of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(Luke 11:1-4) Prayer: O Lord, engrave these petitions in our hearts. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples to pray) Context: The Our Father is a heavenly prayer which opens our eyes to Jesus’ second Coming and prepares us for the end of the world. Luke’s version is somewhat shorter than what Matthew records. Gospel Text: …
Continue reading “JULY 24, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – TEACH US TO PRAY”
(Luke 10:38-42) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Make Jesus the center of my attention. Imagination: (Picture Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet.) Context: Luke places this story right after the Good Samaritan to emphasize that the disciple must first love Jesus. Serving others is important (like the Good Samaritan) but not enough to be a disciple. Gospel …
Continue reading “JULY 17, 2016 – WEEK SIXTEEN – SUNDAY – C – MARY & MARTHA”
(Luke 10:25-37) Prayer: O Jesus, you are my good Samaritan and I am wounded along the way. Imagination: (Picture Jesus gathered with his disciples and teaching the lawyer.) Context: The lawyer asked a common question in Judaism, “How far must my charity extend? Who is within that circle?” Jesus uses the priest and the Levite …
Continue reading “JULY 10, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – THE GOOD SAMARITAN”
(Luke 10:1-12) Prayer – O Lord, choose me and send me wherever your word needs to be preached. Imagination – (Picture Jesus preparing seventy-two more disciples to go to the villages.) Context: Other gospels (Mark and Matthew) record Jesus sending the Twelve. Only Luke mentions this larger number of seventy-two. Obviously, the early Church communities …
Continue reading “JULY 3, 2016 – WEEK FOURTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – SEVENTY-TWO MORE MISSIONARIES”
(Luke 9:51-62) Prayer: O Jesus, let me not hold back my commitment to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: This gospel begins Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, a serious undertaking that will result in his death. Many are attracted to Jesus and want to follow him. He invites many to do so but …
Continue reading “JUNE 26, 2016 – WEEK THIRTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – THREE WOULD BE DISCIPLES”
(Luke 9:18-22) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, open to my heart the mystery of Jesus Christ. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: At the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus proclaimed what he would accomplish for Israel. This gospel reveals even more. Jesus is Israel’s Messiah. At this point, only the disciples can know. The crowds …
Continue reading “JUNE 19, 2016 – WEEK TWELVE – SUNDAY (C) – JESUS’ IDENTITY REVEALED”
(Luke 7:36-50) Prayer: O Jesus, you have forgiven me much. Let me love you much. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with Simon, the Pharisee.) Context: Jesus’ parable centers upon the creditor who forgives both debtors. Where can such a man be found? He is Jesus’ example of God’s inconceivable goodness. The woman understands this goodness. …
Continue reading “JUNE 12, 2016 – WEEK ELEVEN – SUNDAY (C) – THE TWO DEBTORS”
(Luke 7:11-17) Prayer – Lord, in your compassion, give me life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing with the widow by the funeral) Context: Naim is just 3 miles away from Nazareth. It still has a cemetery that has been used for centuries. Jesus stops death in its tracks and makes it retreat. The story obviously looks …
Continue reading “JUNE 5, 2016 – WEEK TEN – SUNDAY (C) – THE WIDOW OF NAIM”
(Luke 7:1-10) Prayer: O Jesus, fill me with faith in all that you can do. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the Centurion.) Context: Since Christianity had spread to the Gentile world, Luke was extremely interested in Gentiles who experienced Jesus’ power. This Gentile centurion is a special person. He believed that Jesus could heal at a …
Continue reading “MAY 29, 2016 – WEEK NINE – SUNDAY (C) – A CENTURION WITH GREAT FAITH”
(John 16:12-15) Prayer: O Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit who teaches me all truth. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the apostles at the Last Supper.) Context: Jesus describes the two goals which the Spirit will accomplish among the disciples (the Church). First, He will extend Jesus’ revelation, going beyond what Jesus was able to …
Continue reading “MAY 22, 2016 – TRINITY SUNDAY (C) – THE SPIRIT TEACHES”
(John 20:19-23) Prayer: Jesus, breathe upon me and send your Holy Spirit. Imagination: (Picture the Risen Jesus appearing to the fearful disciples.) Context: Jesus comes to the frightened disciples on Easter Sunday night. This is “John’s Pentecost”, because Jesus bestows the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, Luke speaks of the disciples praying in tongues. John’s gospel …
Continue reading “MAY 15, 2016 – PENTECOST SUNDAY (C) – JOHN’S PENTECOST”
(John 17:20-23) Prayer: O Jesus, restore our oneness in your glory. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the apostles at the Last Supper) Context: Jesus’ prayer is for us, the future believers. Two thousand years later, as the word reaches us, we receive the same glory given by the Father to Jesus, and from Jesus to his …
Continue reading “MAY 8, 2016 – SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – JESUS’ PRAYER FOR FUTURE BELIEVERS”
(John 14:23-29) Prayer: O Jesus, I will abide in your word. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples at the Last Supper). Context: This text focuses on Jesus’ teaching – which enjoys a surprising power. A disciple who lives this teaching will enjoy the presence of the Father and Jesus. Then, the Paraclete will amplify the …
Continue reading “MAY 1, 2016 – SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – THE IMPORTANCE OF JESUS’ WORD”
(John 13:31-35) Prayer: O Jesus, I will glorify you by my love for others. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at the Last Supper.) Context: Judas has just left the Last Supper. Only the eleven apostles remain. Jesus speaks of two great realities – he will glorify God by his obedient death and the apostles must love one …
Continue reading “APRIL 24, 2016 – SUNDAY – FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER (C) – JUDAS ISCARIOT”
(John 10:24-30) Prayer: O Jesus, I will hear your voice and follow you to eternal life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: Even this image of shepherd gets drawn into controversy. Not being Jesus’ sheep, the hearers do not believe that Jesus can give everlasting life to those who follow him. Jesus explains …
Continue reading “APRIL 17, 2016 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – SHEEP IN THE FATHER’S HANDS”
(John 21:1-8) Prayer: O Jesus, make me aware of your presence. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing on the shoe at the Sea of Galilee.) Context: Because Jesus promised to appear to his disciples in Galilee, the apostles return there and resume fishing. In John’s gospel, this is the third recorded vision to these disciples. Gospel Text: …
Continue reading “APRIL 10, 2016 – THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER – (C) – VISION AT THE SEA OF GALILEE”
(John 20:24-29) Prayer: Jesus, remove all my doubts so I can proclaim you as Lord and God. Imagination: (Picture Jesus offering Thomas the opportunity to touch his wounds.) Context: This is the high point of the gospel. John has put forth all the evidence to show Jesus has come from the Father. He has told …
Continue reading “APRIL 3, 2016 – SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, (C) – PART TWO – THOMAS THE DOUBTER”
(John 20:19-23) Prayer: O Jesus, breathe upon me and anoint me with your Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus appearing to his disciples in the Upper Room.) Context: This vision occurs on Easter Sunday evening and reveals many truths. By coming through a closed door, Jesus clearly shows that he has a risen, glorified body. Showing his …
(John 20:1-8) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me the faith to seek the risen Christ. Imagination: Picture the disciples at the empty tomb. Context: If Jesus has risen from the dead, then his tomb must be empty. All four gospels begin their Easter stories with visits to the empty tomb and with descriptions of the …
Continue reading “MARCH 27, 2016 – EASTER SUNDAY (C) – THE DISCIPLES AT THE TOMB”
(Luke 19:28-40) Prayer: O Jesus, I place my garments at your feet. Imagination: (Picture Jesus riding upon a donkey with the great crowd. Context: This special procession is Messianic, openly fulfilling prophecies so the crowd knows that Jesus is their Messiah. However, Jesus does not ride a horse and proclaim himself a general who will …
Continue reading “MARCH 20, 2016 – PALM SUNDAY C – THE PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION”