of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Category: <span>Week Twenty-Four</span>

Category: Week Twenty-Four

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 THE SOWER (LK 8:4-15)

Prayer – Jesus, plant the powerful seed of your Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds). Context: This parable contrasts the difficult beginning of the Kingdom and its glorious fulfillment. The beginning has multiple frustrations. The end has a gigantic harvest. Jesus’ ministry is experiencing many …

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 22, 2017 THE SPECIAL DISCIPLES (LK 8:1-3)

Prayer – O Jesus, let me accompany you all the days of my life Imagination: (Picture Jesus with these special disciples, both men and women.) Context: Only Luke has this section which highlights the role of women in a ministering role for the Kingdom. Jesus had helped each of these …

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR (MT 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 …

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 THE CHILDREN IN THE MARKETPLACE (LK 7:31-35)

Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward Jesus. Because …

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 THE GRIEVING WIDOW (LK 7:11-17)

Prayer – Lord, in your compassion, give me life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing with the widow by the funeral) Context: Luke regularly stresses Jesus’ compassion and care for women. Naim is located just 3 miles away from Nazareth with a cemetery that has been used for centuries. The story obviously …

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 NO NEED TO ENTER MY HOUSE (LK 7:1-10)

Prayer – Lord, fill me with faith in your power. Imagination: (Picture the centurion showing great faith in Jesus’ power to heal.) Context: The Gentile centurion sends Jewish friends to seek the favor. As Jesus approaches, this Gentile is concerned that Jesus would contract ritual impurity if he entered his …

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – SUNDAY – A – SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT (MT 18:23-35)

Prayer: O Jesus, fill my heart with the Holy Spirit of mercy towards others. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples.) Context: The parable is about the Last Judgment and highlights the deepest secret of discipleship, the need to forgive. The warning is serious. God, who has granted the disciple forgiveness …

SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FOUR – SATURDAY – THE SOWER

(Luke 8:4-15) Prayer – Jesus, plant the powerful seed of your Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds). Context: This parable contrasts the difficult beginning of the Kingdom and its glorious fulfillment. The beginning has multiple frustrations. The end has a gigantic harvest. Jesus’ ministry is …

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FOUR – FRIDAY – THE SPECIAL DISCIPLES

(Luke 8:1-3) Prayer – O Jesus, let me accompany you all the days of my life Imagination: (Picture Jesus with these special disciples, both men and women.) Context: Only Luke has this section which highlights the role of women in a ministering role for the Kingdom. Jesus had helped each …

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FOUR – THURSDAY – THE PARABLE OF THE TWO DEBTORS

(Luke 7:36-50) Prayer – O Jesus, even though I am a sinner, I will approach you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with the woman at his feet.) Context: The central figure is the creditor who forgives both debtors. Where can such a man be found? He is God with his …

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FOUR – WEDNESDAY – THE CHILDREN IN THE MARKETPLACE

(Luke 7:31-35) Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward …

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FOUR – TUESDAY – THE GRIEVING WIDOW

(Luke 7:11-17) Prayer – Lord, in your compassion, give me life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing with the widow by the funeral) Context: Luke regularly stresses Jesus’ compassion and care for women. Naim is located just 3 miles away from Nazareth with a cemetery that has been used for centuries. The …

SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-FOUR – MONDAY – EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

(John 3:16-21) Prayer: O Jesus, you were lifted up on the cross to save me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching Nicodemus) Context: This gospel contains the famous John 3:16 verse about God so loving the world. It explains that god’s motive was to save, not to condemn. However, anyone who rejects …

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY FOUR – SUNDAY (C) – THE LOST SHEEP AND THE LOST COIN

(Luke 15:1-10) Prayer: O Jesus, show me how precious I am to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: These twin parables are closely connected to the Prodigal Son parable. A hundred sheep was a medium sized flock. The shepherd must have been poor, unable to pay a helper. …

SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FOUR – SATURDAY – THE SOWER

(Luke 8:4-15) Prayer – Jesus, plant the powerful seed of your Kingdom in my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching to the crowds). Context: This parable contrasts the difficult beginning of the Kingdom and its glorious fulfillment. The beginning has multiple frustrations. The end has a gigantic harvest. Jesus’ ministry is …

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FOUR – FRIDAY – THE SPECIAL DISCIPLES

(Luke 8:1-3) Prayer – O Jesus, let me accompany you all the days of my life Imagination: (Picture Jesus with these special disciples, both men and women.) Context: Only Luke has this section which highlights the role of women in a ministering role for the Kingdom. Jesus had helped each …

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FOUR – THURSDAY – THE PARABLE OF THE TWO DEBTORS

(Luke 7:36-50) Prayer – O Jesus, even though I am a sinner, I will approach you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with the woman at his feet.) Context: The central figure is the creditor who forgives both debtors. Where can such a man be found? He is God with his …

SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FOUR – WEDNESDAY – THE CHILDREN IN THE MARKETPLACE

(Luke 7:31-35)  Prayer – O Jesus, prepare me for the moment when you come to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples) Context: Besides proclaiming salvation, the parables warn us of judgment and call us to repentance. This parable has the cutting edge of urgency. This parable shows hostility toward …

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY FOUR – TUESDAY – THE GRIEVING WIDOW

(Luke 7:11-17) Prayer – Lord, in your compassion, give me life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus standing with the widow by the funeral) Context: Luke regularly stresses Jesus’ compassion and care for women. Naim is located just 3 miles away from Nazareth with a cemetery that has been used for centuries. The …

WEEK TWENTY FOUR – WEDNESDAY September 14, 2016 EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS SENT INTO THE WORLD (Jn 3:16-21)

Prayer: O Jesus, you were lifted up on the cross to save me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching Nicodemus) Context: This gospel contains the famous John 3:16 verse about God so loving the world. It explains that God’s motive was to save, not to condemn. However, anyone who rejects this light …