of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(Matthew 5:43-48) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Make me perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. Imagination Picture Jesus asking the disciples to imitate the Father. Context: Jesus continually demands that his disciples show goodness towards enemies. They must act as children of a heavenly Father. At the end Jesus reveals his goal. He wants the …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 20, 2016 – WEEK ONE OF LENT – SATURDAY – LOVE YOUR ENEMIES”
(Matthew 5:20-26) 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 teaching. The disciples maintain unity …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 19, 2016 – WEEK ONE OF LENT – FRIDAY – ANGER”
(Matthew 7:7-12) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to ask and to seek and to knock. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to have confidence in prayer.) Context: God wants to bless you. First, he wants you to seek his blessings (so when you receive them you will thank God and grow in faith). Jesus uses …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 18, 2016 – WEEK ONE OF LENT – THURSDAY – CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER”
(Luke 11:29-32) Prayer – O Lord, I seek no sign or wonder. I seek only you. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking to the crowds.) Context: Although Jesus’ enemies asked for a sign, Jesus addresses his teaching to the crowds. He cites two Old Testament examples of foreigners having a change of heart. When Jonah preached …
(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, showing a desire for Jesus to return in …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 16, 2016 – WEEK ONE OF LENT – TUESDAY – HOW TO PRAY”
(Matthew 25:31-46) Prayer: O Jesus, You are the King who is to come. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Some people never heard Jesus’ gospel. In this parable, Jesus confronts the question of how they will be judged. Although they do not know Jesus (Lord, when did we see you?), they still can gain …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 15, 2016 – WEEK ONE OF LENT – MONDAY – THE LAST JUDGMENT”
(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, they constantly failed and many …
Continue reading “FEBRUARY 14, 2016 – WEEK ONE OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE THREE TEMPTATIONS”