WEEK TWENTY THREE – SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 16, 2017 THE PARABLE OF THE TWO HOUSES (LK 6:47-49)

Prayer – O Jesus, I will put your word into practice so my house will always stand. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Jesus chooses an example from the people’s daily experiences. In Israel, the rains come suddenly. A dry canal becomes quickly a raging stream. This parable is an excellent example of the …

WEEK TWENTY THREE – FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 Our Lady of Sorrows (LK 2:33-35, 41-51)

Prayer: Come, Holy Ghost. Help me to search for the True Heart of the Temple. Imagination: (Picture Mary and Joseph hurrying to look for Jesus). Context: When Jesus was twelve years old, He, Mary and Joseph travelled with others to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover, a thanksgiving to God for …

WEEK TWENTY THREE – THURSDAY – SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS (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 is subject to God’s judgment. …

WEEK TWENTY THREE -WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 BLESSINGS AND WOES (LK 6:20-26)

Prayer – O Jesus, let me seek your ever-abundant blessings. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: To understand the gospels, look carefully at the audience. When Jesus teaches the crowds, he is inviting them to join his Kingdom. When Jesus teaches his disciples, he explains the mysteries and duties of the Kingdom. Here, …

WEEK TWENTY THREE – TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 PRAYER, SELECTION AND HEALING (LK 6:12-19)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, if you choose me, I will serve you with all my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples and the crowds.) Context: This text has 3 different scenes. First, Jesus is alone in prayer. Second, he is with his disciples. Third, he comes down the mountain and the crowds join him. …

WEEK TWENTY THREE – MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 A HEALING ON THE SABBATH (LK 6:6-11)

Prayer – O Jesus, you have come that I might have life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the synagogue curing the man’s withered hand.) Context: Although Jesus heals the man’s withered hand, the healing seems secondary to the confrontation. This reveals the unbelievable lack of compassion of many hearts. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud). On …

WEEK TWENTY THREE – SUNDAY – A – SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 IMPORTANCE OF GATHERING (MT 18:15-20)

Prayer: O Jesus, when I join with others, you are in our midst. Imagination: (Picture Jesus gathered with his disciples.) Context: Jesus has just spoken of the shepherd seeking out wandering sheep. This sheep represents a disciple who has left the Church and the Church must seek him out. This gospel tells the individual believer …

SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-THREE – SATURDAY – THE PARABLE OF THE TWO HOUSES

(Luke 6:47-49) Prayer – O Jesus, I will put your word into practice so my house will always stand. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Jesus chooses an example from the people’s daily experiences. In Israel, the rains come suddenly. A dry canal becomes quickly a raging stream. This parable is an excellent example …

SEPTEMBER 9, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-THREE – FRIDAY – A BLINDED EYE

(Luke 6:39-42) Prayer – O Lord, open my eyes to see the true path of devotion. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking with his disciples.) Context: Jesus continues to instruct his disciples. They are blind and if they do not listen to him they will remain blind. Even worse, they will be blind to their own …

SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-THREE – THURSDAY – THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP

(Luke 6:27-36) Prayer – O Lord, you demand so much but you reward so generously. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: Jesus does not give these commands to the crowds but to his disciples. He reveals what he expects of them. The demands are high but the reward is even greater. Gospel Text: …

SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-THREE – WEDNESDAY – BLESSINGS AND WOES

(Luke 6:20-26) Prayer – O Jesus, let me seek your ever-abundant blessings. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: To understand the gospels, look carefully at the audience. When Jesus teaches the crowds, he is inviting them to join his Kingdom. When Jesus teaches his disciples, he explains the mysteries and duties of the …

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-THREE – TUESDAY – NATIVITY OF OUR LADY

(Matthew 1:18-25) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give to me Joseph’s fidelity to God’s plan. Imagination: (Picture Joseph receiving the angel’s message). Context: Luke tells us about Mary accepting her role as Mother of God. In Matthew’s gospel, the infancy stories focus on Joseph’s dilemma. How does an upright Jewish man resolve the dilemma of a …

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY-THREE – MONDAY – A HEALING ON THE SABBATH

(Luke 6:6-11) Prayer – O Jesus, you have come that I might have life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the synagogue curing the man’s withered hand.) Context: Although Jesus heals the man’s withered hand, the healing seems secondary to the confrontation. This reveals the unbelievable lack of compassion of many hearts. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly …

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 – WEEK TWENTY THREE – SUNDAY (C) – THE TOWER AND THE WAR

(Luke 14:28-32) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to persevere until the finish line. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Jesus is dealing here with enthusiastic disciples who cannot see the tremendous hardships involved in discipleship. So, Jesus gives two examples entailing great difficulties. A farmer needs a tower for his grain, but the extensive …

SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY THREE – SATURDAY – THE PARABLE OF THE TWO HOUSES

(Luke 6:47-49) Prayer – O Jesus, I will put your word into practice so my house will always stand. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Jesus chooses an example from the people’s daily experiences. In Israel, the rains come suddenly. A dry canal becomes quickly a raging stream. This parable is an excellent example …

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY THREE – FRIDAY – A BLINDED EYE

(Luke 6:39-42) Prayer – O Lord, open my eyes to see the true path of devotion. Imagination – (Picture Jesus speaking with his disciples.) Context: Jesus continues to instruct his disciples. They are blind and if they do not listen to him they will remain blind. Even worse, they will be blind to their own …

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY THREE – THURSDAY – THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP

(Luke 6:27-36) Prayer – O Lord, you demand so much but you reward so generously. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: Jesus does not give these commands to the crowds but to his disciples. He reveals what he expects of them. The demands are high but the reward is even greater. Gospel Text: …

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY THREE -WEDNESDAY – BLESSINGS AND WOES

(Luke 6:20-26) Prayer – O Jesus, let me seek your ever-abundant blessings. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: To understand the gospels, look carefully at the audience. When Jesus teaches the crowds, he is inviting them to join his Kingdom. When Jesus teaches his disciples, he explains the mysteries and duties of the …

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY THREE – TUESDAY – NATIVITY OF OUR LADY

(Matthew 1:18-25) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give to me Joseph’s fidelity to God’s plan. Imagination: (Picture Joseph receiving the angel’s message). Context: Luke tells us about Mary accepting her role as Mother of God. In Matthew’s gospel, the infancy stories focus on Joseph’s dilemma. How does an upright Jewish man resolve the dilemma of a …

SEPTEMBER 7, 2015 – WEEK TWENTY THREE – MONDAY – A HEALING ON THE SABBATH

(Luke 6:6-11) Prayer – O Jesus, you have come that I might have life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the synagogue curing the man’s withered hand.) Context: Although Jesus heals the man’s withered hand, the healing seems secondary to the confrontation. This reveals the unbelievable lack of compassion of many hearts. Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly …