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

Category: Thursday

AUGUST 11, 2016 – WEEK NINETEEN – THURSDAY – THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

(Matthew 18:21-19:1) Prayer: O Jesus, fill my heart with the Holy Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: The parable is about the Last Judgment and highlights the greatest demand upon every disciple, learning how to forgive. The warning is serious. God, who has granted the disciple forgiveness, will …

AUGUST 4, 2016 – WEEK EIGHTEEN – THURSDAY – TRANSFIGURED ON THE MOUNTAIN

(Mark 9:2-13) Prayer – O Jesus, reveal to me your heavenly glory. Imagination- (Picture Peter, James and John witnessing the glory of Christ.) Context: These three apostles witness both Jesus’ glory on the mountain and his agony in the Garden. Mark always links Jesus’ suffering with his glory, telling his …

JULY 28, 2016 – WEEK SEVENTEEN – THURSDAY – THE CONCLUDING PARABLE

(Matthew 13:47-53) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to understand your Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples) Context: After preaching many parables, Jesus concludes with this parable about the Final Judgment. When finished, he asks the disciples if they understand. Then describes what he has just done by bringing forth …

JULY 21, 2016 – WEEK SIXTEEN – THURSDAY – THE PURPOSE OF THE PARABLES

(Matthew 13:10-13) Prayer: O Jesus, reveal to me the mysteries of the Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining to his disciples the mystery of parables.) Context: All the gospels speak of “insiders” (the disciples) and “outsiders” (those who have not yet accepted Jesus and his Kingdom). Jesus has offered to these …

JULY 14, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – THURSDAY – THE EASY YOKE

(Matthew 11:28-30) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to take up Jesus’ easy yoke and light burden. Imagination: (Picture Jesus inviting all his disciples to come to Him.)  Context: Jesus speaks of “a burden” and “a yoke”. The burdened are those who cannot seem to get out from under. Jesus …

JULY 7, 2016 – WEEK FOURTEEN – THURSDAY – SENDING OUT THE TWELVE

(Matthew 10:7-15) Prayer – O Jesus, send me forth like an apostle. Imagination – (Picture the Twelve gathered around, listening to Jesus’ instructions.) Context:    There is not much time to evangelize Israel, so Jesus sends out the Twelve. This is totally his initiative. He summons, instructs, and gives his powers. …

JUNE 30, 2016 – WEEK THIRTEEN – THURSDAY – THE PARALYZED MAN

(Matthew 9:1-8) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination- (Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man.) Context: The stories in this section are controversy stories, which allow Jesus to make some pronouncement.   The pronouncement in this story is that Jesus is the Son of Man with …

JUNE 23, 2016 – WEEK TWELVE – THURSDAY – DOING THE FATHER’S WILL

(Matthew 7:21-24) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me to do the Father’s will. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples true devotion.) Context: The disciples in Matthew’s Church exercised many charismatic powers (as seen in this gospel). Here, Matthew issues a severe warning. These powers do not get the disciple into …

JUNE 16, 2016 – WEEK ELEVEN – THURSDAY – HOW TO PRAY

(Matthew 6:7-13) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to pray as you prayed. Imagination (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the Our Father.) Context: The Lord’s prayer has seven petitions. The first three – “hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done” are really the same, asking Jesus to …

JUNE 9, 2016 – WEEK TEN – THURSDAY – ANGER

(Matthew 5:21-24) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let your gentleness overcome my anger. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples to reconcile.) Context: Jesus teaches a “greater goodness” which is demanded by the holiness of this new Kingdom. In this gospel, he compares the Old Testament teaching on anger and his new …

JUNE 2, 2016 – WEEK NINE – THURSDAY – THE SINCERE SCRIBE

(Mark 12:28-34) Prayer – O Jesus, I want to love you with all my heart and soul. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking with this good-willed scribe.) Context: This scribe is not hostile. His question is sincere. He searches for the most important commandment. Jesus quotes the great prayer which he himself …

MAY 26, 2016 – WEEK EIGHT – THURSDAY – THE BLIND BEGGAR

(Mark 10:46-52) Prayer: O Jesus, let me 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 this healing of blindness. In contrast, the disciples grow …

MAY 19, 2016 – WEEK SEVEN – THURSDAY – RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DISCIPLE

(Mark 9:41-50) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to live according to your highest ideals. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining his ideals to his disciples.) Context: These teachings deal with moral life in the Christian community. First, disciples must give good example to the “little ones” (the newer members). Secondly, they must …

MAY 12, 2016 – SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER – THURSDAY – JESUS’ PRAYER FOR FUTURE BELIEVERS

(John 17:20-26) 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 5, 2016 – ASCENSION THURSDAY (C) – THE ASCENSION VISION

(Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8-11) Prayer: O Jesus, take my heart to heaven with you. Imagination: (Picture the disciples watching Jesus ascend into heaven.) Context: Luke describes the Ascension in two places – at the end of his gospel and at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. Here we …

APRIL 28, 2016 – FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER – THURSDAY – REMAINING IN THE VINE

(John 15:6-11) Prayer: O Jesus, stay with me, and my life will produce good fruit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching at the Last Supper). Context: Jesus’ first priority is his unity with his disciples. From this oneness comes all blessings, both for the disciples and for the world. The disciples must …

APRIL 21, 2016 – FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER – THURSDAY – AFTER WASHING THE FEET

(John 13:16-20) Prayer: Jesus, I will follow your example. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his apostles at the Last Supper.) Context: After washing the apostles’ feet, Jesus makes clear what that action meant. He has served the Apostles and they must serve others. Even here, the betrayal by Judas claims Jesus’ …

APRIL 14, 2016 – THIRD WEEK OF EASTER – THURSDAY – STOP MURMURING

(John 6:43-51) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to learn from the Father. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Jesus continues to speak about the Israelites in the desert. Just as they murmured against Moses, Jesus’ audience is murmuring against him. Yet, Jesus is the bread of life, ensuring that …

APRIL 7, 2016 – SECOND WEEK OF LENT – THURSDAY – NO RATIONING OF THE SPIRIT

(John 3:31-36) Prayer: O Jesus pour out the fullness of your Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context: John the Baptist was a great preacher but he knew only earthly truths. Jesus knows heaven and can speak about what he has seen in heaven. Jesus is not just an …

MARCH 31, 2016 – EASTER WEEK – THURSDAY – JESUS IN THE UPPER ROOM

(Luke 35:48) Prayer: O Jesus, flood my soul with faith. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the Upper Room with his disciples.) Context: The disciples have heard the news about Jesus’ rising, but when Jesus actually comes, they experience fear and even disbelief. Slowly, he proves to them that he is truly …