A Merry Christ-Mass
To All Praying To Be Saints

Dear Flame of Love Prayer Warriors,Rejoice in sharing the Word of God that took flesh in our Blessed Mother and her message to Elizabeth Kindelmann so that, together, we can stir into flame the love, mercy, peace, and joy of our Lord and Savior. For his Sacred Heart inflames our hearts to blind the devil …

JESUS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE (MK 1:14-20)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, invite me today to be your disciple. Imagination: (Picture Jesus calling his first disciples along the Sea of Galilee.) Context This gospel text begins “After John was arrested” and it records Jesus’ first homily of his public ministry. He repeats John’s teaching that the reign of God has come and gathers …

BAPTISM OF THE LORD THE SPIRIT DESCENDS (MT 3:13-17)

Prayer: O Spirit of God, descend upon me. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus meeting John by the Jordan River) Context: In Matthew’s gospel, John is reluctant to baptize because he realizes the greater holiness of Jesus. After the baptism, God’s fullness upon Jesus is manifested. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud) Then Jesus came from Galilee to …

THE BAPTIST COMES ON THE SCENE (JN 3:22-30)

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Help me to prepare to increase my life in Jesus. 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 John the Baptist …

IN THE NAZARETH SYNAGOGUE (LK 4:14-30)

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 and highlights all the themes of his …

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND (MK 6:34-44)

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Multiply your gifts within me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus feeding the crowds.) Context: This is the first of two multiplications of food in Mark’s gospel. (This one is for a Jewish crowd and the other is for Gentiles). This miracle is told in all four gospels and six times altogether, because it …

A LIGHT AMONG THE GENTILES (MT. 4:12-17)

Prayer – O Jesus, let your light shine upon my whole life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus going to Capernaum with his disciples) Context: Many prosperous towns were around the lake of Galilee. Since Capernaum was larger than Nazareth, Jesus moved his headquarters there to reach a wider audience. In this region, the first Israelite tribes (Zebulun …

THE EPIPHANY of the LORD THE MAGI (Mt 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 learned priestly class of Persia, who knew …

THE EARLY DISCIPLES (JN 1:35-42)

Prayer: Jesus, I will be your disciple and follow you everywhere. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his three new disciples.) Context: John’s gospel gives some details about the call of the first apostles. Andrew, and another, were originally disciples of John the Baptist, who told them about Jesus. Andrew brings Simon to Jesus who immediately calls …

FAILING TO RECOGNIZE JESUS (JN 1:29-34)

Prayer: – O Jesus, come to me. When you come, help me to recognize you. Imagination: (Picture John at the Jordan River, seeing Jesus among the crowd.) Context: John never describes Jesus getting baptized. Instead, the Baptist recognizes Jesus and introduces him to the world as the Lamb of God. Twice, The Baptist admits that …