of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(Luke 18:2-8) Prayer – O Jesus, let me cry out to you day and night. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: The real focus in this parable is the unjust judge. Although he is a complete opposite of God, he still grants the widow’s request. In the middle of trials, the destitute must believe …
Continue reading “NOVEMBER 14, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – SATURDAY – THE UNJUST JUDGE”
(Luke 16:9-15) Prayer: O Jesus, let my heart be totally set upon you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just told the parable of the dishonest steward. Now, he speaks of how a believer should use his money to gain God’s blessings. The second part contains a serious warning. No one can …
Continue reading “NOVEMBER 7, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY ONE – SATURDAY – SERVING GOD OR MONEY?”
(Luke 14:7-11) Prayer: Dear Jesus, let me see suffering as a part of your saving plan for me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus trying to explain his future suffering to his disciples.) Context: Peter has just proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. Because of his faith, Jesus has given to Peter the keys of the Kingdom of God. …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 31, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY – SATURDAY – THE PLACES AT TABLE”
(Luke 13:6-9) Prayer – O Lord Jesus, let me use my time to repent and receive the Kingdom. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Although the judgment is inevitable, God marvelously extends the time for repentance. This is the gift of the Fig Tree Parable. In Palestine, the first three years of …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 24, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY NINE – SATURDAY – THE FIG TREE”
(Luke 12:8-12) Prayer: O Jesus, You are my Lord. Imagination: – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context This text has three separate teachings. If the disciple acknowledges Jesus, Jesus will acknowledge him before the Father. If not, then Jesus cannot acknowledge him. The second teaching speaks of people who rejected Jesus in his earthly …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 17, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY EIGHT – SATURDAY – ACKNOWLEDGING JESUS”
(Luke 11:27-28) Prayer – O Lord, help me to hear your word and keep it. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds when a woman shouts out). Context This spontaneous cry of a woman praises motherhood. Jesus uses this to reveal true holiness, which comes when the mature disciple hears and keeps God’s word. Gospel …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 10, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY SEVEN – SATURDAY – THE GREATER BLESSING”
(Luke 10:17-24) Prayer – O Jesus, I will serve you and I will rejoice with you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his 72 disciples, all filled with joy.) Context: In this scene, Jesus speaks of the great blessings when the disciples fulfill their mission. Satan falls. The disciples gain eternal life. Seeing all of this, Jesus …
Continue reading “OCTOBER 3, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY SIX – SATURDAY – THE JOYFUL RETURN”
(Luke 9:43-45) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the mystery of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just healed the boy with a demon. While the disciples are still amazed at this, Jesus shifts the focus to his death. The warning falls on deaf ears. They have no …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 26, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FIVE – SATURDAY – A SECOND WARNING”
(Luke 8:4-15) 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 Kingdom and its glorious fulfillment. The beginning has multiple frustrations. The end has a gigantic harvest. Jesus’ ministry is experiencing many obstacles. The disciples …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FOUR – SATURDAY – THE SOWER”
(Luke 6:47-49) Prayer – O Jesus, I will put your word into practice so my house will always stand. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Jesus chooses an example from the people’s daily experiences. In Israel, the rains come suddenly. A dry canal becomes quickly a raging stream. This parable is an excellent example …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY THREE – SATURDAY – THE PARABLE OF THE TWO HOUSES”
(Luke 6:1-5) Prayer – O Jesus, you are God, Lord even of the sabbath. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples being confronted by the Pharisees). Context: These confrontation stories highlight Jesus’ authority, bring out new aspects of Christian life and most important, reveal Jesus’ identity. This story uses the powerful Sabbath regulation to reveal Jesus’ …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY TWO – SATURDAY – LORD OF THE SABBATH”