at a distance (unheard of in Judaism). Even …
(Mark 12:38-44) Prayer – O Jesus, to you I give all I have. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in the temple with his disciples.) Context: This gospel joins two different people, linked by the word widow. The scribes want everyone to see their goodness while secretly they steal widow’s money. The …
(Luke 18:35-43) Prayer: O Jesus, let me cry out to you in great hope. Imagination: (Picture Jesus and the crowd with a beggar by the roadside.) Context: This journey to Jerusalem began with Jesus healing a blind man and culminates with another healing of blindness. This contrasts with the disciples’ …
(Luke 17:1-6) Prayer – O Jesus, make me your faithful disciple. Imagination – (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples.) Context: This gospel contains three separate sayings of Jesus concerning discipleship. First, a disciple should never give scandal. Second, a disciple should correct another and forgive him whenever he is sorry. Third, …
(John 6:37-40) Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward …
(Luke 13: 10-17) Prayer – O Jesus, stretch out your hand. With your power set me free. Imagination 🙁Picture Jesus in the synagogue.) Context: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is about to proclaim that God’s Kingdom is open to all. He starts with the most humble, curing a stooped woman in …
Prayer – O Lord, do not allow my material possessions to ruin my faith. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: A person asked Jesus to gain him his rightful inheritance. Jesus refuses to accept this task. Jesus wants people to avoid greed. Owning property is irrelevant in the …
(Luke 12:16-20) Prayer – O Lord, do not allow my material possessions to ruin my faith. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: A person asked Jesus to gain him his rightful inheritance. Jesus refuses to accept this task. Jesus wants people to avoid greed. Owning property is irrelevant …
(Luke 11:29-32) Prayer – O Lord, I seek no sign or wonder. I seek only you. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Although Jesus’ enemies asked for the sign, Jesus addresses this teaching to the crowds. He cites two Old Testament examples of foreigners having a change …
(Luke 10:25-37) Prayer – Give me a loving heart, O Lord, like your own. Imagination (Picture Jesus with His disciples) Context The lawyer’s question was common in Judaism, ‘How far must my charity extend? Who is within that circle?” Jesus’ parable uses the usual set of three persons. Logically, …
(Luke 9:46-50) Prayer – Lord Jesus, give me a humble and accepting heart. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus reprimanding his disciples.) Context: These two stories reveal two sins of disciples – ambition and exclusivity. Ambition seeks prominence within the community. Exclusivity excludes those outside the community. Jesus quickly corrects both. Gospel Text: …
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) his friends …
(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) …
(John 3:16-21) Prayer: O Jesus, you were lifted up on the cross to save me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching Nicodemus) Context: This gospel contains the famous John 3:16 verse about God so loving the world. It explains that god’s motive was to save, not to condemn. However, anyone who rejects …
(Luke 6:6-11) Prayer – O Jesus, you have come that I might have life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the synagogue curing the man’s withered hand.) Context: Although Jesus heals the man’s withered hand, the healing seems secondary to the confrontation. This reveals the unbelievable lack of compassion of many hearts. …
(Luke 4:14-30) Prayer: O Jesus, never let me reject you and lose your blessing. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the synagogue of Nazareth.) Context: In Luke’s gospel, Jesus works some early miracles in Capernaum. Then, He returns to Nazareth and goes to the synagogue. He gives his inaugural speech, outlining …
(Matthew 23:13-23) Prayer: O Jesus, enlighten my path and lead my steps. Imagination: (Picture Jesus denouncing hypocrisy.) Context: Jesus is preaching in the temple during Holy Week. There, he meets severe opposition and must denounce false religious practices (which only increases the crowd’s anger). Jesus had given Peter the keys …
