of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the mystery of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just healed the boy with a demon. While the disciples are still amazed at this, Jesus shifts the focus to his death. The warning falls on deaf ears. They have no idea of …
Continue reading “WEEK TWENTY FIVE – SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 A SECOND WARNING (LK 9:43-45)”
Prayer: O Jesus, call me into your presence. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his early disciples.) Context: Peter, Andrew, Philip and Nathaniel are all from Bethsaida. Philip leads Nathaniel to Jesus. This dialogue reveals much of Jesus’ identity. It alludes to Jacob who was filled with guile (Nathaniel has none). Jacob saw angels ascending and descending …
Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the fullness of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: This text is sort of an interlude as Herod ponders Jesus’ identity. Later, Peter, by divine revelation, will proclaim correctly that Jesus is the Messiah. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud). Herod the Tetrarch heard …
Continue reading “WEEK TWENTY FIVE – THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 HEROD’S CONCLUSION (LK 9:7-9)”
Prayer – O Holy Spirit, anoint me with your powers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus sending forth his 12 apostles) Context: This text looks forward to the Church, when the Holy Spirit will send the apostles to the whole world. Jesus’ words reflect what actually happened. The small Church communities sent forth preachers to the whole world. …
Continue reading “WEEK TWENTY FIVE – WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 SENT BY JESUS (LK 9:1-6)”
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 truth, this text contrasts Jesus’ human family …
Continue reading “WEEK TWENTY FIVE – TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 A FAMILY VISIT (LK 8:19-21)”
Prayer: O Jesus, You are a generous employer. Let me serve you faithfully. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: This parable of the Kingdom focuses on the final Judgment. As the day goes on, the workers grow discouraged, stop seeking work and “sit around idle.” The owner’s constant going to the marketplace shows the …
Continue reading “WEEK TWENTY FIVE – SUNDAY – A – SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 THE GOOD EMPLOYER (MT 20:1-15)”
Prayer – O Lord, call me to be your child of light. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: This text contains three separate sayings of Jesus. The first saying envisions a Greek home with a light welcoming visitors. The second sentence points out that nothing is secret to God, all will be revealed. The …
(Luke 9:43-45) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the mystery of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just healed the boy with a demon. While the disciples are still amazed at this, Jesus shifts the focus to his death. The warning falls on deaf ears. They have no …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FIVE – SATURDAY – A SECOND WARNING”
(Luke 9:18-22) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, open to my heart the mystery of Jesus Christ. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: An earlier gospel showed what the Father wanted Jesus to accomplish for Israel. This gospel answers a deeper question. What is Jesus’ relationship to the Father and to Israel. At this point, …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FIVE – FRIDAY – JESUS’ IDENTITY REVEALED”
(Luke 9:7-9) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the fullness of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: This text is sort of an interlude as Herod ponders Jesus’ identity. Later, Peter, by divine revelation, will proclaim correctly that Jesus is the Messiah. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud). Herod the …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FIVE – THURSDAY – HEROD’S CONCLUSION”
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let me respond quickly to Jesus’ call. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table in Matthew’s house). Context: This text has 2 parts. First, Matthew responds to Jesus’ call and then he invites Jesus to his house. Since Matthew is a sinner (collecting taxes for Romans) his friends are also “sinners”, so the …
(Luke 9:1-6) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, anoint me with your powers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus sending forth his 12 apostles) Context: This text looks forward to the Church, when the Holy Spirit will send the apostles to the whole world. Jesus’ words reflect what actually happened. The small Church communities sent forth preachers to the …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FIVE – WEDNESDAY – SENT BY JESUS”
(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 truth, this text contrasts Jesus’ …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FIVE – TUESDAY – A FAMILY VISIT”
(Matthew 9:9-13) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Let me respond quickly to Jesus’ call. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table in Matthew’s house). Context: This text has 2 parts. First, Matthew responds to Jesus’ call and then he invites Jesus to his house. Since Matthew is a sinner (collecting taxes for Romans) his friends are also “sinners”, …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FIVE – MONDAY – MATTHEW THE TAX COLLECTOR”
(Luke 16:1-8) Prayer: O Jesus, wake me up to the imminence of the Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples) Context: The parable uses real-life details. Rich owners often lived at a distance and depended on stewards who held promissory oaths of debtors. The steward wants his changes put into the original handwriting of the …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY FIVE – SUNDAY (C) – THE UNJUST STEWARD”
(Luke 9:43-45) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the mystery of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just healed the boy with a demon. While the disciples are still amazed at this, Jesus shifts the focus to his death. The warning falls on deaf ears. They have no …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 26, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FIVE – SATURDAY – A SECOND WARNING”
(Luke 9:18-22) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, open to my heart the mystery of Jesus Christ. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: An earlier gospel showed what the Father wanted Jesus to accomplish for Israel. This gospel answers a deeper question. What is Jesus’ relationship to the Father and to Israel. At this point, …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FIVE – FRIDAY – JESUS’ IDENTITY REVEALED”
(Luke 9:7-9) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, reveal to me the fullness of Jesus. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: This text is sort of an interlude as Herod ponders Jesus’ identity. Later, Peter, by divine revelation, will proclaim correctly that Jesus is the Messiah. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud). Herod the …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FIVE – THURSDAY – HEROD’S CONCLUSION”
(Luke 9:1-6) Prayer – O Holy Spirit, anoint me with your powers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus sending forth his 12 apostles) Context: This text looks forward to the Church, when the Holy Spirit will send the apostles to the whole world. Jesus’ words reflect what actually happened. The small Church communities sent forth preachers to the …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FIVE – WEDNESDAY – SENT BY JESUS”
(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 truth, this text contrasts Jesus’ …
Continue reading “SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FIVE – TUESDAY – A FAMILY VISIT”