(John 8:1-11) Prayer: O Jesus, forgive me and set me free from all my accusers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple with the accused woman before him.) Context: This story fulfills Jesus’ statement “You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.” (Jn 8:15) Jesus teaching in the temple …
(Luke 15:17-24) Prayer: O Father, embrace me when I return to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: The father’s response to the Prodigal’s return is not a model for earthly fathers. It is how the heavenly father responds to our repentance. The son is reduced to the lowest …
(Luke 13:6-9) Prayer – O Lord Jesus, let me use this extra 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. The Fig Tree parable teaches that in Palestine, the owner …
(Luke 9:27-36) Prayer: O Jesus, take me up the mountain with you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus transfigured in glory with his 3 apostles.) Context: Peter has just proclaimed (by faith) that Jesus is the Messiah. Now, these three apostles experience Jesus as the Messiah. Also, the Father says that Jesus is …
(Luke 4:1-13) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to remain faithful to you in all my temptations. Imagination: (Picture Jesus tempted by Satan.) Context: These temptations show that Jesus experienced temptations just as we do. By going into the desert, Jesus is like the Israelites who spent forty years there. However, …
(Luke 5:4 -11) Prayer – Let me see, O Lord, how unworthy I am to be your disciple. Imagination – (Picture Peter kneeling at Jesus’ feet and proclaiming his own sinfulness.) Context: This miraculous catch of fish is but a prelude to the high point of the story. While seeing …
(Luke 4:21-30) Prayer – O Lord, never let me reject you. Imagination– (Picture Jesus confronted by the angry citizens of Nazareth.) Context: The mood of the crowd changes suddenly from acceptance to rejection because they want to see miracles. Jesus recounts two stories in which the prophets worked no miracles …
(Luke 4:14-21) Prayer – O Jesus, send the Spirit of the Father upon me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the synagogue.) Context: Having overcome Satan’s three temptations, Jesus begins his public ministry. Other gospels record this visit to the synagogue but Luke gives it preeminence. This is Jesus’ inauguration address, …
Prayer: O Mary, my mother, you help me in all my trials. Imagination: (Picture Mary with Jesus at the wedding feast.) Context: This is an extremely important story because it spells out John’s theme. The hour of the passion, when Jesus sheds his blood, is the world-saving moment. The new …
(Luke 3:15-16; 21-22) Prayer: Holy Spirit, pour out your fire. Imagination: (Picture Jesus after his baptism.) Context: In Luke, the crowds play a large role. They are filled with anticipation. Also, they get baptized before Jesus does. The two central points are Jesus’ power to baptize with the Holy Spirit …
(Matthew 2:1-12) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me your light to search for the Christ Child. Imagination: (Picture the three Magi worshipping Jesus in Bethlehem.) Context: Since the Magi were not Jewish, Epiphany is called the Gentile Christmas, a symbol that Christ is for all the world. Magi were a …
(Luke 3:7-16) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to accept the demands of the Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture John preaching at the Jordan River.) Context: The people are anxious for the Kingdom and are filled with many questions. John has excellent answers. He, also, clearly define his relationship to Jesus. Gospel …
(Luke 3:1-6) Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Help me to prepare for Christmas. Imagination: (Picture yourself at the Jordan with John.) Context: Luke has told the stories of Jesus infancy, ending with Jesus being lost in the temple. The next 18 years are Jesus’ hidden life. Now the drama opens and …
(Luke 21:34-36) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to watch and to pray constantly. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple teaching his disciples.) Context: These are Jesus’ final words of teaching before the Last Supper. Jesus is worried. He will not be returning to earth soon. The disciples will wonder why …
(Mark 18:33-38) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Make Jesus the king of my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing before Pilate) Context: Pilate has inquired from the Jews about the charges against Jesus. They said that he claims to be King of the Jews. In conducting his investigation he allows Jesus …
(Mark 13:24-32) Prayer: O Jesus, prepare me for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context: As we arrive at the end of the Church’s liturgical year, the gospels concern Jesus’ Second Coming. The first part of this text describes the cosmic signs that will accompany Jesus’ coming at …
(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 scenes which describe two contrasting groups. In the first story, the scribes want everyone to see their goodness while secretly they …
(Matthew 5:1-12) 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 10:46-52) Prayer: O Jesus, I cry out to you in great hope. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the crowd and 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’ growing …
(Mark 10:35-40) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Reveal the glory you have prepared. Imagination – (Picture James and John seeking favors from Jesus.) Context: Jesus has just told the apostles that he would suffer. James and John, however, want Jesus’ glory. Jesus speaks about drinking from the chalice, meaning both …
