(Matthew 12:46-50) Prayer – O Jesus, I will be your brother (sister). Imagination:(Picture yourself in the crowd with Jesus saying “These are my brother and sister” Context: Often, Mark begins a story, tells another story and then completes the first story. In this text, Mark concludes the story of Jesus’ …
(Luke 1:34-38) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to say “Yes” to God’s plan. Imagination: (Picture Mary speaking with the Angel). Context: Luke records the greatest moment in human history, when God becomes flesh in Mary’s womb. This text highlights Mary’s struggle to understand the mystery. Once all is clear, …
(Matthew 21:28-32) Prayer- O Jesus, give to me the grace of conversion. Imagination: (Picture Jesus confronting his critics) Context: This is a parable of God’s mercy which explains the decisive moments of the Final Judgment. What a surprise! Publicans and prostitutes enter Jesus’ Kingdom. Why? Because they realized the need …
(Matthew 18:12-14) Prayer: O Jesus, come and find me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: This parable is closely connected to the prodigal Son parable. A hundred sheep was a medium sized flock. The shepherd must have been poor and unable to pay a helper. Matthew’s gospel stresses the …
(Luke 10:21-24) Prayer – Lord Jesus, give me a humble and accepting heart. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus reprimanding his disciples.) Context: Jesus sent out 72 disciples to proclaim the Kingdom. They have just returned with all the good news of their successes. This text is filled with rejoicing. Advent, unlike Lent, …
(Luke 21:5-11) Prayer: O Jesus, let me persevere until the end. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples). Context: In teaching about his Second Coming, Jesus keeps putting it off, always speaking of events that must happen first. The “coming” is always “later”. He stresses perseverance so the disciple does not …
(Luke 19:1-10) Prayer: O Jesus, come and stay in my house this day. Imagination: (Picture Jesus finding Zaccheus in a tree.) Context: Zaccheus is the second wealthy man to receive an invitation from Jesus. He accepts the gift and uses his wealth to restore justice. This story highlights Jesus as …
(Luke 17:7-10) Prayer – O Jesus, let me serve you with a generous spirit and a humble heart. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus pierces deeper into his disciples’ hearts. He probes their inner thoughts and demands that they root out any self-righteousness. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, …
(Luke 14:15-24) Prayer: O Jesus, let me respond now to your banquet invitation. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: In Jesus’ time, a popular, story told about a tax collector who decided to invite all the prominent people to a banquet. Naturally, these prominent people did not want to …
(Luke 13:18-21) Prayer – O Jesus, plant your powerful Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds) Context: These two little parables are excellent images of the reign of God. The mustard seed and the leaven are both small but powerful. As they are planted, people learn …
(Luke 12:35-38) Prayer – O Jesus, I will be your vigilant servant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus describes the perfect disciples. The robe gathered in by a belt shows a man at work. The burning lamps show that the servants are awake. The Master even proceeds …
(Luke 11:37-41) Prayer – O Jesus, make my heart sincere in my love for you. Imagination – (Picture Jesus dining with the Pharisees) Context: Jesus spent much time at table, with Pharisees who were deeply religious. (Pharisees did not participate in any way in Jesus’ death). The gospels use the …
(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 …
(Luke 9:51-56) Prayer: O Jesus, let me follow you to Jerusalem. Imagination: (Picture Jesus walking with his disciples) Context: As Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem, he encounters people who reject him. He has to pass through Samaria which was between Galilee (North) and Jerusalem (South). The Samaritans themselves were …
(Luke 8:19-21) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, help me to hear and act upon God’s word. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowds.) Context: Jesus forms a new family. This family is not based upon blood relationships but upon people freely choosing to hear and practice God’s word. To highlight this …
(Luke 7:11-17) Prayer – Lord, in your compassion, give me life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing with the widow by the funeral) Context: Luke regularly stresses Jesus’ compassion and care for women. Naim is located just 3 miles away from Nazareth with a cemetery that has been used for centuries. The …
(Matthew 1:18-25) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give to me Joseph’s fidelity to God’s plan. Imagination: (Picture Joseph receiving the angel’s message). Context: Luke tells us about Mary accepting her role as Mother of God. In Matthew’s gospel, the infancy stories focus on Joseph’s dilemma. How does an upright Jewish man …
(Luke 4:31-37) Prayer: O Jesus, use your power to cleanse me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the synagogue.) Context: Rejected by the people of Nazareth, Jesus establishes his new base at Capernaum. The people receive him and, upon entering the synagogue, he casts out an unclean spirit. The people praise him …
(Matthew 23:35-37) Prayer: O Jesus, send your Holy Spirit, the fire of true repentance. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching inner holiness.) Context: Jesus continues to confront his opponents about their false teachings which lead many astray. “The cup and the dish” are people who follow the Pharisees. They are not taught …
(Matthew 19:23-30) Prayer – O Jesus, teach me to set aside everything for love of you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by his disciples.) Context: After the rich young man walked away, Jesus commented on the difficulty of the rich entering the Kingdom of God. In today’s text, Peter is a …
