of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
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 and with descriptions of the disciples’ reactions. …
Continue reading “WEEK FIFTEEN – SATURDAY – JULY 22, 2017 Feast of St. Mary Magdalen (Jn 20:1-8)”
Prayer – O Jesus, you are God, Lord even of the Sabbath. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples being confronted by the Pharisees). Context: The gospels use these confrontation stories to highlight Jesus’ authority, to bring out new aspects of Christian life and most important, to reveal Jesus’ identity. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.) …
Continue reading “WEEK FIFTEEN – FRIDAY – JULY 21, 2017 LORD OF THE SABBATH (MT: 12:1-8)”
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 is one of them. He carries the …
Continue reading “WEEK FIFTEEN – THURSDAY – JULY 20, 2017 THE EASY YOKE (MT 11:28-30)”
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Reveal all that is hidden. Imagination: (Picture Jesus praising God for His disciples). Context: Filled with joy, the apostles return from their preaching mission. Jesus, too, experiences great joy and thanks his heavenly Father for revealing the Kingdom to his disciples. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.) Jesus cried out, “I …
Continue reading “WEEK FIFTEEN – WEDNESDAY – JULY 19, 2017 REVELATION TO THE LITTLE ONES (11:25-27)”
Prayer: O Jesus, give me the grace to repent so I can face you on the Day of Judgment. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the importance of repentance.) Context: People might have some superficial relationship with their parish and think that this will get them into heaven. The gospels correct this false impression. They …
Prayer: O Jesus, when I help the needy, I help you. Show me this mystery. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to care for each other.) Context: Jesus praises those who show hospitality. But there is much more. A great mystery exists. When helping someone who preaches or believes the gospel, you help Jesus. Gospel …
Prayer: O Jesus, let your kingdom bring forth a harvest in my life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining the parable of the seeds to his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just told the crowds the parable of the farmer who scatters seeds in four areas – by the wayside, on rocky ground, among thorns and on good …
(Matthew 12:14-21) Prayer: O Jesus, anoint me with your Holy Spirit. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the crowds swarming around him.) Context: More than any other gospel, Matthew quotes fulfilled prophecies, to show the Jewish members of his community that their faith in Jesus is solidly founded. He also wants his Gentile members to be familiar …
Continue reading “JULY 16, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – SATURDAY – THE ANOINTED AND CHOSEN SERVANT”
(Matthew 12:1-8) Prayer – O Jesus, you are God, Lord even of the Sabbath. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples being confronted by the Pharisees). Context: The gospels use these confrontation stories to highlight Jesus’ authority, to bring out new aspects of Christian life and most important, to reveal Jesus’ identity. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, …
Continue reading “JULY 15, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – FRIDAY – LORD OF THE SABBATH”
(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 is one of them. He …
Continue reading “JULY 14, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – THURSDAY – THE EASY YOKE”
(Matthew 11:25-27) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Reveal all that is hidden. Imagination: ( Picture Jesus praising God for His disciples). Context: Filled with joy, the apostles return from their preaching mission. Jesus, too, experiences great joy and thanks his heavenly Father for revealing the Kingdom to his disciples. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.) Jesus …
Continue reading “JULY 13, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – WEDNESDAY – REVELATION TO THE LITTLE ONES”
(Matthew 11:20-24) Prayer: O Jesus, give me the grace to repent so I can face you on the Day of Judgment. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples the importance of repentance.) Context: People might have some superficial relationship with their parish and think that this will get them into heaven. The gospels correct this false …
Continue reading “JULY 12, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – TUESDAY – WOE TO THE UNREPENTANT CITIES”
(Matthew 10:40 – 11:1) Prayer: O Jesus, when I help the needy, I help you. Show me this mystery. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to care for each other.) Context: Jesus praises those who show hospitality. But there is much more. A great mystery exists. When helping someone who preaches or believes the gospel, …
Continue reading “JULY 11, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – MONDAY – THE REWARDS OF DISCIPLESHIP”
(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 the priest and the Levite …
Continue reading “JULY 10, 2016 – WEEK FIFTEEN – SUNDAY (C) – THE GOOD SAMARITAN”