(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 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 …
(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 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 …
(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 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 5:3-6) 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 …
(Mark 12:1-12) Prayer: O Jesus, I will give you all of the harvest. Imagination (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Jesus bases this parable upon actual circumstances. In Galilee there were many foreign owners who leased the land to tenants. God is the owner and these tenants are the Scribes …
(Mark 10:17 – 27) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Let me sacrifice everything to follow Jesus. Imagination: (Picture the young man asking Jesus about eternal life.) Context: The gospel begins “As Jesus set out”. This sets the scene. Jesus is on a journey and the young man will be invited …
(Mark 9:14) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Set me free from the Evil One. Imagination: (Picture the boy’s father pleading with Jesus.) Context: The disciples are going backward. Earlier, they had great success in driving out demons. Now, they are total failures. Jesus gets exasperated. The difficulty is their lack of …
(John 16:29-33) Prayer: O Jesus, strengthen me in the time of trial. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the apostles at the Last Supper) Context: Jesus speaks plainly and the disciples think they understand. However, not having experienced the death and resurrection of Jesus, their faith is far too weak. Jesus shatters …
(John 16:4-7) Prayer: O Jesus, give me faith in your word. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at the Last Supper.) Context: The discourse shifts. Jesus turns the disciples’ attention to his future departure. Realizing that Jesus will leave, the disciples grow sorrowful. So Jesus speaks of the great gift that will follow …
(John 15:26-16:3) Prayer: O Jesus, I will testify to the whole world about you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the apostles at the Last Supper.) Context: Two powers will confront the world’s hatred – the Spirit’s powerful testimony and the Church’s doctrines, based on Jesus’ own teachings. In spite of this …
(John 14:21-26) Prayer: O Jesus, send me the Holy Spirit who will teach me all things. Imagination (Picture Jesus at the Last Supper with his apostles.) Context: Jesus has promised that the apostles would see him. In this text, he explains that this seeing will not be an external manifestation, …
(John 10:11-15) Prayer: O Jesus, You laid down your life for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: Jesus’ care for his sheep knows no limits. Besides enduring the rigors of sleeping outside, He is willing to die to protect his sheep. The “hired man” would reject this …
(John 6:25-29) Prayer: O Jesus, let me seek the Bread of life everlasting. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching the crowds Context: After Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, he prays alone on the mountain. Meanwhile, his disciples cross the Sea of Galilee to Caparnaum and Jesus walks on the water to …
