of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Category: <span>Sunday</span>

Category: Sunday

JULY 24, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – TEACH US TO PRAY

(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 …

JULY 17, 2016 – WEEK SIXTEEN – SUNDAY – C – MARY & MARTHA

(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 …

JULY 10, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – THE GOOD SAMARITAN

(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 …

JULY 3, 2016 – WEEK FOURTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – SEVENTY-TWO MORE MISSIONARIES

(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. …

JUNE 26, 2016 – WEEK THIRTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – THREE WOULD BE DISCIPLES

(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 …

JUNE 19, 2016 – WEEK TWELVE – SUNDAY (C) – JESUS’ IDENTITY REVEALED

(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 …

JUNE 12, 2016 – WEEK ELEVEN – SUNDAY (C) – THE TWO DEBTORS

(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. …

JUNE 5, 2016 – WEEK TEN – SUNDAY (C) – THE WIDOW OF NAIM

(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 …

MAY 29, 2016 – WEEK NINE – SUNDAY (C) – A CENTURION WITH GREAT FAITH

(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 …

MAY 22, 2016 – TRINITY SUNDAY (C) – THE SPIRIT TEACHES

(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 …

MAY 15, 2016 – PENTECOST SUNDAY (C) – JOHN’S PENTECOST

(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 …

MAY 8, 2016 – SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – JESUS’ PRAYER FOR FUTURE BELIEVERS

(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, …

MAY 1, 2016 – SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – THE IMPORTANCE OF JESUS’ WORD

(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, …

APRIL 24, 2016 – SUNDAY – FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER (C) – JUDAS ISCARIOT

(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 …

APRIL 17, 2016 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – SHEEP IN THE FATHER’S HANDS

(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 …

APRIL 10, 2016 – THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER – (C) – VISION AT THE SEA OF GALILEE

(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 …

APRIL 3, 2016 – SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, (C) – PART TWO – THOMAS THE DOUBTER

(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 …

APRIL 3, 2016 – SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER – (C ) – PART ONE – JESUS BESTOWS THE SPIRIT

(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 …

MARCH 27, 2016 – EASTER SUNDAY (C) – THE DISCIPLES AT THE TOMB

(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 …

MARCH 20, 2016 – PALM SUNDAY C – THE PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION

(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 …