NOVEMBER 12, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – SATURDAY – THE UNJUST JUDGE

(Luke 18:2-8) Prayer – O Jesus, let me cry out to you day and night. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: The real focus in this parable is the unjust judge. Although he is a complete opposite of God, he still grants the widow’s request. In the middle of trials, the destitute must believe …

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – FRIDAY – DAYS OF DECISION

(Luke 17:26-37) Prayer – O Jesus, let me watch and be ready for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples about his Second Coming.) Context: Jesus gives two separate images, the biblical stories of Noah and Lot and the difficult decisions necessary in an emergency. In Palestine, the roofs were flat and people worked …

NOVEMBER 10, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – THURSDAY – WHEN THE KINGDOM COMES

(Luke 17:20-25) Prayer – O Lord, prepare me for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples). Context: The Pharisees want to know when the Kingdom would come. The question is futile because the Kingdom is already present as the Spirit dwells in the believer. A final and total coming of the Kingdom is still …

NOVEMBER 9, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – WEDNESDAY – THE TEN LEPERS

(Luke 17:11-19) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Fill me with a spirit of thanksgiving. Imagination: (Picture the one leper returning to give thanks) Context: This story is somewhat like a parable, ending with Jesus pronouncing the Samaritan’s saving faith. Obviously, the group consisted of nine Jewish lepers and one Samaritan. Their illness bonded them together …

NOVEMBER 8, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – TUESDAY – THE HUMBLE SERVANT

(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, possibly aloud.) If a man …

NOVEMBER 7, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – MONDAY – COMMANDS FOR THE DISCIPLES

(Luke 17:1-6) Prayer – O Jesus, make me your faithful disciple. Imagination – (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples.) Context: This gospel contains three separate sayings of Jesus concerning discipleship. First, a disciple should never give scandal. Second, a disciple should correct another and forgive him whenever he is sorry. Third, the disciple must pray in …

NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – SUNDAY (C) – LIVING LIKE ANGELS

(Luke 20:27-38) Prayer – O Lord, fill me with strong desires to live like the angels. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in confrontation with the Sadducees.) Context: The Sadducees (unlike the Pharisees) did not believe in the immortality of the soul nor the resurrection of the dead. They present to Jesus what seems to us a …

NOVEMBER 14, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – SATURDAY – THE UNJUST JUDGE

(Luke 18:2-8) Prayer – O Jesus, let me cry out to you day and night. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: The real focus in this parable is the unjust judge. Although he is a complete opposite of God, he still grants the widow’s request. In the middle of trials, the destitute must believe …

NOVEMBER 13, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – FRIDAY – DAYS OF DECISION

(Luke 17:26-37) Prayer – O Jesus, let me watch and be ready for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples about his Second Coming.) Context: Jesus gives two separate images, the biblical stories of Noah and Lot and the difficult decisions necessary in an emergency. In Palestine, the roofs were flat and people worked …

NOVEMBER 12, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – THURSDAY – WHEN THE KINGDOM COMES

(Luke 17:20-25) Prayer – O Lord, prepare me for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples). Context: The Pharisees want to know when the Kingdom would come. The question is futile because the Kingdom is already present as the Spirit dwells in the believer. A final and total coming of the Kingdom is still …

NOVEMBER 11, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY-TWO – WEDNESDAY – THE TEN LEPERS

(Luke 17:11-19) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Fill me with a spirit of thanksgiving. Imagination: (Picture the one leper returning to give thanks) Context: This story is somewhat like a parable, ending with Jesus pronouncing the Samaritan’s saving faith. Obviously, the group consisted of nine Jewish lepers and one Samaritan. Their illness bonded them together …

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – TUESDAY – THE HUMBLE SERVANT

(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, possibly aloud.) If a man …

NOVEMBER 9, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – MONDAY – COMMANDS FOR THE DISCIPLES

(Luke 17:1-6) Prayer – O Jesus, make me your faithful disciple. Imagination – (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples.) Context: This gospel contains three separate sayings of Jesus concerning discipleship. First, a disciple should never give scandal. Second, a disciple should correct another and forgive him whenever he is sorry. Third, the disciple must pray in …

NOVEMBER 8, 2015 – WEEK THIRTY TWO – SUNDAY (B) – THE WIDOW’S MITE

(Mark 12:38-44) Prayer – O Jesus, to you I give all I have. Imagination – (Picture Jesus in the temple with his disciples.) Context: This gospel joins two different scenes which describe two contrasting groups. In the first story, the scribes want everyone to see their goodness while secretly they steal widows’ money. In the …